Human Resources Manager

Who We Are Spark the Journey is a 30-year-old DC based nonprofit organization on a mission to help young adults unlock their full potential. Through mentorship and a powerful community of support, we empower young people to define their own paths, whether that's college, career, or personal success. Building on the legacy of Capital Partners for Education, we now support more than 600 mentees as they navigate the transition into adulthood. What makes Spark unique is our deep, relationship-driven approach, connecting young adults with mentors who guide, support, and champion them every step of the way. If you're passionate about creating opportunity, building community, and making a real difference in someone's future, this is the place to start your journey. About the Role As the Human Resources Manager, you will play a critical role in shaping the employee experience at SPARK. Reporting to the Director of Finance & Operations, you will serve as a trusted resource and partner to employees and leadership across all areas of human resources, including benefits administration, recruitment, payroll, compliance, employee engagement, and workplace culture. In this role, you will help ensure our employees feel informed, supported, connected, and set up for success throughout every stage of the employee lifecycle. You will balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution while helping strengthen the systems, processes, and culture that support our growing organization. The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate has served as a standalone HR lead or primary HR owner and is confident managing the full employee lifecycle in a small, fast-paced organization. You bring a strong balance of operational execution and people-centered judgment, and you are comfortable being the go-to HR resource for employees and leaders alike. You have hands-on experience with multi-state HR compliance, payroll, and benefits administration, and you know how to apply employment laws in practical, real-world situations. You are detail-oriented, highly organized, and able to manage multiple priorities without losing accuracy or responsiveness. Just as importantly, you are approachable and trusted by others. You communicate clearly, handle sensitive situations with discretion, and naturally build strong relationships across teams. You thrive in mission-driven environments and are energized by improving systems, supporting people, and strengthening workplace culture. This is a hybrid position requiring at least one in-office day per week at our Washington, DC office. Therefore, this role works best for someone who enjoys balancing independent work with meaningful in-person collaboration and being present for the moments that matter across the organization. Key Responsibilities Talent & People Operations Coordinate full-cycle recruitment processes including job postings, resume screening, interview scheduling, and candidate communications Lead onboarding and offboarding processes, including documentation, orientation coordination, asset management, and systems access Maintain accurate employee records and HR documentation in compliance with federal, DC, and multi-state employment laws Support employee lifecycle processes including status changes, separations, and benefits continuation or termination administration Help improve HR processes, workflows, and employee communications Manage team meeting logistics, shared mailboxes, and VoIP phone system Performance & Culture Partner with leadership to coordinate performance review cycles and employee development initiatives Support programs and initiatives that strengthen employee engagement and workplace culture Coordinate employee recognition activities, team-building initiatives, and organizational events Benefits, Administration & Payroll Manage annual benefits renewals, open enrollment processes, and employee benefits communications Administer health, dental, vision, life, AD&D, COBRA, and 403(b) retirement programs Ensure compliance with benefits-related regulations, including annual PCORI filings and reporting requirements Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits questions and issue resolution Process semi-monthly payroll accurately and on schedule Ensure compliance with payroll tax regulations, unemployment insurance requirements, wage and hour laws, and applicable labor standards Maintain payroll records and coordinate with finance and external vendors as needed Handle mail sorting, purchasing of occasional office supplies and other administrative duties as assigned Qualifications & Experience Required Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field required 5+ years of progressive experience in human resources, including HR operations, payroll, benefits administration, and employee relations Experience serving as a primary HR lead or standalone HR resource in a small or mid-sized organization Strong understanding of federal, DC, and multi-state employment laws and compliance requirements (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, ADA) Experience managing full-cycle HR processes including onboarding, offboarding, employee records, and HR compliance documentation Comfort working with HRIS, payroll, and benefits administration systems Leverage technology to streamline administrative tasks and improve employee experience using learning AI tools (Microsoft CoPilot, Claude or similar platforms) to improve HR workflows and documentation Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to build trust across all levels of the organization Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality in employee relations and sensitive matters Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future Must be able to pass a criminal background check within one month of employment Preferred but not required SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification Experience working in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization Experience using BambooHR or similar HRIS platforms Experience supporting hybrid or distributed teams Work Environment & Physical Requirements This role is primarily office-based with a hybrid schedule that combines remote work and in-person collaboration at our Washington, DC office. Must reside in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, or be willing to relocate before start date, and maintain residency Core work hours 9am - 5pm, with occasional flexibility based on organizational needs and deliverables. Reporting to the Washington, DC office at least one day per week for collaboration, team connection, and in-person support Availability to support occasional evenings and weekends events and programming This position is primarily a sedentary role. However, the person in this position will need to respond to emails, chat messages, and audio/visual communications, and may need to occasionally move about inside the office to liaise with internal team members, access files, and use office machinery such as a copier/printer. How you will be Compensated This position is salaried, exempt. The salary for this position is $65,000.00 - $78,000.00 annually, depending on skills and experience brought to the role. At Spark, we believe diverse experiences and perspectives make our work stronger. Spark is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of background or identity. To counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity, Spark uses a non-negotiable salary system. Our goal is to offer a competitive salary that also meets our equity guidelines. Rather than negotiating, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes: Medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums fully funded by Spark with Flexible Spending Account options, effective the first day of the month following employment 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching of 3% after 6 months of employment Life and disability insurance with premiums fully funded by Spark 15 days of paid vacation in each of the first two years; 20 days in subsequent years Office closed on national and state holidays and between December 24-January 1 Flexible, hybrid working schedule.