Overview

The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (“NDS”) is a community-based, holistic public defense practice in the heart of Northern Manhattan. NDS represents clients through collaborative civil, criminal and family teams. NDS is now accepting applications for the position of Human Resource Assistant.

NDS is a collaborative holistic public defender office with a long history of service to the communities of Northern Manhattan. NDS currently represents clients in an array of proceedings including criminal court, family court, housing court, immigration court, and administrative proceedings related to public benefits, housing, and employment. Clients are represented by teams that include attorneys, social workers, parent advocates, client advocates, investigators, mitigation specialists and team administrators. Each member of this team is integral to addressing client needs and securing the best possible legal disposition. NDS is committed to advancing due process rights for all clients while simultaneously advocating for related systemic change.

The Human Resources Assistant is an experienced professional in the Harlem community who has knowledge of organizational structures; understands how to support and is experienced in various administrative tasks. The Human Resources Assistant will help shape our present and future—contributing to a collaborative environment and culture of excellence in alignment with our values. At NDS, how we represent our clients is as important as individual case outcomes and our ideal recruiting strategy approaches the cultivation of a positive office culture and staff development with equal rigor and commitment.

Responsibilities

Recruiting (50%)

Perform administrative tasks in support of hiring efforts and maintaining a strong candidate pipeline, including:

• Sourcing and reviewing resumes for open positions.
• Conducting initial screenings with candidates.
• Coordinating interviews with hiring manager and interview panel.
• Creating and updating active candidates in recruitment e-folders.
• Completing reference checks.
• Maintaining timely communications with candidates.
• Updating recruiting report spreadsheet for all open positions.
• Dispositioning candidates during and at the conclusion of hiring for open position.
• Employee Administration/Records (30%).

Organizing and updating employee files, including:

• Creating new employee folders and organizing onboarding paperwork; Following up with new hires to ensure all required items have been received.
• Adding pay action updates to employee files.
• Maintaining historical human resource records by keeping past and current records organized and accessible.
• Protecting organizational integrity by keeping employee personal information in the strictest confidence.
• Assisting with employee performance evaluation process.
• Conducting quarterly audits of employee files to ensure required paperwork is up to date and accessible.
• Continuous Improvement Efforts (20%).

Build and develop relationships with internal staff and external partners essential to the human resources function by:

• Listening to external applicants and internal team members on how to improve HR processes.
• Being creative, innovative, and exceptional follow-through abilities with implementing best practices and reaching people in a meaningful way.
• Recommending revisions or implementation of policies and procedures relevant to our staff and our office culture and the evolving workforce.
• Keeping a pulse on employment law updates according to city, state and federal regulations.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, indigent defense, racial equity and social justice issues and Harlem communities and a substantive understanding of the biases impacting our clients.
• Have at least one year of experience in human resources with some experience as a recruiter or HR team member with administrative capabilities.
• Must have a high level of maturity and discretion combined with an ability to quickly build relationships across varying identities, income levels, races and ethnicities.
• Must be able to rack record of strategically guiding projects and relationships; applying good and practiced judgment; and routinely pushing through roadblocks to achieve your goals.
• Ability to keep calm under pressure and navigating shifting priorities.
• Have a high level of organizational and administrative skills.
• Must have Clear and effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• Must have bachelor’s degree.

The Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS encourages people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people to apply.

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