HUMAN RESOURCES GENERALIST

Remote/Hybrid – San Clemente, CA

Full-Time

ABOUT US:

The Surfrider Foundation is the worlds largest grassroots coastal conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the worlds ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. We have achieved many important victories by persuading state, federal, and local decision makers to protect vital coastal and ocean resources. These accomplishments demonstrate the important role of recreational users in advancing coastal and ocean stewardship. Since 1984, Surfrider’s appeal is not only our strong reputation and track record of success, but also the lifestyle and values we embody.

By joining the Surfrider Foundation, you will be welcomed into an open and inclusive network of incredibly supportive and collaborative people who work hard and play hard. You will have the opportunity to work with dedicated people who are also passionate coastal users with their feet in the sand and toes in the water. You help bring together diverse voices and perspectives to provide our community with the leadership and tools necessary to make a difference at their beach and in coastal communities across the United States. At Surfrider, we build leaders and we are problem solvers; our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. Coastal recreation is fun and working at Surfrider is too.

OPPORTUNITY:

The Surfrider Foundation is seeking a Human Resources Generalist to support the continued growth, retention, and engagement of our nationwide team. This is a hands-on, individual contributor role that partners closely with the Sr. Human Resources Manager to implement and sustain effective HR programs, ensure compliance, and enhance the overall employee experience.

This position is well-suited for a mid-career HR professional who thrives in a collaborative nonprofit environment, can independently manage day-to-day HR operations, and enjoys wearing multiple hats while contributing to broader people initiatives. The Human Resources Generalist will be meaningfully dedicated to Surfrider Foundations mission and play a key role in supporting the staff and volunteers whose passion and commitment make this work possible. The role balances operational HR responsibilities with collaborative support on strategic, people-focused projects and offers a strong foundation for long-term growth within human resources or nonprofit operations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Recruitment, Retention and Workforce Planning:

• Partner with the Sr. Human Resources Manager and leadership team to support Surfriders talent strategy and staffing needs.
• Support the full recruitment lifecycle, including job description development, posting management, applicant review, interview scheduling, hiring committee guidance, and onboarding.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve the employee experience and recommend innovative HR solutions.
• Assist with the annual employee performance evaluation process.

Training and Development:

• Assist in updating, developing, and customizing training and learning resources that support employee onboarding, role readiness, and organizational knowledge.
• Support employee engagement initiatives, including action planning, implementation, and follow-up in partnership with leadership and the HR team.
• Maintain, update, and improve internal training and onboarding materials, including Surfrider 101, new hire orientation resources, the staff section of the website, and other internal materials as needed.

Administration of Benefits:

• Administer employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and 401(k).
• Manage benefits enrollment and changes for new hires, qualifying life events, and employee departures.
• Coordinate and administer the annual open enrollment process, including employee communications, system updates, and vendor coordination.
• Perform day-to-day HR administrative tasks to support a smooth and compliant employee lifecycle.

Time & Attendance:

• Support the organizations time and attendance systems, including ongoing maintenance of employee records and PTO accruals.
• Monitor, reconcile, and audit time and leave data to ensure accuracy, policy compliance, and alignment with federal and state requirements.
• Provide guidance and support to employees and supervisors on timekeeping and PTO policies, procedures,…