Human Resources Generalist

Surfrider Foundation • San Clemente, CA

47m • Hybrid

About The Position

The Surfrider Foundation is seeking a Human Resources Generalist to support the continued growth, retention, and engagement of our nationwide team. This is a hands-on, individual contributor role that partners closely with the Sr. Human Resources Manager to implement and sustain effective HR programs, ensure compliance, and enhance the overall employee experience.
This position is well-suited for a mid-career HR professional who thrives in a collaborative nonprofit environment, can independently manage day-to-day HR operations, and enjoys wearing multiple hats while contributing to broader people initiatives. The Human Resources Generalist will be meaningfully dedicated to Surfrider Foundation’s mission and play a key role in supporting the staff and volunteers whose passion and commitment make this work possible. The role balances operational HR responsibilities with collaborative support on strategic, people-focused projects and offers a strong foundation for long-term growth within human resources or nonprofit operations.

Requirements

• Minimum 4+ years of progressive, hands-on experience working directly in human resources, with responsibility across multiple HR functional areas.
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state (including California), and local employment laws and regulations, with the ability to apply them in day-to-day HR practices.
• Demonstrated experience across core HR functions, including employee relations, recruitment and onboarding, benefits administration, training and development, and organizational support.
• Experience supporting or managing the full recruitment lifecycle, including job postings, applicant screening, interview coordination, and onboarding.
• Proficiency working within HRIS/HRMS platforms and HR-related software systems to maintain accurate employee data and support HR operations.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion, sound judgment, professionalism, and diplomacy.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with a high level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including active listening, conflict resolution, and the ability to clearly explain policies and processes.
• Comfortable facilitating meetings, trainings, or presentations; confident speaking on camera (e.g., Zoom) and to larger or diverse groups.
• Advanced working knowledge of Mac OS and Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work effectively and independently from a home office while collaborating with a remote and distributed team.
• Must reside in Southern California within a reasonable commuting distance to Surfrider Foundation headquarters in San Clemente, CA.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree or coursework with an emphasis in Human Resources or a related field.
• PHR (Professional in Human Resources) or similar HR certification.
• Experience supporting multi-state or remote workforces, particularly within nonprofit or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience contributing to organizational planning, employee engagement initiatives, or process improvement projects.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Sr. Human Resources Manager and leadership team to support Surfrider’s talent strategy and staffing needs.
• Support the full recruitment lifecycle, including job description development, posting management, applicant review, interview scheduling, hiring committee guidance, and onboarding.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve the employee experience and recommend innovative HR solutions.
• Assist with the annual employee performance evaluation process.
• Assist in updating, developing, and customizing training and learning resources that support employee onboarding, role readiness, and organizational knowledge.
• Support employee engagement initiatives, including action planning, implementation, and follow-up in partnership with leadership and the HR team.
• Maintain, update, and improve internal training and onboarding materials, including Surfrider 101, new hire orientation resources, the staff section of the website, and other internal materials as needed.
• Administer employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and 401(k).
• Manage benefits enrollment and changes for new hires, qualifying life events, and employee departures.
• Coordinate and administer the annual open enrollment process, including employee communications, system updates, and vendor coordination.
• Perform day-to-day HR administrative tasks to support a smooth and compliant employee lifecycle.
• Support the organization’s time and attendance systems, including ongoing maintenance of employee records and PTO accruals.
• Monitor, reconcile, and audit time and leave data to ensure accuracy, policy compliance, and alignment with federal and state requirements.
• Provide guidance and support to employees and supervisors on timekeeping and PTO policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Troubleshoot system issues and user questions, escalating complex or system-level concerns to the payroll provider as needed.
• Assist with process improvements and documentation related to time and attendance practices to support consistency across a multi-state workforce.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Review and maintain HR policies and practices aligned with legal requirements and best practices.
• Provide guidance and support to managers and employees on sensitive and complex HR matters, including accommodations, investigations, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
• Stay current on HR trends, employment law updates, and emerging technologies.
• Escalate complex issues to the Sr. Human Resources Manager as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health: Medical, dental and vision benefit premiums are paid 100% by Surfrider Foundation for employee-only coverage. Dependents may be added on at an additional cost.
• 401(k) Plan: offering a match of .50¢ of every dollar contributed by the employee up to a maximum of 4% of earnings (in other terms, a 2% employer match).
• Vacation Accrual: Enjoy a generous allotment of vacation days per year. Unused days roll over to the following year, subject to company maximum accrual policy.
• Sick Time Accrual: 12 sick days/year
• Holidays: 20 paid holidays total in 2026
• Happy Healthy Summer Fridays: We provide several half Fridays to get outside and enjoy an early start to your weekend!
• Parental Leave: Surfrider provides 6 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.
• Other Benefits: Long-Term Disability Insurance, Term Life Insurance, Employee Assistance program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or Health Savings Account (HSA).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level