Senior Human Resources Associate

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Senior Human Resources Associate in the Human Resources department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY . This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

People are at the center of our mission and our work. And we are dedicated to cultivating the careers and well-being of a growing employee base of 550+ people who are the heart of our institution. The Human Resources team invests in the welfare and development of our employees by creating a place where people love to work, grow their careers, and contribute to the success of the organization. The Human Resources department oversees the entire employee lifecycle and strives to create a best-in-class employee experience through its outreach efforts, total rewards, onboarding, learning and development initiatives, and ongoing employee engagement. We are responsible for creating, strengthening, and sustaining the programs, processes, and policies that empower people, support and advance the institution, and enable the ACLU to deliver on its mission.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The Senior Human Resources Associate is a critical part of ensuring that the fundamentals of human resource management are fairly and consistently administered. Reporting to the Director, HR Systems, Workforce Analytics and Administration , the Senior HR Associate is responsible for a wide range of general and specialized responsibilities including maintenance of HR policies and position descriptions, monitoring employment laws and ensuring the administration of core HR operational functions are seamlessly executed. This position demands a high degree of discretion, skill, and tact to ensure the HR department is accessible, accountable, and responsive to a growing employee base.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

POLICY AND COMPLIANCE

• Maintain human resources policies and employee handbook content to ensure consistency, alignment with labor laws and evolving ACLU practices.
• Monitor changes in employment law and assess their impact on HR policies, practices and procedures.
• Manage compliance activities including conducting regular audits related to employment eligibility, employee classifications, required notices, record retention, probationary reviews, mandatory trainings, labor law postings, policy acknowledgments, and other HR regulatory requirements.
• Analyze positions and make determinations of exemption statuses, in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Prepare, maintain, and submit required compliance reports (example: EEOC) ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with all regulatory requirements.

POSITION MANAGEMENT

• Support HR Business Partners assessing department relevel and new position requests, to ensure clarity around role responsibilities and alignment with existing ACLU structures and compensation framework.
• Assist with headcount planning, staffing needs, turnover analysis, and organizational structure updates.
• In partnership with HRBPs, identify patterns in employee issues and recommend solutions.
• Conduct audits on employee data in HRIS and other related systems, ensuring accuracy and consistency across platforms.

DATA AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT

• Identify procedural discrepancies, missing documentation, or process gaps and partner with the appropriate teams to resolve issues.
• Recommend and help implement process improvements to strengthen data integrity, compliance controls, reporting accuracy, and HR operational efficiency.
• Manage the digitization of paper-based employee files and maintain organized, accurate, and compliant HR folders and records in compliance with the ACLU’s record retention schedule and applicable legal requirements.

GENERAL HR SUPPORT

• Support with employment verification requests, including those related to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Manage the probationary review process, including providing ongoing support to HR Business Partners by addressing routine questions and assisting with process-related needs.
• Provide guidance to individual contributors on routine HR policies, performance management, and communication strategy questions.
• Support the performance review process, and employee feedback cycles
• Support employee engagement surveys, action planning, recognition programs, and retention initiatives
• Support business changes such as reorganizations, new systems, process changes, team restructuring, or culture initiatives.
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned.

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Demonstrated professional experience in human resources, with substantive experience in HR operations, compliance, or a related area
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and experience applying regulatory requirements to HR policies and practices
• Experience in several of the following areas: job analysis and classification, FLSA determinations, policy administration, regulatory reporting, compliance audits, records management, or HRIS data integrity
• Experience managing cross-functional projects and improving HR processes from assessment through implementation
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to interpret and clearly communicate policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements
• Demonstrated consultative skills, with the ability to work effectively and diplomatically with employees, managers, and HR partners at all levels
• Excellent organization and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accurate documentation
• Demonstrated discretion, integrity, initiative, and sound judgment when handling sensitive and confidential information

COMPENSATION

The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, there is a set salary for each role based on geographic work location. The annual salary for this position is $112,584 ( Level H ), reflecting the salary of a position based in New York, NY. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

For details on our pay structure, please visit:

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage 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, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please complete the Accommodation Request Form

If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.