Human Resources Manager

Position Overview

CJA is seeking a detail-oriented and caring individual to join our team as the Human Resources Manager. This position will build collaborative relationships across CJA in order to champion our people-centric culture, and will implement and refine HR strategies to enhance staff engagement, development, and wellbeing. This position reports to the Operations Director, and works in collaboration with the Compliance Manager, Finance Controller, and other CJA staff as assigned.

Location: Remote, within the United States

About Climate Justice Alliance

Climate Justice Alliance (CJA) was formed in 2013 to create a new center of gravity in the climate movement by uniting frontline communities and organizations into a formidable force. Our translocal organizing strategy and mobilizing capacity is building a Just Transition away from extractive systems of production, consumption and political oppression, and towards resilient, regenerative and equitable economies. We believe that the process of transition must place race, gender and class at the center of the solutions equation in order to make it a truly Just Transition.

We are a unique alliance of 88 community, frontline, and environmental justice organizations; movement networks; and support organizations at the forefront of climate change. Our members are multicultural, intergenerational, and prioritize leadership among women, gender-oppressed, and persons of color. They come from traditionally underrepresented constituencies, including Indigenous Peoples, African American, Latinx, Asian Pacific Islander, and low-income white communities, often often located near toxic, polluting industries such as oil refineries, fracking wells, coal mines, power plants, and pipelines; rails, ports, and other major transportation corridors; landfills and incinerators; and industrial agriculture.

Core Responsibilities

Organizational Culture (30%)

• Contribute to the ongoing development and implementation of strategic people suppor programs that champion CJA’s values and a supportive, inclusive, and equitable working environment for all staff
• Partner with the Operations Team to deliver regular HR communications to staff that enhance staff experience and clarity around organizational policies, and ensure clarity of and access to key HR resources
• Participate in cross-functional work such as the Racial Affinity Groups, annual retreat planning committees, and employee appreciation spaces

Staff Experience (20%)

• Hiring: 
  • Support recruitment for all open roles to achieve fair and consistent hiring
  •  Lead or participate in hiring processes as needed
  • Maintain hiring related templates, guides, and systems to ensure ease of use
  • Support hiring supervisors in developing job descriptions
• Staff Development: 
  • Promote and drive best practices initiatives that support staff growth and engagement
  • Deliver robust onboarding for all new hires; refresh onboarding for long-term staff
  • Provide direct support, coaching, and thought partnership for staff in various aspects of HR
  • Promote and support a culture of open and constructive feedback, staff consultation, learning, and accountability
  • Oversee annual performance evaluations process, and ensure completion of three-month evaluations upon completion of new-hire onboarding 
  • Develop and support professional growth pathways for support, in partnership with supervisors
  • Assist with building out staff growth and development pathways
  • Develop and deliver trainings that enhance staff experience and promote CJA’s values
  • Support CJA’s staff and supervisors through accountability processes as needed. 

HR Service, Operations, and Compliance (40%)

• Provide efficient, professional, timely, and compassionate HR support on a wide variety of topics
• Maintain knowledge of HR industry trends and policy updates relevant to the nonprofit sector
• Work to ensure compliance with state and federal employment laws and regulations, appropriate record keeping, state tax accounts, and benefits administration
• Ensure and maintain legal compliance in all staff matters
• Collaborate with finance team on various components of payroll processing, with ownership over:
  • Bi-weekly payroll processing
  • Payroll related accounting via regular entry support and validation
  • Documentation of monthly unpaid salary accrual for hourly workers
• Collaborate with Finance team on various components of 401k administration, with ownership over:
  • Education of new employees on CJA’s 401k plan
  • Completion of reporting requirements
  • Fielding employee questions or needs related to 401k administration 
• Collaborate with the Operations Director to ensure that HR systems and policies meet the organization's personnel needs; partner to research and implement new systems as needed.

Build Healthy & Sustainable Organizational Work Culture and Other Responsibilities (10%)

• Along with all other staff, this position contributes to CJA’s culture of innovation, teamwork, and continuous learning. They work diligently to collaborate and support each other within and across teams and excel in an environment where every member takes care of their own basic administrative needs.

These tasks represent baseline responsibilities for this position. As CJA grows, there will be possibilities (and sometimes the need to) move into new accountabilities and areas of work.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Human Resources Manager will supervise the Compliance Manager, and possible other Human Resource team roles pending need and hire. 

Expected hours of work

Standard days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m in your time zone.  Daily schedule is flexible within the proximity of this time frame, and will be decided in consultation with the supervisor.

Travel

Infrequent domestic travel (1-2 times per year for all-staff gatherings) would be required for this position. 

Physical duties of this role: Ability to work at a computer and participate in video conferencing, speaking and typing for extended periods of time. 

Occasional physical duties: May occasionally be responsible for supporting with logistics during travel which includes lifting items (not in excess of 25 lbs.), coordinating meals/catering, and driving.

(CJA is willing and able to make reasonable accommodations for candidates who may not be able to fulfill these tasks). 

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years of total experience in Human Resources or a similar role, at least 2 of which have been in an HR role involving extensive staff engagement, is required. Examples of past experience will include organizational culture work, staff training, coaching and facilitation, recruitment and onboarding, HR compliance, and general compensation and benefits work.
• Demonstrated experience in promoting positive staff relations and organizational culture.
•  Proven ability to build trust and goodwill with staff and senior management.
•  Strong communication skills that convey clarity and directness and comfort with individual and group mediation, facilitating conversations, giving and receiving feedback, and openness to generative conflict.
• A keen awareness and ability to consult with staff and adapt practices and processes to address the varied needs and concerns of individuals with diverse backgrounds and cultures in a remote work environment.
•  Experience in supporting organizational effectiveness, staff development, and fair and consistent performance management practices.
• Strong ability to prioritize, manage projects, and work autonomously as well as on a team.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Understanding of and commitment to regenerative economy values, such as racial, economic, and ecological justice; democratic governance; and systems change.
• Proficiency Gusto and Harbor Compliance systems
• Previous experience and ability to work in a remote environment, including experience with remote communication tools (Zoom etc), is ideal
• Experience working in a unionized environment is a plus, but not required.

 Position Type and Compensation

• 100% FTE, exempt position. Annual gross pay is $90,000 (@100%FTE).
• CJA’s 100% FTE benefits package includes:
  • 20 days vacation leave per year;
  • 15 standard holidays per year;
  • 12 sick days per year;
  • 1 month of paid parental leave during first year; eligible for an additional 2 months of paid parental leave in the second year of employment, up to 3 months;
  • 3 month sabbatical leave after 5 years of continuous Full-Time employment 
  • Medical, vision, dental for employees and dependents (requires 30 day waiting period);
  • 100% employer sponsored basic life, short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage;
  • Access to FSA Benefits;
  • Employer-funded HRA;
  • Employer-sponsored 401k with annual employer contribution.

Climate Justice Alliance is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or any other status protected by law. BIPOC and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of May 27th. Please upload your resume and a cover letter to our application portal that addresses why you think you would be a good fit for this position, and the challenges and opportunities you foresee holding HR responsibilities at a movement organization. We look forward to hearing from you!