HR Generalist

Position Summary:

Are you a proactive and detail-oriented HR professional with a passion for fostering a positive and inclusive workplace? If so, Democracy Forward is looking for an HR Generalist to join our team.

We are seeking a collaborative and solutions-focused professional to support Democracy Forward’s People, Culture, and Operations team. This position will play a key role in onboarding and offboarding, performance review coordination, HR records management, employee engagement initiatives, employee inquiries, and benefits administration by working closely with our Professional Employer Organization (PEO). The HR Generalist will serve as the first point of contact for HR-related matters, ensuring a seamless and positive experience for employees.

This position is full-time. Democracy Forward’s office is located in Washington, DC. While this position offers flexibility to work remotely, it requires regular in-office presence eight (8) times per month (averaging about 2-3 times per week) to effectively support the nature of the role.

The HR Generalist will report to the Director of People and Culture and work closely with all staff across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Onboarding & Offboarding:

• Manage the full onboarding process for new hires, including pre-employment paperwork, system setup, orientation scheduling, and first-day coordination.
• Conduct onboarding sessions to introduce new employees to policies, benefits, and organizational culture.
• Facilitate smooth offboarding by coordinating exit processes, collecting feedback, and ensuring final documentation is completed.
• Work with internal teams to ensure timely setup and deactivation of employee accounts and access.

HR Operations & Employee Support:

• Serve as the first point of contact for HR-related inquiries, providing timely responses and directing staff to appropriate resources when needed.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records, including personnel files, HRIS entries, and organizational charts.
• Assist in updating and maintaining internal HR documents, policies, and processes.
• Support employee relations by providing general guidance and escalating concerns when necessary.

Performance Reviews & Employee Development:

• Assist with managing the performance review process using our performance management system (Culture Amp), ensuring timely completion and accurate documentation.
• Support managers and employees in navigating our performance management system, providing guidance on system functionality and best practices.
• Assist in analyzing performance review data and generating reports to inform leadership decisions.
• Coordinate professional development sessions and support training initiatives as needed.

PEO Liaison & Benefits Administration:

• Act as the HR liaison with the organization’s PEO for benefits administration, payroll inquiries, and employee support.
• Support open enrollment and ongoing benefits communication, assisting employees with general benefits inquiries.
• Ensure accurate benefit records are maintained in coordination with the PEO.

HR Process Improvement & Special Projects:

• Identify and suggest improvements to HR processes that enhance employee experience and efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on HR initiatives related to engagement, retention, and employee support.
• Assist in compiling HR metrics and reports to inform leadership decisions.

Qualifications:

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

Required:

• 5-8 years of experience in human resources, employee relations, or HR operations.
• Strong knowledge of onboarding, offboarding, performance management, and HR records management.
• Experience using HRIS platforms and working with external HR service providers (e.g., PEOs).
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice in the workplace.

Preferred:

• Experience working in a nonprofit, mission-driven, or advocacy organization.
• Experience with benefits administration and employee support in a PEO-managed environment (familiarity with ADP Workforce Now and/or ADP TotalSource is a plus).
• Experience coo