Summary of Position
North Cascades Institute seeks a qualified and enthusiastic
individual to manage the Institute’s human resources functions. This
position is based at our Sedro Woolley administrative office, with a
combination of in-office and remote work. The Human Resources
Manager is responsible for providing a full range of human resource
(HR) functions for the Institute, including: program and policy
development, recruitment and staffing, compensation, benefits,
employee relations, performance management, position descriptions,
personnel file management, training/development and safety. These
primary responsibilities are carried out in conjunction with the
Institute’s strategic plan and operational goals, and in
coordination with the leadership team. The HR Manager ensures that
Institute human resource functions are administered in accordance
with federal, state and local employment laws and regulations.
Duties and Responsibilities
Human Resources Leadership and Supervision:
- Plan, develop and implement the Institute’s human resources
programs and functions including employment and recruitment,
compensation and benefits, employee relations, equal employment
opportunity, personnel file management, training, organizational
development and safety.
- Directly supervise the HR Coordinator position.
- Advise organization’s leadership team on human resources policies
and procedures in accordance with governmental laws (federal, state,
and local). Recommend and develop policies and procedures for the
employee handbook, intern handbook, and volunteer handbook.
- Responsible for maintaining the Institute’s online HR Toolkit.
- Seek guidance and consultation from HR experts and attorneys on
governmental laws and employment situations. Advise managers on
proper interpretation of employment laws. Serve as employee
relations’ advisor to staff.
- Maintain knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws
which may affect the Institute.
- Support equity initiative at NCI to become a welcoming and
accessible community for all.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Director or
Executive Director.
Benefits Administration:
- Maintain knowledge of existing medical, dental and life
insurance/disability contracts and work with the insurance broker
and senior management on plan renewals and establishing new benefit
plans. Request insurance quotes and compare offerings to provide the
best and most cost effective insurance available.
- Monitor employees’ participation in benefit options including
health, dental, life insurance and short/long-term disability, and retirement.
- Oversee the processing of employee health, dental, life and
disability insurance enrollment forms; work with service providers
on coverage and processing issues. Work with accounting staff to
resolve invoice payment discrepancies.
- Facilitate annual Open Enrollment season for employee medical and
dental insurance coverage. Notify employees of plan changes and
provide information and guidance on plan coverage. Arrange and
participate in annual employee health insurance meetings with our
insurance providers and the insurance broker.
- Serve as an administrator for the HRA plan (health reimbursement
arrangement). Track HRA disbursements and monitor accounting
spreadsheets, coordinating with the finance staff to resolve any
discrepancies. Complete annual nondiscrimination testing for the HRA plan.
- Oversee and/or prepare employee notifications regarding their
eligibility for participating in the Institute’s retirement and
supplemental annuity plans. Provide guidance to employees and answer
their questions about these plans.
- Respond to, and appeal when necessary, employee claims for
workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other mandated
state programs. Maintain records in compliance with state and
federal requirements.
- Respond to employee life insurance and short/long term disability
insurance claims and provide necessary documentation to the
insurance providers. Provide information and guidance to employees
on how to file claims.
HR Records and Payroll System:
- Serve as an administrator for the online HR/payroll system. Create
user instruction guides for staff members. Consult with system
representatives to resolve processing problems or request system changes.
- Enter and/or monitor the entry of data by others of employment
records in Paylocity; create reports from the database.
- Oversee the processing of appointment, promotion, transfer,
furlough and termination actions and paperwork, working closely with
Finance staff to coordinate payroll actions.
- Ensure the proper maintenance of employment records in the HR
office, including employee files, staff investigation reports, and
benefit plans. Manage staff contact information in Salesforce.
Recruitment and Hiring:
- Serve as an administrator of the Web ATS system (applicant
tracking system). Develop instruction guides for supervisors and
present in-house training. Consult with system representatives to
resolve processing problems or request system changes.
- Review and edit job announcements submitted by hiring managers.
Post and/or oversee the posting of jobs to the Institute’s website
and external job boards and newspapers. Monitor advertising costs.
- Review the preparation of new hire offer letters and form packets
for employees. Update forms as needed.
- Conduct new employee orientations and assure completion of new
hire documents.
- Review and process HR documents for employees, interns and volunteers.
Position Classification and Pay:
- Responsible for maintaining the job descriptions folder on Google Drive.
- Review, edit and finalize job descriptions.
- Review staff salary levels, obtain salary survey information and
make salary and pay rate recommendations to management.
- Make independent FLSA exempt/nonexempt overtime determinations.
- Change job description formats as needed.
Employee/Labor Relations:
- Advise employees on work issues (e.g., job classification, pay,
benefits, work schedules, holidays), policies, procedures and
bargaining agreements, referring complex matters to appropriate
management staff.
- Advise managers and supervisors on how to handle difficult work
issues with their employees.
- Review workplace harassment and staff complaints and make
recommendations to management on how to resolve these situations.
- Conduct personnel investigations by interviewing witnesses and
writing investigative reports.
- Investigate and propose settlements of employee complaints and grievances.
- Collect information and data to assess cost and policy
implications of negotiations and disputes. This may include
management and union proposals, pay scales and wages, benefits,
working conditions and other topics.
Performance Management:
- Coordinate annual performance review process. Track and review
incoming performance evaluations.
- Develop Performance Improvement Plans for struggling employees and
attend meetings with their supervisors as needed.
- Make recommendations to management on changes to the performance
review program and forms.
Background Checks:
- Serve as an administrator of the Alliance 2020 online background
check system.
- Oversee the preparation of email notices and processing of
applicant, intern and volunteer background checks.
- Arrange for fingerprinting of staff and processing criminal
background checks through the WA State Patrol and the FBI.
- Notify the Associate Director of any issues identified in
background check reports and make recommendations on next steps.
Contact court systems as needed to obtain additional information on
staff and volunteers.
Working Environment
The work of this position is performed in an office-like setting with
extensive work at a computer workstation.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described herein are representative of those
that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential
functions of this job.
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Sit, talk, and hear, use hands and fingers to operate office equipment.
- Occasional walking, bending and lifting and/or moving up to 10
pounds is required.
Start Date
November 5, 2025
Application Deadline
September 10, 2025
To Apply
Please apply online on our website at: https://ncascades.org/jobs with
a cover letter and resume.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at
North Cascades Institute. The Institute does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender
expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental
disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status,
age, citizenship or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its
policies or programs.
About North Cascades Institute
North Cascades Institute's mission is to inspire environmental
stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature.
Since 1986, we have helped connect people, nature and community
through science, art, literature and the hands-on study of natural and
cultural history. Our goal is to help people of all ages and
backgrounds experience and enjoy the mountains, rivers, forests,
people and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest - so all will care for
and protect this special place.
North Cascades Institute is a respected leader among U.S.
environmental education organizations, and we believe that sustainable
communities are built on healthy environments, vibrant economies and
social equity. The Institute is in sound financial health with a $4
million budget and strong reserves, and 21 four-star ratings with
Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to
accountability and transparency. Learn more at www.ncascades.org.
Compensation
This is a regular, full time, exempt position. The anticipated salary
range for this position is $70,000-$78,000 per year, based on
qualifications and experience.
Benefits
- Sick Leave – 8 hours per month
- Vacation Leave – 10 days within year one.
- Holiday Leave – 12 days maximum per year
- Service Days – 2 days per year
- Other paid time-off such as family leave, pregnancy leave,
bereavement leave, etc.
- Medical/dental insurance, long and short-term disability insurance
- Retirement plan, tax-deferred annuity and contribution
- Ability to participate in Institute pro deals
- Yearly stipend to participate in Institute programs
