Director of Human Resources

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) is a community of dedicated researchers, consultants, educators, and former practitioners who drive innovation and advancement in courts and justice systems. NCSC’s reputation for trusted leadership allows us to work alongside top judicial officers to examine some of the most complex and significant issues facing society. Our team of experts and court leaders are deeply committed to advancing just, free, and safe communities. To learn more about NCSC, visit NCSC.org

With approximately 160 employees working across the United States, NCSC operates as a remote-first organization with office presence in Williamsburg, VA and Arlington, VA. NCSC serves state courts and justice system partners nationally and internationally, and its work is funded through a combination of grants, cooperative agreements, and fee-for-service contracts.

NCSC is seeking a hands-on, energetic Director of Human Resources who thrives in the details as much as in the strategy. This is not a 30,000-foot role. The Director will own day-to-day HR operations end-to-end — including payroll review and reconciliation, benefits administration, compliance, employee relations, and HR systems management — while simultaneously driving meaningful modernization of HR processes and practices across a fully remote, multistate workforce.

Reporting to the VP, Finance and Administration, the Director leads a team of three and serves as the primary HR business partner to organizational leadership. The ideal candidate is a well-rounded HR professional who has worked deeply across all areas of the HR function (payroll, benefits, compliance, employee relations, talent acquisition, and culture) and brings the kind of integral, hands-on knowledge that allows them to step into any segment of the function, provide sound guidance, and lead by example. They must have direct, working experience managing multistate payroll and benefits administration. Beyond technical breadth, they bring genuine enthusiasm for process improvement and HR technology, and the judgment and interpersonal skills to support a mission-driven staff with care and consistency.

Duties and Responsibilities

Payroll Operations & Financial Controls

• Own and review the bi-weekly multistate payroll cycle end-to-end in ADP Workforce Now, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with federal, state, and local requirements
• Collaborate with Finance to reconcile payroll to the general ledger (Deltek Costpoint), and contribute to year-end close activities including W-2 processing and ACA reporting
• Maintain and expand NCSC's multistate payroll registrations (SUI, withholding, and other state-specific requirements) as the remote workforce evolves
• Manage the payroll vendor relationship with ADP; assess new product capabilities and address system issues proactively

Benefits Administration

• Administer NCSC's comprehensive benefits program: medical, dental, vision, life, STD/LTD, workers' compensation, Section 125 plan, COBRA, and ACA compliance
• Lead annual benefits renewal and open enrollment processes; manage carrier and broker relationships
• Administer NCSC's retirement plans (MPP, 403(b), 457(b)); serve as staff liaison and active member of the Retirement Plan Committee; ensure plan compliance and fiduciary best practices
• Manage the APL program and all applicable state-specific leave benefits; maintain current knowledge of state leave law developments

Leave Management & Employee Relations

• Manage the full leave cycle including FMLA, state leave, STD/LTD coordination; ensure proper documentation and timely communication with employees and supervisors
• Serve as the primary employee relations resource: handle workplace issues, performance concerns, and sensitive personnel matters with discretion and sound judgment
• Partner with legal counsel on complex employee relations matters, policy interpretation, and employment law compliance
• Foster a positive, inclusive remote work culture through proactive communication, engagement initiatives, and consistent application of policy

HR Operations & Compliance

• Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS data; ensure data integrity across all HR systems
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws across all jurisdictions where NCSC employees work
• Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes for a remote workforce
• Assess NCSC's current performance management landscape and lead the design and implementation of a structured, scalable performance management program, including policies, tools, and manager guidance, informed by best practices.
• Manage EEO, Title VI, and related compliance obligations; maintain required records and prepare required reports
• Oversee HR-related vendor relationships including ADP, benefits brokers, retirement plan providers, and legal counsel; manage contracts and service levels

HR Technology & Process Improvement

• Lead continuous improvement of HR processes with a particular emphasis on leveraging ADP Workforce Now's full capabilities - automation, reporting, employee self-service, and workflow optimization
• Identify and eliminate manual, paper-based, or redundant processes; introduce scalable, technology-enabled alternatives
• Build and maintain HR dashboards and metrics to support workforce analytics and leadership decision-making

Remote Workforce Management

• Design and maintain consistent HR practices that work across a fully remote, multistate workforce of ~160 employees
• Support managers with tools and guidance for remote performance management, onboarding, and employee engagement
• Ensure remote work policies are current, compliant, and effectively communicated
• Champion belonging and engagement in a distributed workforce environment

Team Leadership

• Supervise, develop, and mentor a team of three HR professionals
• Set clear goals, provide ongoing feedback, and build individual capabilities aligned with the team's growth trajectory
• Model a collaborative, service-oriented team culture that reflects NCSC's core values

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 7+ years of progressive HR experience with demonstrated breadth across payroll, benefits, compliance, and employee relations
• Hands-on, working knowledge of ADP Workforce Now
• Direct, hands-on experience managing multistate payroll and benefits administration — this is a required foundation for the role
• Experience managing a remote or distributed workforce
• Track record of improving HR processes through technology adoption and workflow redesign
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state employment law (FMLA, ADA, FLSA, ACA, Title VII, state leave laws, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Clear, direct communicator who can simplify complex topics for a non-HR audience
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint)

Preferred

• Experience with Deltek Costpoint for payroll-to-GL reconciliation and labor distribution in a government contracting or grant-funded environment
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification
• Experience in a nonprofit, quasi-governmental, or mission-driven organization
• Familiarity with non-Social Security retirement plan structures (MPP, 403(b), 457(b))
• Experience supporting a classification and compensation study or total rewards redesign
• Experience in an organization of similar scale (100–200 employees), where HR leaders wear multiple hats.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting meaningful organizational change — including process transformation, culture initiatives, or HR system modernization — with the ability to bring staff along through the transition constructively

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Additional Information

Benefits

NCSC is proud to provide a comprehensive benefits package for our regular full-time and regular part-time employees consisting of:

Insurance

• Medical Insurance: PPO, HDHP options (HMO option for VA residents)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employer Paid Life Insurance for Employee + Family
• Employer Paid Accidental Death Insurance
• Employer Paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• 125 Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

Retirement

• Retirement: Money Purchase Plan Pension account (9% of salary)
• Retirement Option: 403B

Paid Time Off

• All Purpose Leave (APL)
• Paid Holidays (10)

Other Benefits

• Annual Performance Review
• Education Assistance
• Paid Training and Development
• Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness under 501(c)(3)

The annual starting salary for this role is between $99,840 and $145,000. Factors that affect starting pay within the range include education, experience, and other qualifications as it relates to the position.

Join our Team!

This position closes on August 5, 2026. Please submit your resume and cover letter in addition to your completed NCSC application. For reference, include professional references only with at least one previous or current supervisor.

NCSC is an equal opportunity/disability/veteran employer.