People & Culture Associate

The Bronx Defenders – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks an administrative professional with a commitment to social justice to fill a position as People & Culture Associate.

The Bronx Defenders is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative individuals with a strong commitment to public defense to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of almost 400 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators and team administrators who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we defend.

Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, child welfare, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic reform at the local, state, and national levels. We take what we learn from the clients and communities we serve and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

The People & Culture Department

Formerly known as Human Resources, our People & Culture (P&C) Team collaborates with the Recruiting & Hiring (R&H) Team to establish and implement equitable policies and practices, and provide support to staff by working on all matters related to employee benefits, leave, accessibility, accommodations, conflict, complaints, discipline, performance support, personnel matters, onboarding, offboarding, information verification and compliance with workplace regulations.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of People & Culture, the People and Culture Associate will perform a range of administrative and operational duties to facilitate collaborative and cross-functional efforts and interdepartmental initiatives with internal partners across the larger organization.

While this is not a direct representation position, the associate must understand the team’s focus in supporting our employees’ work or advocating for marginalized communities impacted by the carceral system.

Employee Relations

• Provide administrative and programmatic support for employee relations processes including but not limited to performance management, employee relations, conflict resolution, discipline and investigations
• Ensure that employee information is up to date and appropriate departments are abreast of promotions, salary adjustments and internal staffing changes
• Define and track key metrics, such as headcount, turnover and compensation analysis to support data and reporting projects
• Maintain, organize and update educational materials and communications related to employee relations

Benefits Administration and Compliance

• Maintain an up-to-date record of employee benefits summaries, application forms and other benefits information and ensure that the employee benefits information included in offer letters is complete and accurate 
• Communicate with benefit providers (e.g. COBRA, United Healthcare Oxford) to enroll, update and maintain employee benefits
• Process and reconcile all monthly benefit invoices and resolve discrepancies 
• Under the direction of the Benefits Manager, administer Disability, Workers’ Compensation, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Paid Family Leave (PFL), and Personal, ensuring compliance with established timelines, procedures and other requirements
• Assist in coordinating and running the benefits orientation and annual health insurance open enrollment process while troubleshooting employee benefits-related challenges 

Onboarding and Offboarding Support 

•   Collaborate with Recruiting & Hiring and Payroll teams to ensure seamless onboarding and offboarding processes 
• Conduct background checks and employment verifications, maintaining confidentiality while sharing results with appropriate parties 
• Guide staff through the offboarding process, including necessary paperwork, exit interviews, and coordinating final steps

Support the People & Culture Team

• Support the People & Culture team with initiatives and assist with training delivery and administration 
• Address inquiries submitted to the People & Culture Department, directing them to appropriate leadership and ensuring timely follow-up 
• Assist with the preparation of reports and presentations 
• Schedule and confirm meetings 
• Organize and maintain files in accordance with office protocols
• Provide cross-functional support within the department, including covering for other team members 
• Perform additional duties aligned with the department’s evolving needs 

Qualifications

To be eligible, applicants must have:

• At least 1 year of administrative experience OR
• Transferrable knowledge/skills from at least 1 year of educational study

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences
• Effective interpersonal and conflict navigation skills especially as it related to engaging respectfully with staff, union representatives and external partners
• Commitment to equitable, empathetic, transparent and principled engagement with staff members
• Customer care orientation with a pro-active approach to problem solving
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively
• Ability to think critically, creatively and compassionately in crisis
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and time-sensitive demands effectively
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters

Preferred but not Required:

• Experience in benefits administration, employee relations and HR compliance
• Familiarity with HR systems such as iCIMS, Paychex or similar platforms

This is a hybrid position subject to the organization’s hybrid work policies, requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in the office. Accordingly, you are expected to reside in or near the tri-state area and be available to respond to in-person needs in a timely manner (i.e., 90 minutes or less) when needed.

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 1 - 5 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $55,000$65,000. Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy.

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is not within the bargaining unit.

This position is non-exempt. By law, nonexempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not.