People and Culture Associate

Job description Protect Democracy is seeking a People and Culture Associate to join our small, collaborative People and Culture Team, focusing primarily on supporting onboarding of new contractors and staff and working closely with staff across the organization to deliver in-person events and programming. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career candidate based in the Washington, DC area (DMV) with strong project management instincts and an enthusiasm for cross-organizational collaboration to deliver experiences aligned with our culture that drive impact forward. Protect Democracy was formed in late 2016 with an urgent and explicit mission: to prevent our democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government. Our mission is non-partisan and it is our north star. Since 2016, we have assembled a team of 130+ experts who have served under Democrats and Republicans, and in the senior ranks of other nonprofit, political, or media organizations. Our hiring practices don’t just value expertise — we are uncompromising about building a culture rooted in growth, feedback, and team care and kindness. This role helps create the experiences, systems, and connections that allow Protect Democracy staff to thrive. You will partner with the People and Culture team to support high impact programs and initiatives across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, staff gatherings, internal operations, and other projects that strengthen our culture, community, and organizational effectiveness. You will coordinate logistics, manage details, solve problems, and help ensure that staff have a seamless experience as they engage with the organization. While Protect Democracy is a distributed organization, several critical functions are centered in Washington, DC, making a regular in-person presence important for this role. You will support the ongoing care and operation of our Washington, DC office, helping ensure the space is welcoming, well-maintained, and equipped to support staff through responsibilities such as supply management, vendor coordination, mail handling, and general office support. You are expected to be in our Dupont Circle office at least four days per week. Success in this role requires flexibility, sound judgment, and a willingness to jump in wherever needed. The ideal candidate is energized by supporting people, comfortable managing a wide range of responsibilities, and excited to contribute to the people operations work that helps our organization achieve its mission. The priority application deadline for the People & Culture Associate role is June 17, 2026; we will review applications received after that date on a rolling basis. This is a hybrid position based in the Washington, DC area that will require in-person commitments and periodic travel. Responsibilities Help coordinate onboarding, including: Supporting the development of materials, such as session slides, travel guidance, and session evaluations Identifying obstacles and proposing pivots Looking for areas of improvement and further alignment with culture Support the planning, logistics, communication, and evaluation of various in-person and remote gatherings, including our annual all-team gathering and team-based retreats Administer onboarding and community-related systems and processes, identifying opportunities to enhance employee experience and foster connection, collaboration, and community across Protect Democracy Work in coordination with hiring teams to seamlessly integrate new hires into our organizational culture Contribute to other workstreams that strengthen how we develop, engage, and support talent Act as dedicated DC office coordinator, including by: Coordinating with team members to host in-person events (including work retreats, happy hours, or other special convenings) Welcoming external guests as needed with exceptional kindness and professionalism Working with our Finance team to ensure the physical office supports a productive working environment, including through logistics and procurement Job Requirements Enthusiasm for human-centered work in a remote-first organization Relevant experience (or professional interest) in any of the following: Implementing onboarding processes and programs Designing and running virtual and/or in-person community-building events and retreats Supporting community building and development initiatives Interest in and track record of improving or building processes and systems Ability to track, prioritize, and balance a diverse set of responsibilities Ability to foster strong collaborative relationships with people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives Rigorous attention to detail and the highest standards for excellence in execution Growth mindset and enthusiasm for giving and receiving feedback up, down, and sideways Flexibility and willingness to pitch in where needed to support our mission A passionate commitment to the preservation of democratic norms and institutions, and an understanding that our democracy has never fully represented communities of color Compensation The starting salary range for this role is $63,800 – $69,400, commensurate with the candidate’s degree of experience, capabilities and skills, and in alignment with internal equity. About Protect Democracy Flexible working arrangements. We are a remote-first organization based exclusively in the United States, meaning our staff work within the US and primarily virtually. We also offer shared workspaces for those who enjoy working in an office environment. This role is hybrid, with regular in-person requirements, based in Washington, DC. In addition, all staff are required to travel at least two times per year to team retreats, and this role will require additional periodic travel. Accommodations to this requirement will be made only in exceptional circumstances. Commitment to an inclusive workplace. Protect Democracy is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences strengthens our ability to analyze problems, craft solutions, and drive meaningful change. Protect Democracy encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, or veteran status. Phenomenal benefits. Our benefits package includes generous sick leave and a flexible vacation policy where we encourage team members to take 4-5 weeks every year, along with 12 paid holidays, 6 weeks of paid family medical leave, and 18 weeks of paid parental leave. We also offer a 401(k) plan with up to 6% employer match that vests immediately. Additionally, we cover employee medical premiums at 100% (with up to 95% coverage for dependents depending on plan selection), and employee and dependent’s dental/vision at 100%. All employees have access to long-term disability and life insurance, fertility benefits, a home office stipend, and bonuses at the discretion of the Executive Director. Ample opportunities for personal & professional development. Candidates who do not meet all listed criteria should still apply, as our organizational structure focuses on mentorship, support, and long-term growth. Important Notes Contact View email address on click.appcast.io if you require specific accommodations at any point in the hiring process. Keep an eye on your promotions/spam folders to avoid missed communication. We are unable to provide status updates for each application we receive. If you reach out and do not hear back, please know it is not for lack of appreciation or interest, but simply for lack of staff capacity to respond to individual inquiries. The application will include a voluntary EEO survey so that we can monitor the applicant pool as a whole for representation and equal employment opportunities, and to evaluate our progress as an organization toward a diverse and inclusive workforce, which we believe is a pillar of a thriving democracy. The categories used by the EEO survey are limited and may not reflect your lived experience; please feel free to opt out of any of the questions. Your responses to this survey are entirely separate from your application materials, are not accessible to those responsible for hiring decisions, and will not affect your candidacy in any way. #J-18808-Ljbffr