About People First:
People First of Santa Cruz County is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting people experiencing homelessness by providing essential services, safe shelter, and resources for housing stability. Through programs like the RV Safe Parking Program, the Armory/Overlook Emergency Shelter, and free service guides, People First offers safe parking, emergency shelter, meals, hygiene facilities, transportation, and case management. By uniting the community, fostering partnerships, and advocating for lasting solutions, People First works to ensure everyone in Santa Cruz County has access to stable housing.
The Role:
The Human Resources (HR) Manager plays a vital role in supporting organizational health, ensuring a positive and compliant work environment for staff. This position oversees various aspects of human resources, including recruitment, employee relations, benefits administration, compliance, and HR policy implementation. The HR Manager will work closely with shelter staff and leadership to foster a culture of support, equity, and engagement. Reporting to the Director of Administration, the HR Manager facilitates HR and administrative functions of People First with an empathetic, people-first approach, playing a key role in developing, implementing and iterating policies and procedures for and with the team.
Recruitment & Onboarding
-Manage full-cycle recruitment, including job postings, applicant screening, interviews, and reference checks.
-Facilitate the onboarding process for new employees, ensuring a smooth transition into the organization.
Employee Relations & Support
-Promote an inclusive, trauma-informed workplace culture.
-Serve as a primary HR contact for employee inquiries on policies, benefits, and workplace concerns.
-Support managers in conflict resolution, employee performance plans, and disciplinary procedures.
-Provide educational resources and support for employees facing personal or work-related challenges.
-Advocate for employees in HR matters, including performance concerns and workload issues.
-Uphold People First’s Employee Handbook policies and internal processes.
-Clearly communicate HR policies and procedures to managers and supervisors.
Benefits & Payroll Administration
-Partner with payroll and finance teams to ensure accurate payroll processing.
-Ensure accurate, timely submission of timesheets by working with managers and supervisors. Work with Accountant to facilitate the payroll process.
-Manage and oversee employee benefit programs, and adjust programs as needed annually before the open enrollment period ends.
-Assist employees with benefits enrollment and questions.
-Manage Leave of Absence programs, ensuring proper documentation and clear communication.
Compliance & Policy Implementation
-Maintain accurate, up-to-date employee records and HR documentation.
-Advise managers on HR issues, including compliance, bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
-Collaborate with the Director of Administration on policy development and procedural updates.
-Review and update the employee handbook annually for compliance and policy changes.
-Maintain confidential records of HR matters, including conflicts, successes, and areas for growth.
-Safeguard confidentiality in handling sensitive HR matters.
-Report workplace accidents, manage workers' compensation claims, and maintain thorough records.
-Develop and document ADA accommodation plans in coordination with managers.
-Ensure HIPAA compliance at all times.
-Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
Training & Development
-Research and coordinate staff training programs, including compliance training and professional development opportunities.
-Maintain certification and documentation of trainings that employees have taken to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, as well as People First regulations.
-Support performance management processes, including evaluations and goal-setting.
-Assist with identifying areas for growth both on individual and organizational levels.
HR Systems & Reporting
-Maintain HR databases and generate reports as needed.
-Support HR data tracking and analysis for organizational planning.
-Meet regularly with the Director of Administration to discuss and prioritize tasks, long term career goals, workload, roadblocks, etc.
-Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Experience:
-Bachelor's degree in business or social sciences, or equivalent experience.
-Minimum 2+ years of HR experience, preferably in a nonprofit or social services setting.
-Familiarity with employment laws and HR best practices and ability to implement them in real life situations.
-Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy and discretion.
-Experience with Gusto and payroll systems preferred.
-Commitment to the mission of serving individuals experiencing homelessness.
This position is a full time, nonexempt, benefited position. Full time expectations are 32-40 hours of work per week. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Accommodations can meet the needs of people with all types of neurodivergencies and disabilities as long as they do not pose an unreasonable burden on the employer. To make a reasonable accommodation request, please speak with your direct supervisor about filling out our 'ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form,' which you can write yourself, or contact your supervisor and the two of you can write it together. If there are any concerns or questions, the administrative team will make an assessment as to whether or not the request poses an unreasonable burden on the employer and respond to your request promptly. People First also reserves the right to request additional documentation with regards to the nexus of the disability and reasonable accommodation.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to type, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk and stand for extended periods of time. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to contact@peoplefirstscc.org