Senior Human Resource Associate- J-PAL Global

Position Overview:

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a network of affiliated professors who conduct randomized evaluations (REs). J-PAL's headquarters is a center within MIT’s Economics Department. J PAL's mission is to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is based on scientific evidence.

The Senior HR Associate is based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA and coordinates HR activities such as employee relations, rewards and recognition, onboarding, diversity and inclusion, recruitment, performance management, and compensation at J-PAL.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions**):

●     Consults to and advises staff within JPAL in areas such as employee relations, rewards and recognition, onboarding, diversity and inclusion, recruitment, performance management, and compensation.

●     Interprets and advises faculty and staff on HR issues, policies, and procedures. Refers more complex issues

●      Partners with managers to create and/or revise position descriptions. 

●     Facilitates the recruitment process by advising hiring managers on advertising, posting, interviewing and reference checking. Schedules interviews, screens resumes, and prepares interview and offer documentation. Post jobs on the J-PAL website for J-PAL Global, Regional Offices, affiliated professors and select partners and first point of contact for job postings, responding to inquiries from hiring managers and interested applicants.

●     Interfaces with temporary agencies regarding hires.

●     Responsible for onboarding new employees, including creating contact records on SF

●       Advises managers and employees on leaves of absence policies and processes.

●       Works with management to identify training and development opportunities in support of broader talent management strategy. Creates and delivers training

●     Manages the J-PAL applicant database, including linking job postings to the database system, answering queries from applicants, and managing administrative access.

●     Coordinates and sends out the monthly jobs newsletter, coordinating with the Regional offices.

●     Coordinates the annual recruitment drive, including preparing job descriptions and drafting communication materials 

●     Leads the social committee and executes on monthly events

●     Assists in the design and administration of J-Stars (our recognition program).

●     Supports DEI working group, creating agendas, facilitating meetings, follow up with actions items.

●     Works with management to determine and coordinate necessary training.

●       Manages the performance management and annual salary review (ASR)

●     Coordinates the communication and administration of the performance management cycle.

●     Collects and compiles Outside Professional Activities (OPA) data and synthesizes findings. May draft report.

●       Other tasks as assigned.

Supervision Received:

Senior HR Associate reports directly to the Associate Director of Human Resources. They take ownership of tasks and exercises good judgement in knowing when to ask for more direction from the supervisor and shows initiative in adding value to processes.

Supervision Exercised:

No supervision exercised.

Qualifications & Skills:

●       Education: This position requires a Bachelor’s degree.

●       Experience: Minimum of 4 years of HR experience in a professional work environment.

●       Work style: Strong attention to detail, ability to work on projects independently yet accept supervision, and total reliability is required. Strong copy editing/proof reading skills and experience required. Enthusiasm for work, willingness to pitch in as needed, and a flexible approach to the working environment is essential. Must be able to maintain confidential information.

●       Time Management: Proven ability to handle several different projects/tasks at one time, successfully complete tasks assigned, and meet deadlines.  Strong ability to anticipate, plan, prioritize and meet deadlines is essential.

●       Software proficiency: Experience with computer applications and comfort learning new applications is required.