People and Culture Generalist

About Us

The Portland State University (PSU) Foundation fuels the mission and priorities of Oregon’s most diverse, innovative, and affordable research university by raising and stewarding philanthropic gifts that transform lives and communities.

At PSU, more than half of incoming first-year students identify as BIPOC, nearly a quarter are parents, and half are the first in their families to attend college. When PSU graduates thrive, families transform, communities prosper, and innovation expands. The PSU Foundation plays a vital role in advancing this impact by inspiring donors, engaging alumni and community partners, and stewarding resources with integrity and purpose.

Recognized as one of Oregon’s best non-profits to work for five years in a row, PSU Foundation is a community of purpose-driven professionals who lead with heart, act with trust, and keep our mission forward in everything we do. Guided by creativity and collaboration, we foster a strong sense of belonging—empowering every team member to bring bold ideas and their authentic selves to work.

About the Role

The People and Culture Generalist is a pivotal member of the Foundation, delivering an exceptional employee experience across the full employee lifecycle. Reporting to the Vice President of People and Culture, this role operates with autonomy, overseeing daily HR operations, administering People and Culture programs, and serving as a trusted partner to employees, supervisors, and senior leaders across the organization.

The Generalist manages core HR processes—including on-boarding, off boarding, HRIS administration, benefits, leaves, compliance, and employment changes—while also supporting full-cycle recruiting, compensation, performance management, professional development, and organizational culture initiatives.

You’ll be most fulfilled in this role if you enjoy or have experience in the following:

• Operating with a high degree of independence and accountability, using sound judgment to make informed decisions, while knowing when to seek input or alignment
• Anticipating needs and potential issues and offering proactive solutions
• Taking ownership by identifying challenges and implementing improvements, both independently and in collaboration with others
• Staying grounded, adaptable, and effective in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities
• Balancing speed, accuracy, and compliance, and thoughtfully navigating when to act quickly versus when to pause for alignment or risk review
• Building strong, trust-based relationships and contributing to a supportive, inclusive workplace
• Being drawn to making a meaningful impact in a fast-paced, evolving, mission-driven environment

This role involves balancing the day-to-day execution of HR operations with broader, people-centered work that helps shape culture and employee experience.

Position Overview

People and Culture Operations (50% of the role)

• Lead day-to-day People and Culture operations, serving as the primary point of contact for employees, supervisors, and senior leaders.
• Manage the HR inbox and respond to employee inquiries with accuracy, discretion, and timeliness.
• Oversee on-boarding and off-boarding processes, partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance and a positive employee experience.
• Administer HR systems (HRIS), ensuring accurate employee data, timely processing of employment changes, and optimized system functionality.
• Manage benefits administration, including enrollment, qualifying events, open enrollment, reporting, and vendor relationships.
• Independently interpret and administer federal, state, and local employment laws; assess risk and ensure compliance (e.g., FMLA, ADA, EEO, OSHA).
• Administer leaves of absence and employee health and safety processes, including workers’ compensation, unemployment claims, safety training, and Safety Council participation.
• Partner with Payroll by providing timely, accurate employee and employment data.
• Complete required organizational, state, and federal reports and surveys.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve HR policies, processes, and practices by proactively identifying risks, gaps, and opportunities.
• Stay current on HR best practices, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies.

People and Culture Programs & Partnership (50%)

