People & Culture Specialist

TITLE

People & Culture Specialist

REPORTS TO

People & Culture Coordinator

SUPERVISES

N/A

TEAM/DEPT

People & Place

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

PT/FT STATUS

Full Time

SCHEDULE

Monday - Friday; Occasional evenings and weekend work hours may be required.

The People & Culture Specialist is responsible for working with Highlander’s leadership and the People & Culture Coordinator to support key human resources functions in regards to creating and maintaining administrative processes and records; providing key hiring, onboarding, and off-boarding support; administering benefits; supporting compliance and safety practices; and meeting organizational expectations

Approx. % of time / frequency

Key Responsibilities

30%

Create & Maintain HR Administrative Processes & Records

• Work with the People & Culture Coordinator and Personnel & Human Resources Committee to support the maintenance, development, and evaluation of all human resources practices and policies

• Maintain personnel files and consider ways to enhance and improve staff access to records and policies through an HRIS

• Identify ways to thoughtfully track applicant, team, and organizational demographics as needed in a way that ensures staff’s social identities are acknowledged and honored

• Support accommodation requests as needed and develop consistent accommodation practices

• Support the People & Culture Coordinator with implementing and improving organizational assessments, training, performance evaluations, and other employee engagement and leadership development efforts

• Serve as the technical and logistics point person for all HR systems; explore and recommend systems improvements

• Work with the Personnel & Human Resources Committee to share updates and support the implementation of new processes, when necessary

25%

Provide Key Hiring, Onboarding, and Off-Boarding Support

• Provide key hiring support to cross-team hiring committees including coordinating job posts, building diverse and innovative outreach strategies, and maintaining interview guides and other templates

• Coordinate orientation, on-boarding and off-boarding of new and transitioning staff

• Create and manage required documentation (such as I-9s, state employment registrations, background checks, etc.) for new and terminated employees with intention, care, and a worker-justice approach

• Record new hires, terminations, changes in positions, and salary increases in personnel files and HRIS system

25%

Administer Benefits

• Use Highlander’s automated systems to streamline benefits administration, prepare and process required benefits documents (health, vision, dental, retirement, COBRA, HRAs, life insurance, and disability insurance) for active, new, and transitioning employees

• Work with Finance staff to support benefits administration and leave tracking as needed for payroll and budgeting

• Coordinate with staff who take parental or sabbatical leave or short term/long term disability leave; process any state or organizational forms

• Serve as the internal point person for questions about organizational benefits

• Work closely with People & Culture Coordinator, Co-Executive Directors, Finance, and insurance brokers to manage annual renewals

• Track staff development funds and other funds/stipends as benefits expand (Highlander staff only)

15%

Support Compliance & Safety Practices

• Maintain awareness and knowledge of local, state, and national labor laws and ensure staff are fully informed and equipped for safe practices

• Work with the Building and Grounds staff, Office Manager, and Radical Hospitality staff to ensure workplace safety is practiced and prioritized at all times (e.g., appropriate signage is posted, workplace safety inspections are held and documented, etc.)

• Conduct a workers’ compensation audit annually, and ensure staff are resourced with any necessary filing or related support

5%

Meet Organizational Expectations

• Attend and participate in monthly staff meetings

• Participate in other committee work as assigned and/or for which you volunteer (i.e., hiring committees, organizational budgeting, language justice learning institute)

• Seek out and participate in training to enhance competency in job duties and development as a staff person in a values-driven, progressive workplace.

• Other duties as assigned

Required:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office

• Familiarity with HRIS systems

• Familiarity with benefits administration

• Meticulous attention to detail & follow-through

• Excellent writing, communicating, and organizational skills

Required:

• A keen eye for detail and a people-centered and pro-worker democratic approach

• Ability to maintain utmost confidentiality of personnel information as required by law

• Ability to use sound judgment in complicated situations

• Aptitude and desire for working within a nonprofit and multi-cultural environment