About Acacia Center for Justice:
The Acacia Center for Justice is a new non-profit created through a collaboration between the Vera Institute of Justice (“Vera”) and the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (“CAIR”) Coalition. The CAIR Coalition is a non-profit organization focused on providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region. CAIR adheres to the fundamental belief that all people – no matter their story – deserve to be free, safe, supported, and have access to a just legal system.
The objective of the Acacia Center for Justice (“Acacia”) is to expand on Vera’s work over the past twenty years in providing legal support and representation to immigrants facing deportation through the development, coordination and management of national networks of legal services providers serving immigrants across the country. Acacia’s goals are twofold: to support immigrant legal services and defense networks to provide exceptional legal services to immigrants and to advocate for the expansion of these programs and the infrastructure critical to guaranteeing immigrants access to justice, fairness and freedom. Acacia will focus the collective power of both Vera and CAIR on delivering accountable, independent, zealous and person-centered legal services and representation to protect the rights of all immigrants at risk of deportation.
Who you are
The People Operations and Culture Manager is an integral part of the Acacia People Operations and Culture team. The People Operations and Culture Manager will help develop and lead the people operations function and will work across departments to ensure all Acacia employees have the resources and support they need to do their work effectively and that Acacia fosters a culture of inclusion and equity.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- In conjunction with the Chief of People Operations and Culture, provide direction and feedback to the Talent Acquisition Specialist (TAS).
- Working with the TAS, managing end-to-end employee onboarding and offboarding processes.
- Liaise with external vendors (PEO, background check, E-Verify, etc.) to ensure smooth operations and partnerships.
- Champions Acacia’s commitment to Race, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
- Develops opportunities for team building and engagement.
- Serves as the initial primary point of contact for most people operations-related needs.
- Analyzes trends and metrics in partnership with the Chief of People Operations to develop solutions, programs, and policies.
- Manages and resolves employee relations issues with the support of the Chief of People Operations.
- Creates and manages Acacia's leave of absence process.
- Ensures compliance with all relevant regulatory and reporting agencies and legal compliance with all applicable governmental laws and regulations covering the following areas, but not limited to wage and hour, EEOC, OFCCP, HIPPA, ADAA, FMLA, Affirmative Action, etc.
- Oversees the maintenance of employee files and other record-keeping, understands and ensures state and federal laws are followed at all times
- Ensures all Acacia documents related to people operations are updated and accurate.
- Manages the people operations section on the Acacia Insider (Intranet)
- Works closely with management and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, and increase productivity and retention.
- Partners with the department leaders and communications team to prepare communications to update employees on items ranging from compliance to engagement.
- Identifies training needs and works closely with the Chief of People Operations and Culture in identifying solutions.
- Partners with the leadership team to drive employee development programs.
- Provides appropriate advice and counsel in a timely manner.
- Supports Acacia in culture building by developing opportunities for staff to come together and connect.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Skills
- Knowledge of benefits, performance evaluation, and compensation plans; Understanding of individual performance, abilities, learning, and motivation; Knowledgeable about agency laws and regulations (FLSA, EEO, etc.).
- Strong unwavering commitment to race, equity, inclusion and belonging.
- Effective oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to influence leadership and interact effectively with all levels of the organization.
- Able to handle sensitive information and maintain a high level of confidentiality.
- Familiarity with COBRA, ERISA, FMLA, OSHA, and related state and federal regulations.
- Detailed, accurate, and organized; Ability to inform others about organization benefits, policies, and procedures.
- Ability to establish and communicate clear priorities and to influence others to support and act on those priorities.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
- Able to work productively and independently.
- Strong Project Management skills. Ability to prioritize tasks and stay organized. Proven ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.
Required Qualifications:
- At least 6 years experience in an HR Generalist/Manager role or similar.
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources. Experience in lieu of a degree will be considered.
- Active PHR or SHRM certification
Compensation and Benefits:
Acacia has established an internal compensation philosophy that centers equity and pay transparency. The salary for this position is set at $118,200. The salary listed is just one component of Acacia’s total compensation package for employees. Supporting Acacia staff—both personally and professionally—is our priority.
- Medical/Dental/Vision- Some plans at $0 cost to the employee
- Employee Assistance Program
- 20 days per year of vacation time
- 12 days per year of sick time
- 4 personal days
- 11 observed holidays, including the last week of December
- $2000 Professional Development Stipend
- Home office set-up stipend
- Internet Stipend
- 401k with 5% employer contribution, no employee participation required.
- Student loan repayment assistance.
- Gym Reimbursement
People of color and those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system are strongly urged to apply.
To Apply:
Please upload a resume and cover letter at the link provided or email admin@acaciajustice.org with Subject: ATTN: Human Resources / [Job Title], Acacia Center for Justice
Equal Opportunity Employment:
Acacia is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and support their retention and advancement within the organization. We are committed to fostering a workplace culture inclusive of people with respect to their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, marital status, age, disabilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other characteristic. Our commitment to justice and diversity also means providing a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and engaging.
As a federal contractor, and in order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Acacia Center for Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.
This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our organization.
Acacia Center for Justice is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.