Part-Time Human Resource Associate

Education First is seeking a mid-career, part-time, generalist-level Human Resource Associate (Monday-Friday) to support key components of the employee life cycle and help cultivate an engaging, inclusive and high-performing workplace. This role will build strong relationships across the firm and serve as a strategic thought partner to the People & Equity team. Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the HR Associate will play a critical role in shaping the employee experience, helping to design and implement initiatives, streamline core HR processes and advance work that reflects our values and deepens our culture.  

The ideal candidate brings strong judgement, attention to detail and a collaborative mindset, along with a genuine commitment to equity and supporting staff at all levels. This role will have the opportunity to strengthen and harmonize HR operations, support hiring and onboarding, coordinate performance and feedback cycles and contribute to firmwide initiatives that support belonging and staff development.  

What You’ll Do 

• Increase the efficiency and consistency of HR operations by coordinating and maintaining streamlined systems, processes and people support workflows  

• Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality HR support by responding to internal and external HR inquiries with hands-on expertise and solutions 

• Promote a fair, transparent and legally compliant workplace culture by partnering with the HR Director to manage employee relations matters, support investigations and recommend actionable resolutions 

• Support the Director of Learning and Development with strengthening staff capability and career growth by organizing and facilitating professional development initiatives  

• Assist with leading the review, updates and communication of HR policies, procedures, the employee handbook and internal HR announcements 

• Support talent acquisition and seamless onboarding experiences for new hires by assisting with talent acquisition processes and ensuring compliant I-9 verification and onboarding activities  

• Support a consistent and equitable performance management cycle by assisting with the annual goal-setting and bi-annual review processes in Culture Amp including monitoring staff engagement and completion 

• Contribute to manager effectiveness, organizational learning and decision-making by supporting the development, administration and analysis of employee surveys, including the annual Engage and Elevate report 

• Enhance employee well-being and compliance by administering benefits programs (medical, dental, vision, disability, FSA, COBRA, FMLA and leave administration) with accuracy and care 

• Ensure accurate and timely financial reconciliation by collaborating with the Finance team to process monthly billings from HR and benefits providers  

Requirements

• You are a people-person who loves building relationships with employees at all levels 

• You handle confidential information responsibly and foster a fair, transparent and RIDE (Race, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity) centered culture 

• You have knowledge and experience with benefits administration, onboarding, HR systems, compliance and policy management in a small business  

• You enjoy taking initiative and being a resourceful, collaborative problem solver who anticipates barriers to success and guides others through the change 

• You provide and receive feedback with ease, ensuring employees and managers feel supported and heard 

• You have experience delivering trainings and supporting employee growth through influence 

• You think critically about improving HR processes while ensuring compliance and accuracy 

Benefits

• 100% remote, U.S. based team 

• Firmwide in-person engagements a few times a year 

• Telework subsidy 

• Professional development stipend 

• Foundational Bonding and Maternity Leave 

• PTO days, 11 holidays and two firmwide shutdown weeks 

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance  

• 401(k) match

Compensation 

The salary range for this position is $32,000 - $36,800. Employees living in the following locations are eligible for a location-based supplement: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, DC, Denver, Hoboken NJ, Houston, Los Angeles, Madison, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle. 

About Education First 

Education First is a mission-driven education policy consultancy dedicated to ensuring that all students – and particularly students in poverty and students of color – are prepared for success in college, careers and life. We work with organizations that are shaping the future of P16 education across the nation, including school networks and districts, state departments of education, policy and advocacy organizations, youth empowerment organizations, talent organizations and foundations.  

We help these system leaders catalyze change through our services: 

• Conduct research and analysis on policies and provide contextual recommendations and strategic support to translate findings into concrete, sustainable action 

• Develop and implement visionary, coherent strategies and strategic plans by prioritizing inclusive voices, focusing on the right problems, and providing space to explore 

• Plan and facilitate meaningful convenings for organizations and individuals to learn, problem solve, collaborate, and advance their work 

• Design actionable and equitable solutions that meet client needs, achieve program goals, and implement initiatives with clarity and quality 

• Support grantmakers, funders, and foundations to develop thoughtful, high-impact investment strategies that align with their goals, interests, and resources 

We are a team of former teachers, district and state education leaders, policy advisors, and grant makers who live and work virtually in more than 20 states and DC. Because of our experience, we approach the challenges our clients face with humility, realistic solutions, and a commitment to follow-through. Our culture is built on genuine care for our clients and for each other. We celebrate original thinking, collaboration, entrepreneurialism, authenticity and fun. 

Our Equity Commitment 

We recognize that in order to pursue our own organizational mission at Education First, we must approach our work by studying gaps and inequities, asking tough questions about structural racism and more deliberately engaging diverse voices in problem-solving. We’ve been building our own skills to deliver solutions that center racial and intersectional equity, with particular attention to equitable ways of thinking and working, and we are committed to helping our clients do the same in projects that have a goal of increasing equity at their core. Within Education First, we have committed to building a race equity culture – creating the conditions to adopt antiracist mindsets and actions - while using an intersectional approach that addresses all systems of oppression. 

We believe: 

• Black lives matter. We are collectively responsible to amplify and support Black students, families and leaders. 

• People are experts in their own experience. We cannot effectively support our clients to problem solve and innovate without centering the people they aim to serve. 

• Racism and inequity were designed, and can be redesigned. People make up the systems, policies and processes that govern our experience, and we must support our clients to explore their role in reimagining what could be possible. 

For greater detail about our Equity Commitment, please visit our website. 

Education First actively engages our team with a robust Race, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (RIDE) strategy to build our staff and organizational capacity to lead on issues of equity and to increase diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of the firm. As a proud equal opportunity employer, we strongly encourage applications from candidates of all races, national origins, ages, religions, creeds, veteran or disabled statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Education First makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.