Human Resources Manager

Position Title: Human Resources Manager

Reports To: Executive Director

Location: Hybrid – Boston (minimum 3 in-office days/week)

Salary Range: $67,000- $73,000

About City Life/Vida Urbana (CLVU)

City Life/Vida Urbana is a 52-year-old multilingual, grassroots housing justice organization committed to building collective power to fight displacement and win housing as a human right. We use a radical organizing model that connects personal housing struggles to broader systems change. Our team is grounded in shared values of racial, economic, and gender justice, and we seek team members who thrive in collaborative environments.

Position Summary

CLVU seeks a full-time Human Resources Manager to lead daily HR functions and act as a strategic partner to leadership. This is not a back-office administrative role. The HR Manager will independently manage payroll, benefits, compliance, and recruitment, while also advising on workplace culture, systems improvement, and staff development. This position plays a key role in shaping an equitable, supportive, and accountable work environment.

The HR Manager reports directly to the Executive Director and collaborates closely with the Board Personnel Committee. This is a hybrid position based in Boston requiring at least three in-office days per week, plus occasional Saturday leadership meetings once a month.

Key Responsibilities

HR Operations & Compliance (25%)

• Serve as the first point of contact for HR inquiries from staff and managers; escalate complex matters appropriately.
• Maintain accurate employee records, personnel files, and HRIS data.
• Ensure organizational compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Administer onboarding, offboarding, and internal transitions.
• Lead or support investigations, discipline processes, and policy enforcement with integrity and fairness.

Strategic HR Leadership (20%)

• Serve as an internal consultant and thought partner to leadership on employee relations, risk management, and workforce planning.
• Shape and implement policies that support staff wellbeing, accountability, and operational clarity.
• Represent HR in cross-departmental planning and organizational development initiatives.

Payroll & Benefits Administration (20%)

• Manage biweekly payroll via Paychex, ensuring accuracy and compliance with wage laws.
• Oversee administration of health, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement benefits.
• Support employees with benefit claims, enrollment, and questions.
• Coordinate COBRA, workers’ compensation, and unemployment claims.
• Partner with the Executive Director and vendors on annual benefits renewals.

Recruitment & Hiring (15%)

• Collaborate with hiring managers to scope positions, write job descriptions, and post openings.
• Lead recruitment and hiring processes, including screening, scheduling, interviewing, and reference checks.
• Conduct background checks and employment eligibility verification.
• Lead HR components of new hire orientation and employee onboarding.

Culture, Training & Development (20%)

• Promote a workplace culture aligned with CLVU’s mission and movement values.
• Develop and coordinate staff training, including onboarding, compliance.
• Partner with supervisors and the Personnel Committee to support and improve performance evaluation practices.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Partnership: Ability to advise and influence leadership using a combination of HR expertise, organizational insight, and alignment with CLVU’s values.
• Confidentiality & Integrity: Exercises sound judgment and discretion with sensitive employee matters.
• Equity & Inclusion: Committed to racial, gender, and economic justice; and aligning that commitment in building policies, hiring practices into the organizational culture.
• Conflict Navigation: Skilled at addressing interpersonal, team, and structural conflict with clarity and care.
• Systems Building: Proactive about creating and improving HR systems, documentation, and tools to support organizational growth.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 3–5 years of progressive HR generalist or management experience.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices (Massachusetts preferred).
• Experience running payroll and administering benefits (Paychex experience preferred).
• High emotional intelligence and cultural fluency.
• Excellent communication, organization, and time management skills.

Preferred:

• Experience in grassroots, nonprofit, or movement-based organizations.
• Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Portuguese language skills.

• 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance
• Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• 401(k) with employer contribution after 9 months
• 3 weeks paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, and sick leave

• Experience in grassroots, nonprofit, or movement-based organizations.
• Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Portuguese language skills.