Human Resources Manager

About Lotusland:

Ganna Walska Lotusland is a 37-acre botanical garden and historic estate located in Montecito featuring a collection of over 3,000 plant species from around the world as well as historically significant Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.  Since opening to the public in 1993, Ganna Walska Lotusland has grown to become one of the world’s premier botanical gardens and a center for sustainable garden practices, horticultural education and plant conservation.

Position Description:
Ganna Walska Lotusland is a world-class cultural destination, as well as an important horticultural institution, in large part because of the dedicated people who bring their exceptional talent and expertise to work every day. Lotusland is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager to manage all functional areas of our human resources needs including employee engagement, employee relations, recruitment, compliance, as well as training and development for our team of 40-50 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. The position frequently interacts with administrative, garden, and visitor services team members and provides daily HR guidance to Lotusland managers and supervisors and must have thorough knowledge of human resources principles, industry practices, employment law, and regulatory requirements.

The successful candidate will act as an employee champion and build rapport with employees and business partners, as well as demonstrate a clear understanding of confidentiality and professionalism. The Human Resources Manager plays a critical role in advancing Lotusland’s mission and values, creating an inclusive, equitable, and collaborative work culture for our entire team.

The Human Resources Manager reports to the Director of Finance and works closely with the Executive Director.

The Human Resource Manager supervises one part-time Human Resources Administrator.

Position Responsibilities:

Policies and Administration

• Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law. Maintains compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and recommended best practices.
• Updates and maintains the Employee Handbook and other policies and makes recommendations for policy or practice improvements. Implements policies and communicates changes to the staff.
• Analyzes market trends in compensation and benefits to comparable organizations, researches and proposes competitive base and incentive pay programs to ensure the organization attracts and retains top talent.
• Maintains accurate and confidential employee records as well as ensures accuracy and consistency in job descriptions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Recruitment and Onboarding

• Manages the recruitment process: collaborates with department managers to understand skills and competencies required and build job descriptions. Posts openings, screens applicants, coordinates interviews with managers, performs reference checks, completes and extends offer letters to successful candidates.
• Manages employee onboarding and exit processes.

Pay and Benefits Administration

• Manages bi-weekly payroll for all employees, maintains payroll records and produces reports.
• Coordinates Workers’ Compensation including filing and managing claims.
• Manages benefit plans working with third party administrators and evaluates benefit plans for quality and competitiveness.
• Manages unemployment claims and reporting, and other leaves.

Training and Development

• Creates learning and development programs and initiatives that provide internal development opportunities for employees.
• Coordinates recommended trainings for staff to align with legal requirements and best practices.

People and Culture

• Cultivates interpersonal relationships that encourage openness and trust. Represents the needs of employees and advocates as necessary and balance the needs of management and the organization.
• Develops a workplace culture that elevates diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.
• Ensures a workplace free from harassment, retaliation, and inappropriate behavior.
• Provides support and guidance to management and other staff when sensitive questions and issues arise.
• Mitigates risk by resolving employee relations and conflict issues.
• Oversees the Performance Review process with management.
• Oversees employee disciplinary meetings, exit interviews, terminations, and investigations.

Education and Experience:

• 3-5 years Human Resource management experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; SHRM or other HR certification is desired.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, judgement, and a knack for problem solving.
• Receptive to the ideas of others and able to balance different and conflicting needs and concerns.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, discretion, and hold sensitive information.
• Conscientious and detail oriented with an appreciation for accurate recordkeeping and documentation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be Microsoft Office suite proficient.
• Paylocity experience preferred.
• Ability to meet critical deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to organize and prioritize tasks is crucial.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license, have reliable transportation and be insurable with company auto policy.

Benefits

• 100% employer sponsored paid health insurance for base HMO plan. Option to elect to upgrade health, dental coverage, vision. and life.
• 403(b) Retirement plan.
• 96 hours of paid vacation and sick per year, accrue in separate banks.
• 11 paid company holidays.

Work Environment:

Lotusland’s administrative offices are located in a historic 2-story estate located on a 37-acre garden.

• General office environment within the garden setting of Lotusland.
• Requires working outdoor occasionally for events or programs and the ability to comfortably move around the garden.

Additional Information/Physical Requirements:

• The successful candidate must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. An exception to the COVID vaccine requirement may be provided to individuals for religious or medical reasons.

• Frequent work on the telephone and computer (repetitive movement – typing).
• Frequent standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs and bending with occasional lifting of light to moderate loads (25 lbs).
• Employment background/criminal check is required

We will accept Letters of Interest and Resumes until the position is filled. No phone calls, please.

Lotusland acknowledges that equal employment opportunity for all persons is a fundamental human value. Each employee will be considered on the basis of individual ability and merit, without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sex, or marital status.

To Apply:

To be considered, please send a complete application:

1) your resume

2) cover letter and

3) three references with email contact information to:  Fiona Brennan, Director of Finance:  fbrennan@lotusland.org

For more information, visit:  www.lotusland.org