People & Culture Senior Associate

Proteus Fund•New York, NY

1d•Remote

About The Position

The People and Culture Senior Associate is a trusted partner to staff and a central member of the People and Culture team, helping ensure that employees across both Core Proteus Fund and fiscally sponsored projects have a seamless and well-supported experience. This role is instrumental in shaping how people engage with the organization, supporting onboarding and orientation through technical execution and systems management, owning benefits administration, and supporting leave processes with care and consistency. Serving as the organization’s HRIS administrator, the Senior Associate ensures data integrity, compliance with applicable regulations, and accurate reporting that informs decision making. Working closely with and reporting to the Vice President of People and Culture, this role contributes to building a responsive, inclusive, and mission-aligned workplace where staff can thrive and do their best work.

Requirements

5-7 years experience working in human resources or people and culture department or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Significant experience in supporting complex non-profit organization with benefits and leave management.
Knowledge of best practices for People & Culture as well as legal knowledge of policies
Highly skilled in PC usage, Microsoft Office Platform (including Teams and SharePoint), zoom
Ability to work and adapt in a fast-paced environment and work efficiently in a virtual setting
Ability to work collaboratively with individuals and teams that are diverse through building inclusion and belonging

Nice To Haves

Preferred knowledge in ATS systems like Checkwriters

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end benefits administration, including open enrollment, plan reviews, vendor coordination, invoice reconciliation, COBRA, and required reporting.
Serve as the primary point of contact for brokers, insurance providers, and retirement plan partners, managing relationships and resolving issues as they arise.
Develop and deliver clear benefits communications so employees understand their options and can easily access and use their coverage.
Manage leave of absence processes by coordinating with external vendors, tracking documentation, supporting return to work transitions, and ensuring compliance with state reporting requirements.
Support employee wellness initiatives that promote wellbeing and work-life balance.
Partner closely with Payroll and Finance to ensure accurate and timely processing of employee changes, including hires, terminations, benefits updates, and paid time off tracking.
Lead the annual workers’ compensation audit and maintain all related records and documentation.
Support HR compliance across employment practices by monitoring and applying relevant federal, state, and local laws, including wage and hour requirements, leave regulations, and healthcare compliance.
Coordinate required regulatory reporting and track changes in employment laws in partnership with the People and Culture team to ensure timely and accurate compliance.
Maintain and audit personnel records on a regular basis, ensuring files are complete, accurate, and up to date, and communicate any documented changes to employees such as compensation or role updates.
Develop and refine policies and procedures in collaboration with the Vice President of People and Culture, aligning them with legal requirements and organizational priorities.
Keep HR systems and internal resources current, including platforms such as Connect and payroll or benefits systems, ensuring staff have access to accurate and reliable information.
Coordinate and/or develop regular training sessions for employees on HR policies, procedures, and compliance matters.
Manage annual People and Culture compliance training and systems administration.
Partner with the Vice President of People and Culture to design and implement staff morale and recognition initiatives, both one-time and ongoing, aligned with employee needs and organizational priorities.
Coordinate employee engagement efforts in collaboration with the People and Culture team, helping to foster a positive, inclusive workplace culture. This includes developing and sharing internal communications that acknowledge and celebrate cultural holidays and moments of significance.
Support the planning and execution of in-person events that strengthen team cohesion, deepen engagement, and reinforce organizational culture.
Oversees employee onboarding and offboarding, including day one preparations and conducting new hire trainings/orientations.
Owns the technical execution of onboarding in HR systems, including adding employees and states to Checkwriters and other platforms ensuring data accuracy and system readiness.
Manages benefits onboarding and enrollment setup, including facilitating the benefits orientation session and guiding employees through enrollment in all benefit programs.
Maintains accurate and up to date employee records across staff changes throughout the employee lifecycle in HRIS and related systems.
Manages employee offboarding at the systems and compliance level, including HRIS/payroll terminations, benefits termination, COBRA activation, final pay coordination, and ensuring all records are accurately updated.
Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning by staying current on industry trends and best practices through remote and accessible professional development opportunities.
Contribute to a strong team environment by collaborating across functions, sharing knowledge, and supporting collective goals.
Perform other duties as assigned, with flexibility to adapt to evolving team and organizational needs.