Human Resources Director

Job Title

Human Resources Director

Summary/Objective:

To strengthen Watered Gardens Ministries by cultivating a healthy, Christ-centered workplace in which employees are equipped, supported, and accountable to advance the mission. The Human Resources Director provides ministry-wide leadership for recruiting, employee relations, compensation and benefits administration, policy development, legal compliance, and staff development across all Watered Gardens locations.

The ideal candidate has a deep love for the Church with a sincere appreciation for the ecumenical nature of the larger Body of Christ. This person will also have a love for the poor, understanding the responsibility of charity that rests with God’s people.

Essential Functions

• Mission and culture. Champion Watered Gardens’ mission, statement of faith, values, and standards of servant conduct throughout the employee experience.
• Human resources leadership. Develop and carry out HR strategies, systems, policies, and annual goals that support ministry priorities across all campuses and programs.
• Recruiting and hiring. Lead workforce planning, job-description development, recruitment, interviewing, reference and background checks, offers, and hiring documentation in partnership with supervisors.
• Onboarding and orientation. Provide a consistent onboarding process that prepares employees to understand and operate within the ministry’s mission, culture, policies, safety practices, and expectations for their roles.
• Employee relations. Serve as a trusted resource to employees and supervisors; address concerns promptly, conduct fair and well-documented investigations, facilitate biblical conflict resolution, and recommend appropriate corrective action.
• Policies and compliance. Lead in the development and maintenance of an employee handbook and personnel policies; monitor applicable employment laws and regulations; and help ensure consistent, lawful, and mission-aligned employment practices.
• Compensation, benefits, and leave. Administer or coordinate compensation, benefits, payroll-related HR processes, workers’ compensation, and employee leave, including accurate records and timely communication.
• HR systems and records. Maintain complete, confidential personnel records and accurate HR-system data; prepare reports and track workforce metrics for leadership and board use as requested.
• Training and development. Assess staff-development needs and coordinate training for supervisors and employees in leadership, workplace conduct, safety, compliance, and ministry culture.
• Safety and risk management. Partner with operational leaders to strengthen workplace safety, injury reporting, return-to-work processes, and practices that protect employees, volunteers, guests, and the ministry.
• Volunteer partnership. Coordinate with staff responsible for Watered Gardens’ substantial volunteer workforce so that screening, conduct expectations, training, and incident-response practices align appropriately with ministry policies.
• Leadership participation. Serve on the ministry leadership team, provide sound counsel on people-related decisions, attend staff and leadership meetings, and complete other duties necessary to advance the mission.

Requirements

• A mature and growing Christian faith, agreement with Watered Gardens Ministries’ statement of faith, and a demonstrated commitment to biblical standards of character and servant leadership.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, organizational leadership, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• At least three years of progressively responsible human resources experience, including meaningful experience advising supervisors and resolving employee-relations matters.
• Working knowledge of employment law, wage-and-hour requirements, leave administration, benefits, workers’ compensation, workplace investigations, and personnel-record practices.
• Ability to navigate H.R/employer requirements for employees who live in states other than Missouri.
• Strong judgment, emotional maturity, confidentiality, integrity, and the courage to address difficult issues directly and graciously.
• Excellent interpersonal, listening, conflict-resolution, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to build trust and work effectively with employees and volunteers from varied backgrounds while maintaining clear ministry standards and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, follow-through, and the ability to manage multiple priorities across approximately five ministry campuses.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office; experience with Gusto or a comparable HR/payroll information system preferred. SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.
• A servant’s conduct

Employment Details

This is a full-time salaried position that reports directly to the CEO and works alongside the VPs of Advancement, Operations, and Marketing/Communications.

· 3% IRA match

· ½ medical/dental/vision insurance reimbursement

· PTO as needed

· Relocation assistance

· Salary range: 50-55K

The VPO must live in Joplin, MO or the immediate area.

