ABOUT PEOPLE FIRST OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
People First is a homeless services provider in Santa Cruz County dedicated to ensuring housing for all by uniting the community, forming partnerships, inspiring advocacy and providing services. We regularly update and distribute lists of free services and resources through the County in the form of 4 different Free Guides (Santa Cruz, Watsonville, San Lorenzo Valley, and Veterans). We also launched an Outreach-Based Case Management Program in January which works with homeless and recently housed people throughout the County by meeting them where they’re at, literally and metaphorically. This past winter was our second season of running Extreme Weather Shelters (EWS) in the County which provided hundreds of people experiencing homelessness with a warm and welcoming place to rest in the evening and spend time during the day. We are entering our third year of operating an RV Safe Parking Program that includes a stable place for individuals and families to park their RVs 24/7, case management, and housing navigation.
Our newest program, beginning 08/01/24, will be operating the Armory shelter through a contract with the City of Santa Cruz. We are seeking a Human Resources Generalist who is knowledgeable about relevant state and federal employment laws, well-versed in working in the nonprofit sector, upholding of organizational integrity, and grounded in compassion and supportiveness for their team members.
HUMAN RESOURCES GENERALIST
Reporting to the Director of Administration, the Human Resources (HR) Generalist facilitates HR and administrative functions of People First to support organizational health. With an empathetic, people-first approach, this person will play a key role in upholding policies and procedures for our staff.
Position Responsibilities:
- Oversee the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new employees. Ensure up-to-date, organized employee life cycle documents, including but not limited to onboarding and new hire documents, disciplinary actions and other relevant employee records.
- Ensure confidentiality and discretion with confidential matters such as interview notes, background check results and disciplinary action records.
- Maintain certification and documentation of trainings that employees have taken to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, as well as People First regulations.
- Manage and oversee employee benefit programs, and adjust programs as needed annually before the open enrollment period ends.
- Report all workplace accidents to workers’ compensation. Communicate with the staff member and supervisor throughout the process. Keep thorough records of all workers’ compensation claims.
- Manage employee Leave of Absence programs, including proper documentation with the employee taking leave. Maintain clear communication with the employee and their supervisor as needed throughout the leave process.
- Create and provide educational materials, resources, and support to assist employees with issues that are adversely impacting their ability to work (e.g., substance abuse, personal relationship conflict, etc.)
- Serve as an advocate for all employees in HR-related matters including but not limited to performance concerns, workload issues, and employee support programs.
- Ensure accurate, timely submission of timesheets by working with managers and supervisors. Work with accountants to facilitate the payroll process.
- Work with managers, supervisors, and requesting employees as needed to develop and implement accommodation plans for ADA reasonable accommodation requests. Keep confidential records of the request and accommodation plan.
Encourage and support managers and supervisors in navigating organizational conflicts (e.g., mediation in a dispute between employees) and employee performance plans. When necessary, direct disciplinary and employee performance plan procedures.
- Serve as a consultant to advise managers and supervisors on human resources issues, including but not limited to bullying, harassment and discrimination, and compliance.
- Consult with managers and supervisors on organizational staff success stories, necessary supports, and areas for growth both on the individual and organizational levels.
- Maintain thorough, confidential, and up-to-date documentation of all communications and action plans around human resources issues such as organizational conflicts, staff success stories, and necessary support/areas for growth.
- Work with the Director of Administration on policy development, amendment, and implementation.
- Communicate policies and procedures clearly with managers and supervisors to ensure all employees are aware of the resources available to them and the due process for different HR issues.
- Enforce and uphold People First’s Employee Handbook policies and internal processes.
- Review and update the employee handbook on an annual basis to ensure compliance with state and federal laws, as well as to reflect any changes in People First policies.
- Work with the Director of Administration to review and complete all necessary internal procedural documents, such as grievance processes.
- Meet regularly with the Director of Administration to discuss and prioritize tasks, long term career goals, workload, roadblocks, etc.
- Maintain HIPAA compliance at all times.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
We’re looking for candidates with:
- Compassion
- Communication and listening skills grounded in transparency, critical thinking, nonjudgement, and patience
- Conflict mediation and conversation facilitation skills that ensure all parties feel safe, heard, and valued
- Approachability
- Clear, consistent, and thorough and documentation skills, and organized filing skills for both physical and electronic documents
Training and Experience:
- A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as human resources and/or 1-2 years human resources experience.
- The ability to demonstrate knowledge of and working experience with nonviolent communication and trauma-informed care.
Requirements:
- Able to start work on July 1
- Able to reliably get to and from work for each scheduled shift
- Able to perform sedentary work
- Able to use keyboard and read computer screens for extended periods
- Able to sit for extended periods, related to the completion of duties
Transportation:
This is a hybrid position which requires reliable transportation to and from various office locations within the County as needed.
Compensation:
- This is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt position.
- Benefits options include health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Flex time off (vacation leave, sick leave, holidays, or any other type of time off). You do not need to accrue days to be able to use them, and you do not get paid out for any "unused" vacation days at the end of the year or when your employment ends.
- Hourly pay is $25-30 depending on experience.
Please email your resume to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!