Human Resources Director

Unruled Masses (UM) is a New York-based 501(c)(3), nonpartisan, public education and civic empowerment organization. Our mission is to research and expose abuses of power by public and private entities, educate the public on corruption and related harms, empower people to counter corruption through nonviolent and lawful civic action, and inspire hope through community.

We believe democracy is non-negotiable: we will never yield to authoritarian interests or abuses of power that violate democratic principles and harm our communities. And we believe hope lives in those who fight for a better tomorrow. When abusers use "divide and conquer" tactics, hopelessness is the intended outcome. UM exists to counter that by showing people that when they work together to reclaim their power and agency, they can defeat efforts to abuse and exploit them.

Because of the mission we carry, people are finding us fast. We are receiving volunteer applications at a rapid rate, and we want everyone who wants to join the fight for democracy to find a welcoming community here. Our diverse, dedicated volunteers are our greatest strength. We are looking for a leader who can help us manage this scale and build an experience worthy of them: attractive from the first application, through onboarding, and for as long as they choose to serve.

Who You Are

You are a people-centered leader who believes a volunteer workforce is built on trust, clarity, and belonging. You see a surge of interest as both an opportunity and a responsibility: every person who raises their hand deserves a fair process, a clear role, real training, and the protections that come with them. You don't need to be a lifelong activist; you need to be a skilled organizer of people and systems who can make a growing community feel like home.

You care deeply about democracy and about the people who show up to defend it. You believe diversity of perspective and lived experience makes us better at recognizing and confronting corruption, that every voice should be heard and valued, and that no one should face a barrier to taking part. You are organized, discreet with sensitive information, and energized by building something from the ground up.

What You'll Do as Human Resources Director

• Lead Volunteer Operations at Scale: Oversee the large and growing influx of volunteers, and work alongside the volunteer coordinator team to make sure our full recruitment, interview, onboarding, and offboarding process is consistently implemented.
• Build an Inclusive, Accessible Community: Create and implement policies for diversity, equity, and inclusion; ensure we are welcoming to all; and put accessibility into practice so that participation barriers are removed for every volunteer.
• Train and Protect Our Volunteers: Develop standard and role-based training for all personnel, and ensure our volunteer workforce has the training, safeguards, and protections it needs, including workforce policies that comply with applicable labor laws.
• Build the Volunteer Agreement Process: Work with our legal advisors to develop a comprehensive volunteer agreement and a clear, consistent process for volunteers to review, sign, and renew it.
• Design the Volunteer Experience: Go beyond onboarding. Shape an experience that keeps volunteers engaged, recognized, and growing, including a personnel feedback process that helps us understand and address participation and turnover.
• Manage Our Personnel Platforms: Oversee the platforms we use to manage volunteer records, applications, communications, and training, in partnership with our Technology team to protect volunteer data and privacy.
• Keep Volunteers Informed: Help our Communications team keep volunteers updated on what UM is doing, through internal updates and regular check-ins.
• Bring People Together: At times, help plan and coordinate events for volunteers in our major hub cities.
• Handle Other HR Duties: Support the full range of people operations as UM grows, including volunteer conduct and conflict resolution, record-keeping, and a smooth, respectful offboarding process.

Exceptional volunteers may

• Help design a volunteer recognition and leadership pathway, including how strong contributors grow into team lead roles.
• Lead the design of a volunteer-engagement program that tracks participation and addresses attrition, and report findings to UM leadership.
• Collaborate with our communications team on volunteer-facing stories, updates, and spotlights.
• Help us build volunteer community in new places, including support for future college campus chapters.

Areas of focus

We are looking for a leader who can contribute to our core people pillars: Volunteer Recruitment & Onboarding; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility; Training & Volunteer Protections; Volunteer Engagement & Retention; and Internal Communications & Community Events.

Ideal Qualifications

• People Operations Experience: Proven experience in human resources, volunteer management, or people operations, ideally in a nonprofit, advocacy, or community-based setting. Paid or volunteer experience both count.
• Policy and Compliance Knowledge: Working knowledge of workforce policy development, volunteer agreements, and applicable labor and employment considerations, with the judgment to know when to involve legal counsel.
• Inclusion and Accessibility Expertise: Experience creating or applying DEI and accessibility practices that make participation possible for people of different backgrounds, abilities, and circumstances.
• Systems Proficiency: Comfortable selecting, configuring, and managing HR, volunteer-management, and collaboration platforms, with respect for data privacy.
• Clarity of Expression: Strong, plain-language writing and communication skills, consistent with UM's commitment to accessibility, plus the ability to keep a large, distributed community informed and motivated.
• Discretion and Judgment: Ability to handle sensitive personnel matters fairly, confidentially, and professionally.
• Mission Alignment: A demonstrated, nonpartisan commitment to democracy, human rights, and the belief that organized, peaceful communities can hold power accountable.

Compensation and Commitment

This is an unpaid volunteer role. We are flexible on time but ask for at least 6–8 hours a week to oversee volunteer operations, with occasional additional time for events in our hub cities. As we grow our 501(c)(3) funding, paid leadership positions or staff roles may be offered to volunteers who demonstrate exceptional dedication and impact.

Benefits of Volunteering with Unruled Masses

• Shape the Community: Design the experience that welcomes, trains, and keeps the volunteers who power the movement.
• Founding Team Status: Work directly with UM leadership to build a nonpartisan, public-interest research and civic action organization from the ground up.
• Leadership Growth: Build real experience leading people, policy, and systems at a fast-growing organization.
• Transformative Impact: Play a direct role in moving people from isolation and hopelessness into organized, hopeful, and effective collective action.