Department: Operations & HR

Reports to: Director of Operations & HR

Status: Full-time, Exempt

About Us

Grounded Solutions Network is the nation’s largest network of practitioners and advocates working to expand the shared equity model and other innovative frameworks that ensure housing remains affordable for generations to come. Our mission is to create a future in which all people have access to homes they can afford in equitable communities of opportunity that foster better health, academic, and economic outcomes.

As a national membership organization, we support nonprofit and government practitioners, community resident leaders, advocates, elected officials, and other housing professionals with the tools and knowledge they need for success. We promote the creation and preservation of quality housing that remains affordable for generations. Our work specifically targets creating and expanding housing with lasting affordability, using a racial equity lens.

Grounded Solutions is committed to fostering an organizational culture rooted in critical thinking and consciousness about race and class. We seek candidates who are dedicated to achieving racial equity as both a process and outcome. We are committed to building a staff team that is as racially and culturally diverse as the communities that we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

About the Position

Grounded Solutions is hiring a Senior Human Resources Specialist to be the day-to-day heartbeat of our people operations. You'll manage the HR fundamentals that keep our national, remote-and-hybrid staff supported through onboarding, benefits, payroll, performance reviews, and recruitment, while partnering directly with the Director of Operations & HR on projects that shape how we grow. If you're excited to grow your HR career somewhere your work directly advances lasting affordable housing, this role is for you.

This position reports directly to the Director of Operations & HR and collaborates closely with geographically dispersed staff throughout the organization. Experience supporting remote staff across different time-zones is a plus.

This is a great opportunity for a highly organized, detail-oriented individual who has experience in Human Resources and Payroll who is excited by the prospect of building and retaining our growing team to advance the organization’s mission. The Senior HR Specialist makes a positive contribution to the organizational culture and is vested in furthering its racial equity goals. They actively help plan and participate in team and employee meetings, retreats, or initiatives, seek opportunities to improve efficiencies and contribute to creativity, innovation, collaboration, and problem solving throughout the organization.

Key Responsibilities

HR Operations & Administration (50%)

• Serve as the HR liaison between employees, our third-party Professional Employer Organization (PEO), and other vendors to administer benefits, employee leaves, worker’s compensation, and employer compliance.

• Respond to personnel-related inquiries from staff, escalating complex or sensitive matters to the Director of Operations & HR, supervisors, and/or our PEO.

• Administer timely submission of timesheets, semi-monthly payroll, and 401k enrollment/contributions.

• Serve as lead administrator for personnel recordkeeping; filing, personnel action tracking compliance, documentation, and reporting; ensuring accuracy and audit-readiness.

• In collaboration with PEO, maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and recommend best practices; review policies and practices to maintain compliance.

• Assist in identifying strategies to improve current HR systems and processes.

• Coordinate full-cycle recruitment in collaboration with hiring managers: drafting and posting job descriptions, screening applications, preparing interview materials, scheduling interviews, and sending offer letters.

• Lead benefits and open enrollment communications and training for staff.

Employee Engagement & Retention (40%)

• Coordinate employee onboarding, retention, and offboarding, making sure every new hire's first weeks feel welcoming and organized, current staff feel supported, and departing employees leave with a positive, respectful experience.

• Draft written content and deliver trainings and presentations that communicate HR policies and procedures, in partnership with the Director.

• Contribute to compensation program administration, including collecting data, researching comparable organizations, and tracking internal equity.

• Support managers on employee relations matters, escalating complex or sensitive issues to the Director

• Administers performance review program to ensure effectiveness, compliance, and equity.

• Identify, recommend, and implement org-wide initiatives that help increase employee retention and satisfaction.

Learning & Development Support (10%)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for staff professional development requests and resources.

• With direction and support from the Director, develop internal trainings that strengthen staff and manager growth.

• Organize company programs and events to engage employees and increase retention.

• Develop programs to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Qualifications for Entry into this Position:

Grounded Solutions believes that our team should reflect, respect, and understand the diversity of backgrounds, identities, and experiences of the communities that we serve. We strongly encourage people of color, people of all gender identities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ candidates to apply. Studies have shown that men apply for jobs when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women only apply if they meet 100% of them. If you are unsure that you qualify for the position but think you’d be great at the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.

• 4+ years of Human Resources professional experience

• 1+ years of experience in nonprofit organization

• Demonstrated knowledge of Human Resources and Benefits functions

• Excellent organizational and administrative skills, including meticulous attention to detail and reliable follow-through

• Strong written and verbal communication, conflict resolution, and relationship-building skills

• Intermediate or better proficiency in Excel, Word, and the Microsoft Suite

• Proficiency with Insperity, Rippling, ADP, or similar HRIS/PEO software platforms

• Experience working with PEO, HR recruitment sites, or recruiters a plus

• Strong discretion, integrity, ethics, and confidentiality

• Possessing strong judgement, flexible, accommodating, and calm under pressure

• Able to work independently and collaboratively and execute tasks with general supervision

• Ability to work and communicate with diverse communities.

• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously

Starting Salary Range

$75k to $85k annually, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

Competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, matching 401k, and paid time off. Supportive, stimulating, and collaborative environment with passionate colleagues dedicated to building community, equity, and justice. Opportunities for professional growth and development.

Travel Required

Approximately 2-4 trips per year of domestic out-of-state, as needed, to attend conferences and company meetings.

Location

Preference for Hybrid work based in the Grounded Solutions’ Washington DC headquarters with candidates who reside in the DMV area. The expectation is that DC-office hybrid employees will report to the office 2-3 days a week.

Remote work is available.

Join our team and build your career with us! We offer:

• Supportive, stimulating and collaborative environment with passionate colleagues dedicated to building community, equity and justice

• Opportunities for professional growth and development

• Competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, matching 401k and paid time off.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter as a PDF through the following application form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019f8f8b6ec67d76b46a3021fb696b86