What are the responsibilities and job description for the HR Specialist position at YWCA Charleston?
At YWCA Charleston, our heart is social justice, our fuel is compassion, and our backbone is people like you. We’re looking for an HR Specialist who believes that behind every policy, file, and form is a person with a story. And that strong systems make it possible to serve them well.
If you thrive on checklists, compliance calendars, and creating smooth hiring experiences without cutting corners (all while being part of a team that changes lives daily) you may be exactly what we need.
What You’ll Do:
- Recruitment & Onboarding: Lead full-cycle hiring for mission-critical roles, from job postings to offer letters. Coordinate background checks, references, and new hire paperwork. Design and run an onboarding experience that is warm, welcoming, as well as compliant.
- Compliance & Recordkeeping: Maintain personnel files, I-9s, training records, and status changes. Ensure HR practices align with federal, state, and YWCA policies (including EEOC, WV labor laws, and grant-specific requirements).
- Structure & Process Improvement: Create or refine checklists, workflows, and templates so nothing falls through the cracks. Help move our HR function from reactive to proactive through consistent systems.
- Cross-Team Support: Partner with program directors to anticipate hiring needs, explain compliance requirements in plain language, and reduce administrative friction so they can focus on client services.
- Left-brained in the best way: You love organization, logic, and follow-through. A missing signature or antiquated job description bothers you until it’s fixed. Attention to detail is your calling.
- Compliance-minded: You know that good intentions don’t pass audits. You take pride in getting the details right—every time.
- Service-oriented in HR: You see recruitment and onboarding as the first act of caring for an employee, not just a transaction.
- Calm under pressure: You can manage multiple hires, deadlines, and last-minute requests without losing clarity or kindness.
- 1 years of HR experience, with specific responsibility for recruitment, onboarding, and/or compliance (nonprofit or social service setting a plus). Working knowledge of employment laws (FMLA, ADA, FLSA, etc.) and HR best practices.
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms, background check systems, and Microsoft Office/Google Workspace.
- High school diploma required, associate or bachelor’s degree in HR, business, or related field preferred. (We know talent comes from many paths. Relevant work experience can be substituted for formal education requirements.)
Why Join YWCA Charleston?
- Mission you can feel: Every system you build supports shelter, advocacy, childcare, and workforce development within the Charleston community.
- Supportive culture: We balance urgency for social change with genuine care for our staff.
- Benefits: Health, dental, vision, paid time off, and retirement options.
- Growth: You’ll have room to shape HR processes from the ground up.
Please upload your resume and a brief cover letter telling us how your experience could be a fit for our role.
About YWCA Charleston:
The YWCA Charleston has been fostering self-sufficiency and independence. Originally designed as safe lodging for young women from rural communities coming to Charleston to pursue careers, the YWCA has evolved into the city’s most diverse and comprehensive network of social service programs. YWCA programs, facilities, and services assist more than 5,000 individuals annually.Equal opportunity is given to all applicants.The YWCA was built upon our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. We can continue to be successful when people are treated fairly and allowed to grow and achieve their potential. We take pride in treating people equally, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, blindness, sexual orientation, or any legally protected status.
Salary : $40,000 - $45,000