HR & Operations Director

HR & Operations Director

Political Research Associates seeks an HR & Operations Director to continuously improve and implement systems and processes that help our staff and organization succeed.

WHO WE ARE:

Political Research Associates is a social justice research and strategy center devoted to supporting organizations, civic leaders, journalists, and social sectors that are building a more just and inclusive democratic society. We provide changemakers with strategic insights and actionable research in order to identify, disrupt, and compete with movements and institutions that undermine democracy, justice, and human rights.

PRA produces investigative reports, articles, and tools; publishes the peer-reviewed magazine The Public Eye; advises social justice movement organizers; and offers expert commentary for local and national media outlets. Our core issue areas span reproductive justice, LGBTQ rights, racial and immigrant justice, civil liberties, and economic justice. Our office is located in Somerville, Massachusetts.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

The ideal candidate will be a mission-aligned professional with specific expertise in human resources and labor-management relations, as well as social justice nonprofit operations, management, and governance. PRA’s Strategic Plan emphasizes our commitment to prioritizing culture of equity, inclusion, and transparency to foreground sustainability of work at PRA. The HR & Operations Director is primarily responsible for the following:

Human Resources

Manage all human resources functions for a growing national non-profit (25-35 employees)

• Lead a process to enhance, implement, and enforce progressive HR policies and procedures for the organization. Document and communicate changes to keep staff and management informed. Emphasize feedback, evaluation, and learning to ensure that PRA endures as an adaptable, strategic, and effective organization
• Collaborate with the Managing Director and small HR & Operations team to deliver excellence and efficiencies in PRA’s day-to-day and overall HR operations including, but not limited to, timekeeping, payroll, benefits management, HRIS platform (BambooHR), org policy implementation and communications, employee relations, and staff experience and culture; including planning retreats and monthly meetings.
• Oversee the full life cycle of recruiting and employee engagement initiatives related to hiring, onboarding, retention, and offboarding; manage professional development and training, and annual performance evaluations.
• Foster respect and dignity in the workplace through a JEDI-informed approach and facilitate the positive resolution of conflicts as they arise; manage grievance and disciplinary matters across the organization.
• Manage and conduct supportive supervision of your direct reports and steward their skill-development, including regular 1:1 and team meetings for assigning tasks, exchanging feedback, troubleshooting, work planning, and goal setting.
• Serve as a key labor relations representative for PRA. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of collective bargaining agreement, employee and labor relations trends, guiding laws and statutory changes; and represent PRA management in meetings and negotiations. Liaise with legal counsel as needed.
• Engage in committees and other cross-departmental team-building activities.
• Advise and inform senior leadership about emerging issues and matters requiring their attention. Prepare reports and analyze trends on a regular basis.
• Participate in strategic decision-making as a member of PRA’s senior leadership team.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with compassion and care.

Operations

• Develop and improve systems that facilitate seamless office administration, technology, and communication systems in remote work environments and Somerville, MA office. Oversee procurement and maintenance of PRA laptops and software required for day-to-day operations.
• Oversee vendor and other contract management activities. Identify, select, and work with vendors and contractors (e.g., technology support, accounting) to support organizational activities. Establish and maintain relationships with contractors, and external collaborators; monitor contractual agreements; and resolve problems as needed.
• Oversee physical safety and digital security initiatives and protocols.
• Oversee general office administration of Somerville, MA site, including facilities & equipment, mail, records, and deposits.
• Support PRA’s efforts to maintain compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, such as engaging in recordkeeping, audit preparation, state registrations, and related administrative tasks in collaboration with PRA’s Board, Directors team, and HR & Operations team as needed.

The HR & Operations Director reports to the Managing Director, and currently supervises two staff positions.

WHO YOU ARE & KEYS TO SUCCESS:

To be successful in this job, you will excel in four areas:

• Inclusive leadership and management: Apply your experience with anti-racist organizational change and organizational equity and inclusion  practices in hiring, policymaking, and employee relations. Racial, gender, and economic justice are elemental to your understanding of social justice and your practice of equitable leadership and staff supervision. You bring a clear vision and value others’ perspectives. You are practiced at aligning multiple parties around shared goals. You’re able to make decisions in the best interest of the organization and communicate clearly.

• Skillfully juggle multiple priorities with attention to detail: Maintain high standards for accuracy, clear communication and documentation, and timeliness. Balance time-sensitive completion of tasks with long-range ideation and planning. Able to exercise good judgment, think critically in sensitive situations, and manage confidential information. Your prior experience with employee/labor relations and rules, compensation and benefits administration, and organizational planning and development gives you confidence in streamlining processes and procedures. You’re a planner and eagerly adopt (or create new) systems and technology for keeping yourself and others on task.

• Models and inspires accountability: Inspire and motivate others to take action and meet goals. Delegates skillfully. Holds the team accountable and acknowledges growing edges (in self and others). You make sure all members of the team understand and implement their roles and responsibilities. You set and hold a high bar for quality, can prioritize among competing demands, and ask for help when you need it.

• Strategic mind: Develop insightful, pragmatic, equitable, and sustainable ways to anticipate and resolve common challenges, solve problems, and produce positive change. Build on your successful track record of taking a concept from idea to implementation. Act strategically, assess risks, and streamline processes and procedures.

SALARY, BENEFITS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Salary: This is a full-time salaried position ($90,000-$100,000/year).

Paid Time off:

• Paid Vacation Leave: 15 paid vacation days per year
• Paid Holidays:  3 PRA Holidays + 12 Choose-your-own Holidays
• Paid Office Closures: 5 day Winter Break
• Paid Health & Wellness Leave: 6 hours accrued per pay period up to 200 hours
• Additional: 4-day/32-hour work week pilot starting in Spring 2023. Eligible for 2 month paid sabbatical after reaching 5 years tenure. Civic Duty Leave; Bereavement Leave; PFML

Other Benefits:

100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. PRA also offers a 5% employer contribution of salary towards a socially responsible retirement fund, anniversary bonuses, as well as fabulous colleagues in a collaborative working environment and $1000 professional development.

Location:

Remote or Greater-Boston area. This position is eligible for telecommuting or you can work from our office in Somerville, Massachusetts. Preference for individuals located within commuting distance of our office for access and ease of coordination. Relocation assistance is provided. PRA’s virtual office hours are 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET, but we offer flexible schedules to all employees.

This position is not included in the PRA Staff Union (Washington-Baltimore News Guild, CWA Local 32035).

Political Research Associates is committed to hiring someone with the right mix of experience (both traditional and nontraditional), social justice commitment, and potential to grow with us. We strongly encourage people from communities most negatively affected by right-wing ideologies & campaigns to apply, particularly: people of color; immigrants; women and feminine-identified people; lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and Two-Spirit people; genderqueer, trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming people.