Human Resources Associate

About RRI

The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) is a global coalition of over 150 organizations dedicated to advancing the forest, land, and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendant Peoples, and in particular the women within these groups. RRI’s members capitalize on each other’s strengths, expertise, and geographic reach to achieve solutions more effectively and efficiently. RRI leverages the power of its global coalition to amplify the voices of local peoples and proactively engage governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector actors to adopt institutional and market reforms that support the realization of rights.

If you are passionate about working with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples in the Global South to strengthen their rights, development, and environmental efforts, this could be the place for you. For more information, check out our current openings.

 People of color, people from Indigenous and local communities, women, and LGBTQ+ persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

Human Resources Associate

RRI is seeking an efficient Human Resources (HR) Associate to undertake a variety of HR administrative duties. The HR Associate will facilitate daily HR functions like maintaining employee records, supporting recruitment and onboarding, and sharing HR information within the organization. Attention to detail and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion will be essential in this role.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC with the option of telework 2 days per week (Mondays and Fridays). Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the United States and be located in the DC metro areas prior to the start date.

Applications will be accepted immediately and interviews conducted on a rolling basis.

Primary Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Senior Manager, Operations, the HR Associate will:

1. Maintain Employee & HR Documentation

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date personnel files using RRI’s HRIS.
• Maintain HR documentation such as employee handbook, benefits information, organizational policies, etc. Ensure that files are accessible, and that changes or updates are shared with staff.
• Perform periodic audits of HR files and records to ensure that all required documents are collected and filed appropriately.

2. Recruitment and Onboarding

• Liaise with program teams to develop job descriptions based on organizational templates and the specific needs for the role.
• Prepare job applications and publish and remove job postings.
• Support the recruitment process with initial candidate review, scheduling interviews, initiating reference & background checks, etc.
• Track the status of candidates/recruitment and follow up with hiring teams as necessary.
• Provide guidance to hiring teams on how to use RRI’s applicant tracking system and share templates for phone screens and interview questions.
• Assist with new hire orientation and support the development of training and onboarding materials.
• Set up new employees with access to RRI systems.

3. Payroll & Benefits

• Maintain up-to-date project list for timesheets and provide guidance to employees on time tracking for payroll.
• Track timesheet submissions to ensure timely completion prior to payroll processing.
• Assist with payroll processing and help answer payroll-related questions.
• Respond to employees’ questions about benefits and refer them to benefits documentation as appropriate.
• Review and reconcile monthly benefits statements to ensure enrollment is accurate and up to date. Submit statements for processing by our accounting team.

4. General HR Support

• Answer frequently asked questions from applicants and employees relative to standard policies, benefits, hiring processes, etc.; refer more complex questions to appropriate staff or management.
• Assist in performance management procedures, tracking deadlines and completion of evaluations.
• Assist with the planning and execution of special events/meetings such as benefits enrollment, staff meetings, trainings, employee recognition events, holiday parties, etc.
• Assist in ad-hoc HR projects, like collection of employee feedback.
• Support other functions as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field; Or equivalent combination of education, skills, and experience.
• 1-2 years’ work experience as an Admin Officer, HR Administrative Assistant or similar role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations with tact, professionalism, and diplomacy.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Proficient with or the ability to quickly learn payroll management, human resource information system (HRIS), and similar computer applications.
• Ability to work both in-office and remotely in accordance with the organization’s hybrid work schedule.

Salary: Starting at $55,000 USD, depending on experience.

Benefits

Rights and Resources Group recognizes the value of benefits to employees and their families. We take great pride in offering our dedicated and committed employees a competitive benefits package. Our comprehensive benefit programs provide you with a reliable, effective, and affordable array of choices that will meet your needs and those of your family.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; dependents and domestic partners eligible
• 100% coverage of employee premiums for the following: short-term/long-term disability insurance, life insurance, travel insurance, and the employee assistant program
• If eligible, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• 25 days of PTO annually, in addition to paid holidays
• Flextime, teleworking, and work from home options
• Tuition reimbursement up to $1,500 per year after 1 full year of employment
• Dynamic growth opportunities with merit-based promotion philosophy

Rights and Resources Group (RRG) is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the organization and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, RRG makes all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, political affiliation or belief, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation or any other category protected by applicable law.