Director of Human Resources

Wolverine Human Services
Primary Location: Vassar, Michigan
Schedule: Full-Time, Exempt
Travel Requirement: Vassar, Flint, and Taylor, Michigan

Wolverine Human Services is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Executive Director of Human Resources & Talent to lead and modernize the agency’s Human Resources function during a period of significant organizational growth.

This executive-level position will be responsible for developing the workforce strategy, recruitment infrastructure, onboarding systems, employee relations practices, compliance standards, and Human Resources operations necessary to support the continued expansion of Wolverine Human Services.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on and strategic Human Resources leader who can build scalable systems, develop a high-performing HR team, strengthen recruitment and retention, and ensure the agency remains compliant with applicable employment laws, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services requirements, and Child Caring Institution licensing standards.

This position reports directly to the President and serves as a key member of the agency’s executive leadership team.

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for all Human Resources functions across the agency.
• Advise the President and executive leadership on workforce planning, organizational structure, employee relations, compliance, compensation, and agency growth.
• Develop and implement an agency-wide Human Resources strategy aligned with Wolverine Human Services’ mission and operational priorities.
• Build scalable HR systems capable of supporting expanding residential, community-based, behavioral health, and administrative programs.
• Establish departmental goals, performance measures, service expectations, and accountability standards.

• Lead agency-wide recruitment and workforce planning strategies.
• Develop a recruitment infrastructure capable of supporting significant organizational and residential program growth.
• Oversee recruitment for direct-care, clinical, case management, administrative, leadership, and executive positions.
• Improve applicant response times, interviewing practices, candidate communication, offer acceptance, and time-to-fill.
• Develop partnerships with colleges, universities, workforce agencies, professional associations, and community organizations.
• Oversee recruitment campaigns, hiring events, referral initiatives, employment branding, and candidate outreach.
• Partner with agency leadership to forecast staffing needs and develop hiring plans for program expansion.

• Direct the agency’s pre-employment, onboarding, orientation, and new-hire clearance processes.
• Ensure hiring and onboarding practices comply with Michigan Child Caring Institution licensing standards, MDHHS requirements, contractual obligations, employment law, and agency policy.
• Oversee background checks, registry clearances, educational verification, driving records, references, health documentation, insurance requirements, and other required employment records.
• Ensure personnel files remain complete, accurate, confidential, organized, and audit-ready.
• Standardize onboarding procedures across agency programs and locations.
• Monitor new-hire readiness, onboarding completion, orientation attendance, and early retention.

• Provide executive oversight of employee relations, workplace investigations, corrective action, conflict resolution, and disciplinary processes.
• Ensure workplace concerns are reviewed promptly, impartially, consistently, and confidentially.
• Provide guidance to supervisors regarding employee performance, attendance, coaching, documentation, and workplace expectations.
• Review investigation findings and recommend appropriate corrective or disciplinary action.
• Coordinate with outside counsel regarding employment matters when appropriate.
• Support responses to EEOC complaints, civil rights matters, unemployment claims, audits, and regulatory reviews.

• Develop and oversee the agency’s performance management system.
• Strengthen supervisor practices related to coaching, performance evaluations, corrective action, and employee development.
• Establish leadership development, succession planning, employee engagement, recognition, and retention initiatives.
• Analyze turnover, exit interview feedback, employee relations trends, and retention data.
• Partner with leadership to develop career pathways and advancement opportunities for employees.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, EEOC requirements, and applicable Michigan employment statutes.
• Develop, review, and implement Human Resources policies, procedures, employee handbooks, forms, and standard operating practices.
• Monitor changes in employment law, licensing standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Support licensing reviews, audits, accreditation surveys, and corrective action plans.
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of employee and organizational information.
• Function as a mandated reporter in accordance with Michigan Child Protection Law.

• Provide strategic oversight of compensation, benefits, payroll coordination, protected leave, workers’ compensation, HRIS, personnel records, and Human Resources technology.
• Review compensation structures, salary ranges, classifications, incentives, and internal equity.
• Establish executive-level Human Resources dashboards and reporting.
• Monitor workforce metrics including vacancies, turnover, retention, time-to-fill, offer acceptance, onboarding completion, staffing levels, overtime, mandation, and personnel file compliance.
• Use workforce data to identify trends and recommend operational improvements.

• Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Development, Labor Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience.
• Minimum of five years of senior Human Resources leadership experience, including supervision of HR professionals.
• Demonstrated experience leading recruitment, workforce planning, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and organizational development.
• Strong knowledge of federal and Michigan employment laws.
• Experience developing Human Resources policies, procedures, employee handbooks, and organizational systems.
• Experience using HRIS, applicant tracking, payroll, and workforce reporting systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and build high-performing teams.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, judgment, conflict-resolution, and decision-making skills.
• Valid Michigan driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to travel regularly between Wolverine Human Services locations.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or comparable senior-level Human Resources certification.
• Experience in child welfare, behavioral health, residential treatment, juvenile justice, healthcare, nonprofit, or human services.
• Experience supporting a Michigan Child Caring Institution or working with MDHHS licensing requirements.
• Experience leading Human Resources operations across multiple locations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting rapid organizational growth or workforce expansion.
• Work Location and Travel

  This position requires a consistent on-site leadership presence across Wolverine Human Services locations. The anticipated weekly schedule is:

• Three days per week in Vassar
• One day per week in Flint
• One day per week in Taylor

• The schedule may be adjusted based on recruitment activity, onboarding needs, executive meetings, employee relations matters, licensing requirements, and operational priorities.

  Occasional evening, weekend, or after-hours availability may be required.

  Current Human Resources Structure

  The Executive Director will initially provide leadership to Human Resources functions that include:

• Talent acquisition and recruitment
• Human Resources and employee relations
• Payroll and compliance
• HRIS and onboarding support

• As the agency continues to grow, the Executive Director will have the opportunity to recommend and develop additional Human Resources positions, including an HR Generalist and other specialized support roles.

  Why Join Wolverine Human Services?

  Wolverine Human Services has served children, families, and communities throughout Michigan for more than three decades. This is an opportunity for an experienced HR leader to build a modern Human Resources function, shape organizational culture, strengthen recruitment and retention, and directly support the expansion of services for Michigan youth and families.

  Our mission is simple and meaningful:

  Helping Children and Families to be Victors.

  How to Apply

  Qualified candidates should email their resume directly to:

  [email protected]

  Please include Executive Director of Human Resources & Talent in the subject line.