Work at NBSS

Position Title: Human Resources Senior Specialist
Date Posted: September 16, 2026
Reports To: President        
FLSA: Exempt

Founded in 1881, North Bennet Street School (NBSS) is one of the nation’s oldest schools for hands-on training in traditional trades and fine craftsmanship. Located in Boston’s historic North End, NBSS offers full-time career training programs in Bookbinding, Carpentry, Cabinet & Furniture Making, Jewelry Making & Repair, Locksmithing & Security Technology, Piano Technology, Preservation Carpentry, and Violin Making & Repair, along with more than 100 Community Education
workshops each year. Guided by the founding philosophy of “Slöyd”—the belief that mastering hand skills builds character and capacity—NBSS helps students from around the world achieve meaningful lives and livelihoods.

Position Summary

NBSS is looking for an experienced Human Resources Senior Specialist to own the day-to-day human resources function for the School. Reporting to the President and working closely with the Controller, this individual-contributor role is a great fit for an HR professional who enjoys leading the full employee lifecycle—recruitment, onboarding, benefits, employee relations, and compliance—in a small, mission-driven community. You’ll be the go-to HR resource for staff and faculty, helping to sustain a workplace culture rooted in craftsmanship, respect, and care.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the School’s primary HR point of contact, keeping the President and Controller informed on HR matters and workforce needs
• Manage full-cycle recruitment for staff and faculty positions, from job descriptions through offer letters
• Design and lead new hire onboarding, including orientation and benefits enrollment
• Administer employee benefits programs with the Controller, and serve as liaison with brokers and carriers
• Support compensation benchmarking, job classification, and salary administration
• Serve as the point of contact for employee relations matters, and coordinate workplace investigations
• Advise managers on performance management, coaching, and disciplinary actions
• Help ensure HR practices comply with federal, Massachusetts, and local employment law
• Maintain the employee handbook, HR policy library, and confidential personnel records
• Lead annual performance review cycles, employee engagement initiatives, and HR special projects

Responsibilities

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive HR experience, with demonstrated ownership of recruitment, benefits, employee relations, and compliance
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field preferred, or equivalent experience
• PHR, SHRM-CP, or similar certification preferred
• Experience operating as a primary or senior HR contact in a small organization, nonprofit, higher education, or trade/vocational school setting preferred
• Strong working knowledge of Massachusetts and federal employment law
• Comfort managing day-to-day HR programs with general oversight from leadership
• Excellent communication skills and sound judgment handling confidential information
• A collaborative spirit and enthusiasm for working in a small, close-knit team

Pay Range

The compensation range for this position is $95,000-105,000. In addition, NBSS offers a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes health, dental, group life and disability insurances, a retirement plan with employer contributions, and generous time off. This is an on-site position in Boston, MA with some flexibility to accommodate occasional offsite work, especially during the summer months.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@nbss.edu with “HR Senior Specialist” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through October 30, 2026.

Position Title: Accounts Payable & Payroll Specialist
Date Posted: July 30, 2026
Reports To: Controller        
FLSA: Exempt

One of the nation’s oldest schools for hands-on training in traditional trades and fine craftsmanship, North Bennet Street School (NBSS) is internationally known for its programs that help students to achieve meaningful lives and livelihoods. For more than a century, the exceptional programs, master faculty, and inspiring community have encouraged individual growth, curiosity, technical mastery, and commitment to excellence.

The School offers full-time programs in Bookbinding, Carpentry, Cabinet & Furniture Making, Jewelry Making & Repair, Locksmithing & Security Technology, Piano Technology, Preservation Carpentry, and Violin Making & Repair. In addition, NBSS provides continuing education classes in a range of related disciplines. The School is located at an impressive, new facility in Boston’s historic North End, the community in which it was originally founded in 1881.

Position Summary

North Bennet Street School seeks an Accounts Payable & Payroll Specialist to manage the full accounts payable cycle and process payroll. This role works closely with Finance, Human Resources, vendors, and employees to ensure accurate financial transactions, timely payroll processing, and compliance with accounting and payroll regulation.

