New England Conservatory is a cultural center, built on 150 years of innovation, that pushes the boundaries of making and teaching music. NEC is renowned for its dedicated faculty, gifted students, and contributions to the cultural landscape, past, present, and future. NEC educates and trains musicians of all ages from around the world, drawing on the talent and deep reservoir of experience of our distinguished faculty.

At NEC, music is both tradition and transformation. Our community includes world-class faculty, passionate staff, and extraordinary students who believe in the power of music to shape lives, challenge perspectives, and strengthen communities. We are mission-driven, collaborative, and committed to creating an environment where creativity, belonging, and excellence thrive together.

Position Summary

The Director of Human Resources serves as a strategic and operational partner to leaders, faculty, and staff across NEC. Working closely with the CHRO, this role leads core people initiatives including employee relations, leadership coaching, talent acquisition strategy, talent development, and compensation consultation.

This leader is a visible and trusted resource who brings strong people instincts, sound judgment, compliance expertise, and operational follow-through. The Director helps NEC strengthen a respectful, inclusive workplace while supporting leaders in building high-performing teams aligned with NEC’s mission and culture.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Management Coaching

Build trusted partnerships with leaders, faculty leadership, and managers
Coach leaders on organizational development, team effectiveness, and leadership capability
Support leaders in navigating complex people situations

Talent Acquisition & Employer Brand

Partner with HR Operations to strengthen and modernize hiring processes and tools
Support managers in equitable, effective hiring practices
Advance NEC’s talent brand to attract high-quality, mission-aligned candidates
Strengthen NEC’s presence across job boards and candidate platforms

Talent Management & Development

Identify development needs across emerging and high-potential talent
Design and implement learning and development programs supporting individual and organizational growth
Build sustainable development processes that balance equitable access with personalized growth pathways

Employee Relations & Workplace Practices

Lead NEC’s employee relations strategy and day-to-day workplace practices
Coach managers through performance management and workplace concerns
Support employees through consultation and resolution of workplace issues
Ensure compliance with employment laws and institutional policies
Promote respectful workplace practices across faculty, staff, and administrative populations

Compensation & Pay Transparency

Partner with the CHRO, HR Operations, and Finance to apply compensation frameworks
Consult with managers on pay decisions and compensation strategy
Support employee understanding of compensation practices
Contribute to pay transparency communication strategies

Leadership & Interpersonal Style

Collaborative, approachable, and consistent across all levels
Makes decisions grounded in facts, fairness, and values
Exercises strong judgment in complex or high-pressure situations
Strong listener who partners effectively with senior faculty and administrative leadership
Balances strategic thinking with execution and follow-through
Operates with trust, integrity, and a fundamental belief in people

Experience & Background

5+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, typically at the Director level or senior HR Business Partner equivalent
Strong expertise in employee relations and leadership coaching
Experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments; higher education, arts, or mission-driven nonprofit experience preferred
Foundational knowledge of compensation practices and talent development strategy
Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and work across diverse populations

NEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Annual Clery Report

In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. This report will provide the reader with a record of statistics regarding crimes that were reported in the NEC community during the previous three years as well as College policies and procedures, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. This report may be accessed here. A paper copy can be requested by contacting NEC's Director of Public Safety at 290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.

New England Conservatory of Music

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