• Partner closely with the Vice President of People and Culture on strategic initiatives and organization-wide projects.
• Provide HR guidance and coaching to supervisors on hiring, performance management, compensation, employee relations, engagement, and professional development.
• Oversee full-cycle recruiting, including hiring manager partnership, ATS administration, equitable hiring practices, and data reporting.
• Administer compensation programs, including market research, recommendations, annual review support, training, and compensation changes.
• Support performance management programs through tool development, training, execution, and continuous improvement.
• Design and support professional development and training initiatives across the organization.
• Advance culture and DEIB efforts by applying an equity lens to all People + Culture work and partnering on initiatives that strengthen inclusion, belonging, and team effectiveness.
• Analyze and report qualitative and quantitative data to identify trends, improve processes, and inform decision-making.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 4 years of experience in an HR generalist or related role with broad exposure to the employee lifecycle.
• Working knowledge of HR functional areas, including recruiting, on-boarding, compensation, benefits, leave management, employee safety, training and development.
• Strong understanding of HR best practices and employment laws in the U.S., with specific knowledge of Oregon and Washington regulations specific requirements).
• Experience supporting performance management processes and employee relations matters, including advising leaders on performance concerns, corrective action, or terminations.
• Proven success identifying, designing and delivering employee training and presentations.
• High technological proficiency, including experience with HRIS and ATS platforms, Microsoft Office, and cloud-based document management systems such as SharePoint.

Compensation & Benefits

Our compensation philosophy reflects our commitment to pay equity, transparency, and valuing the contributions of every team member.

• Hiring Range: $75,000-$85,000/year
  • Offers are determined based on a candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications, while ensuring internal pay equity.

• 4-Day Workweek:
  • As part of our commitment to wellness and workplace culture, we’ve transitioned to a 4 Day Work Week—an innovative shift that reflects our values and promotes balance across our team. Business operations are closed on Fridays, supporting work-life balance and recognizing the value of your time.
• Top-Tier Benefits:
  • We offer one of Oregon’s leading nonprofit benefits packages, designed to support the well-being of employees and their families. Full-time employee benefits include:
• 4 Day Work Week, with business operations closed on Fridays.
• 100% employer-paid medical coverage on our base plan
• 95% employer-paid dental and vision coverage
• Up to 27 days of paid time off plus 9 paid holidays, including one floating holiday
• Up to 12% employer contribution to eligible 401(k) plans after applicable waiting periods
• Employer-paid Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
• Portland State University affiliated employee benefits, including tuition discount

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At PSUF, we believe:

• Culture is everyone’s work — and we actively invest in it
• Equity isn’t a project — it’s a daily practice
• People deserve clarity, connection, and opportunities to grow
• Our values come to life through everyday decisions, both big and small

You’ll join a People and Culture team that is thoughtful, collaborative, and deeply committed to elevating the employee experience. Together, we work to ensure our internal culture reflects the same equity, care, and impact we strive to create in our community.

If you’re ready to put your values to work and help shape a brighter, more equitable future, we’d love to have you on our team!

Interested in applying? We invite you to submit your application through our Careers page at psuf.org.

Don’t meet every requirement? We’d still like to hear from you!

If you enjoy being part of a collaborative results-driven team and making a difference in our community, we encourage you to apply, even if you believe you don’t meet all of the requirements listed. Studies have shown that individuals with marginalized identities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification in the job description. Our priority is finding the best candidate for the role, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds. PSU Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Our compensation philosophy reflects our commitment to pay equity, transparency, and valuing the contributions of every team member.

• Hiring Range: $75,000-$85,000/year
  • Offers are determined based on a candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications, while ensuring internal pay equity.

• 4-Day Workweek:
  • As part of our commitment to wellness and workplace culture, we’ve transitioned to a 4 Day Work Week—an innovative shift that reflects our values and promotes balance across our team. Business operations are closed on Fridays, supporting work-life balance and recognizing the value of your time.
• Top-Tier Benefits:
  • We offer one of Oregon’s leading nonprofit benefits packages, designed to support the well-being of employees and their families. Full-time employee benefits include:
• 4 Day Work Week, with business operations closed on Fridays.
• 100% employer-paid medical coverage on our base plan
• 95% employer-paid dental and vision coverage
• Up to 27 days of paid time off plus 9 paid holidays, including one floating holiday
• Up to 12% employer contribution to eligible 401(k) plans after applicable waiting periods
• Employer-paid Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
• Portland State University affiliated employee benefits, including tuition discount

Ability to read, write and speak English.