Key Responsibilities

• Process vendor invoices and payments (check, ACH, and wire)
• Work with Bursar’s office to process financial aid refunds
• Maintain vendor records, W-9s, and annual 1099 reporting
• Administer the corporate credit card program and expense reconciliations
• Process biweekly payroll, including new hires, terminations, and employee changes
• Manage payroll deductions, taxes, retirement contributions, and garnishments
• Prepare payroll journal entries and reconcile payroll-related accounts
• Assist with month-end close, audits, and student refund reconciliations
• Identify opportunities to improve and automate AP and payroll processes

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience
• Three or more years of experience in accounts payable and payroll 
• Knowledge of GAAP, payroll regulations, and accounts payable practices
• Strong Excel skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent communication and organizational skills

Preferred

• Experience in higher education, independent schools, or nonprofit organizations
• QuickBooks experience
• Expensify or similar expense management software
• ADP Workforce Now

Compensation & Benefits

• $65,000–$75,000 annual salary
• Comprehensive medical, life, disability, and retirement benefits
• Generous paid time off
• Professional development opportunities
• Hybrid work schedule with regular on-site presence in Boston’s North End

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@nbss.edu with “Accounting Specialist” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through August 31, 2026.

Position Title: Career Services & Alumni Engagement Coordinator
Date Posted: September 23, 2026
Reports To: Director of Student Support & Career Services       
FLSA: Non-exempt

Founded in 1881, North Bennet Street School (NBSS) is one of the nation’s oldest schools for hands-on training in traditional trades and fine craftsmanship. Located in Boston’s historic North End, NBSS offers full-time career training programs in Bookbinding, Carpentry, Cabinet & Furniture Making, Jewelry Making & Repair, Locksmithing & Security Technology, Piano Technology, Preservation Carpentry, and Violin Making & Repair, along with more than 100 Community Education workshops each year. Guided by the founding philosophy of “sloyd” — the belief that mastering hand skills builds character and capacity — NBSS helps students from around the world achieve meaningful lives and livelihoods. Additional information is online at www.nbss.edu.

Position Summary

NBSS is seeking a proactive, highly organized Career Services & Alumni Engagement Coordinator to help support our mission of providing students with robust, seamless transition support as they graduate and move into the workforce.

In this role, your primary focus will be building out our alumni and jobs database and supporting in-house career networking events. You will also assist in delivering resource access, experiential learning, and ongoing alumni engagement—adapting daily to meet the evolving needs of our current students. This is a hybrid position.

Key Responsibilities

1. Systems & Database Management (Primary Focus)

• Job Board Maintenance: Regularly source, audit, and post new employment and internship opportunities to keep the jobs database fresh and accessible.
• Alumni Database Expansion: Research, track, and input alumni data to build a strong network for current students to connect with.
• Student Outreach & Compliance: Conduct outbound calls to students regarding career preparation, ACCSC Business Course requirements, and post-grad tracking.

2. Event Coordination & Experiential Learning (Primary Focus)

• In-House Networking Events: Assist with planning, setting up, promoting, and hosting on-site networking events, trade shows, and industry meetups.
• Lunch & Learn Workshops: Help curate and coordinate program-specific workshops focused on career readiness, professional development, and resume building.

3. Student & Alumni Support

• Internship Support: Source and provide information on internship applications, expectations and deadlines for current students. 
• Alumni Outreach: Serve as an approachable point of contact to maintain active connections with graduates and facilitate long-term mentorship opportunities.

4. Real-time Student Support & General Operations

• Adaptable Student Assistance: Step in to assist students with immediate, day-to-day career readiness inquiries and support requests as they arise.
• Flexible Support: Perform other duties, administrative tasks, and special projects as needed to support overall student success and departmental goals.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree
• Perferred: Previous experience working with alumni and/or in career services
• Data & Tech Savvy: Strong organizational skills with an expertise in database management, data entry, and software tools (MS Excel, Google Workspace, CRMs/Job Boards)
• Event Planning: Eagerness to assist with logistics, promotion, and hosting for interactive in-house events.
• Strong Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills; comfortable reaching out to alumni, students, and employers via phone and email.
• Adaptability & Initiative: A strong problem-solver who can pivot quickly to support real-time student needs with empathy and professionalism.

Compensation & Benefits

Part-time, non-benefitted. $27-$32 an hour for 15-18 hours a week from when the position is filled through the end of June, 2027.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@nbss.edu with “Career Services & Alumni Engagement Coordinator” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through October 15, 2026.