Alignment with Watered Gardens Ministries’ Statements of Course that includes our statements of faith, biblical sexuality, and funding philosophy:

Statement of Faith

• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, ultimate authoritative Word of God.

• We believe there is one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is Deity, that He was born of a virgin, was sinless during His life on earth, that we are redeemed by His atoning death through His shed blood, that He bodily resurrected and ascended into heaven, and that He will come again in power and great glory.

• We believe that individuals are saved through the exercise of a singular, exclusive faith in the risen Lord, at which time they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and sets them apart from evil in the world.

• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whom Christ indwells each believer, enabling him or her to live a godly life of obedience as he or she reaches for maturity.

• We believe the Holy Spirit unites all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and that together they form one body, the church.

Statement of Biblical Sexuality

The organization of Watered Gardens embraces the historic orthodox Christian understanding of Scripture and its teachings with regard to human sexuality, marriage, and the family. Accordingly, we affirm sexuality is a gift from God and basic to human identity and that sexual intimacy is to take place within the context of a marriage covenant between a naturally born man and a naturally born woman in which they vow and commit, with God’s help, to build a faithful relationship that will last for a lifetime (Genesis 2:18, 21-24; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19:4-9). The sexual union between a husband and wife has been designed by God to bring them together as “one flesh,” creating the context within which to build a family and to serve as a symbol of the holy relationship between Jesus Christ and his Church (Genesis 2:18-24, Ephesians 5:31-32). Jesus affirms the marital covenant as existing between a naturally born man and a naturally born woman (Matthew 19:4-9). By God’s design, marriage also serves as the cornerstone for reproduction and the subsequent parenting of children to become responsible members of society. The New Testament teaches that followers of Jesus are to remain celibate outside the covenant of marriage. A person who engages in sexual unions outside the bond of marriage sins against his or her own body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). The Bible expressly forbids such acts as adultery, homosexual acts, fornication, rape, incest, prostitution, and bestiality. (See, e.g., Exodus 20:14; Acts 15:20; Romans 1:24-28; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; Galatians 5:19; 1 Timothy 1:10.) While affirming these teachings on the divine purpose of marriage and human sexuality, Watered Gardens also affirms the biblical truth that all human beings have value, dignity, and eternal worth because they are created by God and bear His image. Watered Gardens regards the practice of sexual activity outside the bounds of a monogamous heterosexual marriage as a departure from biblical teaching and Christian virtue. While Watered Gardens does not regard the practice of sexual sin as a worse evil than other sin, it acknowledges the unique and devastating effects of sexual sin, which compromises our personhood and bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit.

Statement of Philosophy

Our commitment to serve the Church in its mission to help the poor is based in the Biblical mandate to care for those in need (Isaiah 58:7) We believe the means and methodology matter. James Madison said, “Charity is no part of the legislative duty of government.” True charity is a product of individual compassion and is never the byproduct or outcome of legislation. Watered Gardens is a privately funded mission that will continue to abstain from any government funding. We believe that government funded help directly conflicts with the principle of subsidiarity, and we always seek first to direct people to local, private sources of help before referring them to government funded sources. The inherent value of a person (Gen 1:26) is most realized through the exercise of skill for creative production (Gen 2:15). We believe handouts to the poor diminish a person’s conception of his worth and potential. Therefore, we endeavor to employ a person’s effort in exchange for what he or she needs whenever possible.

Core Values

Relationship: Every person is meant to be with another.

Redemption: Every person is meant to be with God.

Hope: Every person should see an end to his poverty.

Human Dignity: Every person is a noble creation.

If you align well with these values, are passionate about our mission to serve the Church, qualified to perform the duties associated with this role and ready to couple great challenge with great reward, we encourage you to apply.

Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Watered Gardens is a religious (Christian) nonprofit. Are you willing to sign a traditional Christian statement of faith?
• In 300 words or less, describe why you're interested in this specific position.
• Describe any experience you have serving in poverty alleviation.

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• human resources: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Joplin, MO 64801

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