Volunteer HR Generalist - Startup Nonprofit

Anna Tasca Lanza Foundation | Remote | 40 hours over 6-7 weeks

About Us

Anna Tasca Lanza is a renowned cooking school and cultural center in Sicily that has preserved Sicilian culinary traditions and promoted sustainable agriculture for over 25 years. We're now establishing the Anna Tasca Lanza Foundation as a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit to expand our educational mission connecting people, food, history, and land.

The Project

We're seeking an experienced HR generalist to establish foundational human resources processes and programs for our new organization. This is a unique opportunity to build HR infrastructure from the ground up for a mission-driven nonprofit with international reach.

What You'll Create

1. Employee Handbook Framework

• Draft comprehensive handbook outline covering essential policies
• Include California-specific employment law requirements
• Cover workplace conduct, anti-discrimination, harassment prevention
• Address remote work policies and international collaboration considerations
• Provide templates adaptable as organization grows

1. Hiring & Recruitment Policies (as applicable)

• Develop hiring process guidelines and workflows
• Create job description templates for various roles
• Establish interview and candidate evaluation procedures
• Design onboarding checklist and new hire orientation framework
• Include volunteer and contractor recruitment considerations

1. Compensation & Benefits Structure

• Research and recommend nonprofit salary benchmarking resources
• Create compensation philosophy statement
• Outline benefits package options appropriate for small nonprofit (health insurance, retirement, PTO, professional development)
• Address considerations for both U.S.-based and international staff/contractors

1. General HR Policy Framework

• Performance management and review process outline
• Time off and leave policies (vacation, sick leave, family leave)
• Professional development and training policy (if applicable)
• Expense reimbursement related to HR (travel, professional development)
• Termination and offboarding procedures
• Record retention and confidentiality policies

1. Consultant & Contractor Policies

• Independent contractor classification guidelines (IRS compliance)
• Consultant agreement template outline
• Scope of work and payment terms frameworks
• Distinguish between employees, contractors, and volunteers
• International consultant considerations

1. Compliance & Best Practices Guidance

• California employment law compliance checklist
• Required workplace postings and notices (how handle for remote environment)
• I-9 and employment verification processes
• Harassment prevention training requirements (California AB 1825/SB 1343)
• COBRA, FMLA, and other regulatory compliance basics

We're Looking For

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of HR generalist experience
• Strong knowledge of California employment law and compliance requirements
• Experience developing HR policies, procedures, and employee handbooks
• Understanding of nonprofit HR practices and constraints
• Excellent written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with California nonprofit organizations
• Experience setting up HR systems for startup or early-stage organizations
• Familiarity with remote/distributed workforce management
• Knowledge of international employment considerations
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification

Personal Qualities:

• Passion for mission-driven work and nonprofit sector
• Practical, solutions-oriented approach
• Ability to create scalable frameworks for growing organizations
• Collaborative and able to explain HR concepts to non-HR professionals
• Comfortable with ambiguity and startup environment

Time Commitment

Total Hours: 40 hours over 6-7 weeks

• Initial consultation and needs assessment: 3-4 hours
• Research and policy development: 20-25 hours
• Documentation and template creation: 10-12 hours
• Review sessions and refinement: 4-6 hours

Schedule: Flexible hours with periodic check-ins via video call. Work can be completed on your own timeline.

Project Timeline: Ideally February - April 2026

What You'll Gain

• Foundational impact: Build the HR infrastructure for an organization preserving culinary heritage and promoting sustainable food systems
• Portfolio development: Create comprehensive HR framework from scratch for a nonprofit with unique international dimensions
• Professional growth: Deepen expertise in nonprofit HR and startup people operations
• Meaningful work: Support an organization committed to education, cultural preservation, and sustainability
• Recognition: Letter of recommendation, LinkedIn endorsement, and acknowledgment on our website
• Network: Connect with food systems professionals, nonprofit leaders, and cultural educators

Deliverables

All materials will be provided as editable documents (Google Docs/Word) with clear frameworks that can be customized as the organization evolves. We're looking for practical, user-friendly resources rather than overly complex systems.