People and Culture Generalist

The Bronx Defenders – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks a passionate administrative professional with a commitment to social justice to fill a position as People & Culture Generalist.   

Overview 

The Bronx Defenders is a public defender non-profit that works to radically transform how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative, energetic individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of almost 400 includes criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, team administrators, organizers, mentors, and communications specialists who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we defend. 

Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, family, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national levels. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change. 

People & Culture

Formerly known as Human Resources, People & Culture (P&C) is part of the broader department of People, Equity & Institutional Transformation (PEIT) and is expanding and evolving in response to the organization's growth and development. In collaboration with the Recruiting & Hiring and Anti-Oppression Teams, the department of P&C aims to establish and implement equitable policies, practices, and sustainable support for our diverse staff from recruitment to retention. We work on all matters related to employee benefits, leave, accessibility and accommodations, conflict, complaints, discipline, performance support, personnel matters, onboarding, offboarding, information verification, and compliance with workplace regulations. The P&C Department is undergoing a process of reassessment, reformation and rebuilding and seeks an experienced Generalist to join a dedicated, dynamic, and innovative team in a period of growth.

Currently reporting to the People & Culture Director, the People and Culture Generalist will work on benefits administration, employee relations, payroll, retention, compensation, labor and employment law, and regulatory compliance. The person in this role should be a resource to staff providing them with proper guidance, support and expertise on these matters. 

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, accurate, equitable and thoughtful communications with staff and managers in response to questions, concerns, complaints and requests, and escalate where appropriate

• Provide employees with information and trainings on benefits, time & attendance, and other P&C processes  

• Provide salary analyses for new job openings and offers

• Assist with processing, approving, and tracking leave requests, ensuring they’re executed consistent with our values, policies, and legal obligations, and conferring with managing directors, supervisors and staff to coordinate overlapping requests    

• Work collaboratively with Operations, our Legal Team, and Finance on all employee matters related to payroll, compliance, data reporting, and auditing

• Assist in updating, administering and ensuring compliance for the employee handbook, staff evaluations, mandatory training confirmations, and other P&C processes

• Assist with requests for accessibility and accommodations, consistent with our values and in compliance with applicable law

• Assist with the development and documentation of BxD policies and standard operating procedures related to the P&C department

• Update the Human Resource Information System (HRIS) with changes in employee names, titles, salary, supervision, and evaluations 

• Coordinate with external vendors to troubleshoot challenges with our HRIS, benefits administration and other P&C systems

• Collect data and develop reports related to staff demographics, retention and attrition, employee complaints, and compliance matters

• Coordinate mandatory staff trainings administered by the P&C department, such as sexual harassment, time and attendance and PayChex usage

• Liaise with external investigators and consultants on employee relations matters, including providing appropriate information and making necessary introductions related to complaints and conflicts

• Provide coverage for other members of the P&C team 

Qualifications

To be eligible candidates, must have:

● Minimum of 3 years of Human Resources experience

Candidates must demonstrate: 

● Commitment to supporting the social justice mission of the Bronx Defenders and our staff representing people navigating oppressive criminal, family, immigration and civil legal systems 

● Solid grasp of human resources concepts, best practices and governing employment and labor rules 

o Ability to operate varied human resource information systems, and capacity to learn new technologies   

o Ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters 

● Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences  

o Ability to build and sustain effective working relationships with leadership, staff, and external constituents

o Effective interpersonal, active listening and conflict navigation skills 

● Commitment to implementing new and innovative equitable policies, practices, and vision across a large, established organization

o Commitment to developing and applying equitable policies and practices, and cultivating an anti-oppressive workplace

o Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level 

o Commitment to equitable, empathetic, transparent and principled engagement

● Effective visioning, organization, and planning skills with attention to detail

o Effective problem-solving skills

o Ability to balance distinct yet concurrent projects and responsibilities while adhering to stringent deadlines  

o Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively 

o Ability to think critically, creatively and compassionately in crisis 

● Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly 

Preferred but not Required:

● Experience in benefits administration, compensation, HR analytics, and supporting a unionized workplace

● Employee relations experience in a large organization with dispersed employees working both in-person and remotely 

This is a hybrid position that will require in-person work and regular contact with staff.

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 3-5 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $75,000 - $85,000. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended.

Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended.