Title:
Deputy Superintendent of Human Resources & District Systems
Work Unit:
Superintendent
Reports To:
Superintendent
Work Calendar:
12 Months
Pay Schedule:
Director/Cabinet
Overtime Status:
Exempt
Hours:
40 hours per week
Union Status:
Non-Union Confidential
Licensure:
N/A
Note: All positions with Santa Fe Public Schools require a post-offer/pre-employment background check. Some positions have additional requirements as established by federal or state rules and regulations.
General Function:
Reporting to the Superintendent, the Deputy Superintendent of Human Resources & District Systems serves as the executive leader responsible for developing, strengthening, and continuously improving the organizational systems that support staff, policies, procedures, and operational effectiveness of Santa Fe Public Schools.
Working collaboratively with the Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services & Innovation and the Deputy Superintendent of Operations & Strategy, this position ensures that the district’s workforce practices, organizational processes, and administrative systems effectively support the instructional mission and long-term strategic goals of the district. Together, these leaders form the Superintendent’s executive leadership team and work collectively to strengthen the systems that enable the district to function as a cohesive and high-performing organization.
The Deputy Superintendent provides leadership and oversight for the district’s human resources functions and the development and continuous improvement of districtwide organizational systems, including business services that support effective decision-making, regulatory compliance, operational coordination, and accountability. This role ensures compliance with city, state, and federal laws; oversees investigations into employee misconduct; and leads the full talent acquisition lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies.
This position serves as the district’s chief human resources executive, responsible for ensuring lawful, equitable, and strategic management of the District’s workforce in accordance with federal and state employment laws, New Mexico Public Education Department regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and Board of Education policies.
Responsible for developing, strengthening, and continuously improving the organizational systems that support staff, processes, and internal functioning of the district. The Deputy Superintendent frequently represents the district at Board of Education meetings, community forums, and stakeholder meetings, which may occur during evening hours.
Education/Training/Experience:
Minimum:
· Master’s degree in Human Resources, Educational Leadership, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, or related field required.
· Eight (8) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in human resources administration within a public school district, governmental agency, or similarly regulated public-sector organization.
· Demonstrated experience overseeing comprehensive human resources operations in a public education environment, including employee relations, labor relations, investigations, compliance, recruitment and retention, performance management, and workforce planning.
· Demonstrated experience designing and improving organizational systems that support compliance, accountability, workforce effectiveness, and operational coordination.
· Strong leadership ability to guide complex initiatives and align workforce development and organizational systems with district strategic goals.
· Experience working in diverse and multicultural environments. Excellent oral and written communication skills, public speaking ability, computer proficiency, and strong organizational skills required.
· Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying federal and state employment laws, New Mexico school personnel statutes, and collective bargaining agreements in a public school setting.
Preferred:
· PHR/SPHR certification
· Experience in central office leadership roles within a school district or similar public sector organization.
· Experience leading large-scale organizational improvement initiatives.
· Experience strengthening district processes related to compliance, workforce systems, and organizational coordination.
· Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.
Knowledge/Skills and Abilities:
1. Strong knowledge of public sector HR principles
2. Ability to design and strengthen workforce systems that support recruitment, hiring, employee development, and staff retention.
3. Ability to develop and improve organizational systems that support regulatory compliance, policy implementation, and operational accountability.
4. Ability to think systemically and ensure that district policies, procedures, and practices function cohesively across departments and schools.
5. Ability to collaborate with executive leadership to align workforce systems and organizational processes with instructional priorities and operational needs.
6. Strong conceptual and organizational skills to lead complex district initiatives and improve internal processes.
7. Ability to analyze policy documents, employment regulations, and organizational practices to ensure compliance and effective implementation.
8. Ability to respond effectively to inquiries or concerns from employees, parents, community members, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
9. Ability to communicate effectively through written reports, public presentations, and community engagement.
10. Ability to define problems, analyze organizational practices, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions that support improved district performance.
11. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, students, families, community organizations, and public agencies.
12. Ability to perform duties with awareness of district policies, state and federal regulations, and Board of Education requirements.
Essential Job Functions:
Performs all functions in accordance with established policies, procedures, safety and environmental regulations, facility and computer security policies and procedures. Functions are subject to change from time to time to meet the needs of the organization.
Current essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
1. All functions are performed in accordance with established policies, procedures, safety regulations, and district security policies. Functions are subject to change as needed to meet district priorities.
2. Current essential functions include but are not limited to the following:
3. Owns the design, alignment, and continuous improvement of district workforce and organizational systems.
4. Provides leadership for the design and continuous improvement of district workforce systems, including recruitment, hiring, professional development, employee relations, and leadership development.
5. Designs and leads district systems that support effective organizational processes, including compliance, decision-making, workflow alignment, and internal coordination.
6. Oversees Human Resources functions, including talent acquisition, employee services, compensation and benefits administration, labor relations, and workforce planning.
7. Develops and strengthens district systems that ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations and Board of Education policies.
8. Establishes and improves organizational processes that support clear decision-making, effective approval structures, and responsible oversight of district operations.
9. Promotes consistent implementation of district policies and procedures across schools and departments.
10. Collaborates with the Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services & Innovation to align workforce development, leadership pipelines, and staffing practices with instructional priorities.
11. Works closely with the Deputy Superintendent of Operations & Strategy to ensure district procedures and organizational systems support effective operational coordination and strategic initiatives.
12. Serves as a member of the Superintendent’s Executive Leadership Team and contributes to district-wide strategic planning and organizational development.
13. Supports preparation of the annual district budget as it relates to staffing structures and workforce planning.
14. Represents the district in Board of Education meetings, community forums, and professional partnerships.
15. Other duties as assigned.
Salary Range and Benefits:
· $150,000-$160,000+
· Medical, dental, and vision benefits are available to full and part-time employees who work a minimum of 20 hours per week.
Resources Used in Performing the Job Include (but are not limited to):
Standard office equipment and software platforms such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite. Telephone, fax, copier, computer, stamp machine, badge machine, calculator.
Physical/Cognitive Requirements:
Regularly required to stand and move throughout a room and/or facility. Communicates verbally and electronically. Uses hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. Frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl. Occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, and drive. May have occasion to perform heavy lifting up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and private automobile. Some evening or weekend work and travel may be required.
Environmental Conditions:
Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage. Some sitting, standing, bending, and reaching may be required. Some occasional travel is required for meetings and conferences.
Personal Accountability:
- Demonstrates reliability as evidenced by attendance records and punctuality.
- Properly notifies supervisor and/or designee of absences or tardiness.
- Begins and completes work within the allotted time.
- Consistently appears in attire appropriate to the work environment.
- Demonstrates skill in the use of equipment, including its capabilities, limitations, and appropriate/special applications.
- Protects the district’s resources through appropriate and careful use of supplies and equipment.
- Utilizes appropriate body mechanics to aid in the prevention of muscle strain/injury.
Santa Fe Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, medical/genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.