Human Resources Associate

Brooklyn Defender Services • New York, NY

8d • $80,000 - $100,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking a Human Resources Associate to join the Human Resources Department.

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. For nearly 30 years, BDS has worked, in and out of court, to protect and uphold the rights of individuals and to change laws and systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality. Our work with clients is focused on the intersections of these legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities living in poverty.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including housing, public benefits, education, and employment. BDS staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families and communities.

The HR department is responsible for managing all aspects of the employee lifecycle for approximately 750 employees.

Under the direct supervision of the Associate Director of Human Resources, The HR Associate is responsible for supporting core HR functions including onboarding/offboarding, employee records, benefits and payroll support, HR systems administration, and day-to-day employee inquiries.
The HR Associate plays a key role in ensuring HR processes are accurate, timely, and consistent, and serves as an important point of contact for employees while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.

Requirements

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3-5 years of experience in Human Resources.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort working in HR systems, such as ADP.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a point of contact for routine HR inquiries, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee personnel files and HR records.
• Support employee onboarding and offboarding processes, including documentation, system entry, and orientation coordination.
• Assist with employment verifications, letters, and routine HR correspondence.
• Support payroll preparation by assisting with data entry, audits, and reconciliation in coordination with payroll leadership.
• Assist employees with benefits enrollment, changes, and general benefits questions.
• Support benefits administration processes, including open enrollment, qualifying life events, and vendor coordination.
• Assist with tracking and documentation related to leaves of absence.
• Enter and maintain employee data in HR systems accurately and timely.
• Support timekeeping and attendance processes, including resolving basic discrepancies.
• Run standard HR reports and assist with data requests and audits.
• Assist with scheduling meetings, interviews, and employee appointments.
• Support HR projects and initiatives as assigned.
• Provide administrative support to HR leadership and team members.

Benefits

• BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b)-retirement plan.
• In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees