People Operations Associate

Project Bread•Boston, MA

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

Project Bread connects people and communities in Massachusetts to reliable sources of food while advocating for policies that make food more accessible—so that no one goes hungry. To assist us in meeting our mission, Project Bread – The Walk for Hunger is seeking a People Operations Associate to join our team. At Project Bread, we have a deep commitment to creating positive social change and recognize that hunger and racism are inextricably linked. We work in a fast-paced environment that values learning, innovation, and diverse perspectives. Knowing its centrality to our work, Project Bread is committed to equity and inclusion. We aspire to build a diverse team, including groups that are traditionally underrepresented among our sector leadership. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. The People Operations Associate is a key contributor to Project Bread's people-centered workplace, which has earned recognition as a Top Place to Work by The Boston Globe two years running. This role supports the full employee lifecycle, from recruiting and onboarding to benefits and professional development, with a focus on equity, inclusion, and a staff experience where everyone can contribute to a hunger-free Massachusetts. The ideal candidate is a thoughtful, detail-oriented person who genuinely enjoys supporting others and takes pride in keeping the behind-the-scenes work of an organization running smoothly.

Requirements

Highly organized, motivated, and detail-oriented: Able to manage multiple responsibilities across a busy HR function without letting things slip through the cracks. Notices inconsistencies in data, documentation, and processes and fixes them. Holds a high bar for accuracy even when the pace picks up.
Organizational agility and sound judgement: Shifts gears easily when priorities change and keeps multiple workstreams moving at once. Can tell what needs attention now versus later and knows when to pause and ask for guidance.
Service and relationship orientation: Genuinely enjoys supporting people and shows up as a responsive, approachable resource – whether for a new hire navigating their first week, an employee with a benefits question, or a manager working through a search. Builds trust and credibility with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.
Commitment to equity and inclusion: Understands why building an equitable workplace matters and brings that lens to everyday work, whether it's how a job posting is written, how data is tracked, or how a new employee is welcomed. Approaches this work with curiosity and a willingness to keep learning.
Professional experience in administrative, human resources, or operations role, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
Ability to handle sensitive employee information, such as compensation, personal circumstances, compliance matters, with professionalism and care.
Comfortable with ambiguity; can make progress on a task without having every answer upfront and knows when to ask versus when to act.
Able to give and receive feedback with humility and a growth mindset.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with HR compliance basics — I-9 processing, records retention, benefits administration — is a plus; a genuine willingness to learn quickly is a must.
Multilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply — language diversity is a valued asset on our team.

Responsibilities

Support hiring efforts by maintaining job postings, coaching hiring managers through the process, and conducting initial candidate screenings.
Manage employee benefit programs, including coordinating open enrollment, handling day-to-day benefits administration, and serving as a go-to resource for employee questions.
Coordinate HR workflows for new hires and departing employees, including processing paperwork, maintaining compliance documentation, and scheduling orientations.
Support staff professional development by researching learning opportunities, processing professional development stipend requests, and scheduling staff trainings.
Maintain accurate employee records in BambooHR, conduct periodic data audits, and help track and analyze hiring, retention, and engagement trends.
Support cross-functional collaboration and staff engagement, including serving as a liaison to Staff Committee, connecting HR initiatives to the broader staff community.
Take on special assignments as directed by the Director of People Operations and Chief Operating Officer.
Support the annual Walk for Hunger, including working the event the first Sunday in May and attending pre-Walk events as assigned.
Participate in organization-wide events and meetings.
Act to promote, sustain, and grow Project Bread’s positive, productive, and inclusive working environment.