Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank conveniently located in downtown Washington, DC, is seeking an experienced Director of Human Resources to help develop and manage our growing staff of scholars and administrative support personnel (now about 210 staff). This senior management level position will oversee recruitment, benefits administration, compliance with labor law, human resource policy and procedures, performance review process, salary administration, and employee relations. In addition, the Director of Human Resources will work closely with the CFO and Chief of Staff to develop strategies, policies, and initiatives associated with training and development and other human resources activities for the entire organization. 

This position will report to the CFO and will have three direct reports, consisting of two managers and one assistant. A qualified candidate will have at least seven years’ experience as a Human Resource professional, expertise in labor law (particularly with FLSA, FMLA, some immigration policies and procedures), a strong work ethic, a proactive and collaborative nature, experience in organization and cultural change management, and philosophical alignment with Cato Institute’s mission. 

The projected salary range for this role is $140,000 - $170,000 per year. Compensation is based on the successful candidate's educational background, experience, and skills.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION, YOU MUST COMPLETE THE TALENT MARKET APPLICATION!

About Cato 

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization—a think tank—dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues. 

Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Major Areas of Responsibility 

• Define, document, and provide oversight and management of the recruitment, new employee onboarding, and separation processes 
• Drive adoption, compliance, and continuous improvement of the individual performance management process 
• Administer and continuously improve the salary, title, and raise process 
• Become an expert super-user of the HCM system (Paylocity) 
• Drive adoption and use of HR online self-service tools 
• Ensure compliance and on-time reporting in accordance with IRS, DOL, and other government regulators 
• Set, communicate, and drive adherence and alignment to the organization’s policies, processes, and procedures; review and make recommendations annually 
• Handle employee relations and personnel issues, consult with legal counsel as appropriate or as directed by Senior Management. 
• Oversee benefits administration and compliance managed by the Human Resources Manager 
• Recommend, evaluate, and coordinate staff development opportunities for staff 
• Support general operations of the organization, help maintain a strong organizational culture 

Requirements 

• At least seven years of HR management experience, preferably in not-for-profit organization 
• Mission aligned with an understanding the values of our libertarian culture; ability to successfully apply those ideals throughout this function 
• BA/BS in Human Resources Administration, Business Administration, or a related field strongly preferred 
• Deep understanding of core HR processes and labor law 
• Excellent oral and written communications skills 
• High degree of proficiency in MS Office – Word, PowerPoint, Excel 
• Experience and proficiency in use of HRIS (currently using Paylocity) 
• Proactive, collaborative, team-oriented 
• Thorough knowledge of the general principles and practices of human resources administration 
• Knowledge of and experience with sound techniques in all aspects of human resources management, including a proven track record in hiring judgment 
• Demonstrated ability to develop long-term plans and programs and to evaluate work accomplishments 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with management staff, employees, and network partners 
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees and outside contacts at all levels (both in oral and written form) and handle multiple tasks simultaneously 
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, as well as attention to detail 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented work environment 
• Ideal candidate embraces AI and actively seeks opportunities to use it to streamline processes and improve operational efficiency 
• Proven experience leading and managing multi-state payroll and benefits compliance in a highly regulated environment 

Benefits

All Cato employees are provided with:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance 
• 401(k) employer match
• Transit/ Parking benefits 
• Pet discount plan

To Apply 

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document: 

• Cover letter including: 

                - An introductory paragraph describing why you are drawn to Cato Institute’s mission and how you came to those beliefs 

                - Your interest in the Director of Human Resources role 

                - Your salary requirements 

• Resume 

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: https://talentmarket.org/candidates/apply-for-your-dream-job/ 

Questions can be directed to Claire Kittle Dixon, President of Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: claire@talentmarket.org. 

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled. 

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please. 

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.