Senior HR Associate - J-PAL Global

About J-PAL

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than a thousand affiliated researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty

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

 Principal duties and responsibilities (essential functions**)

• Provides day-to-day consultation and support to J-PAL staff across core human resources functions, including employee relations, rewards and recognition, onboarding, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), recruitment, performance management, and compensation.
• Provides first-level support to staff by explaining HR policies and procedures, responding to routine inquiries, and escalating complex or sensitive matters to AD-HR as appropriate.
• Supports the recruitment process by guiding hiring managers on job postings, advertising, interviewing, and reference checks. Screens resumes, schedules interviews, and prepares interview and offer documentation. Post positions on the J-PAL website for Global and Regional Offices, affiliated professors, and select partners, and serves as the first point of contact for job posting inquiries from hiring managers and applicants.
• Partners with managers to create and/or revise position descriptions.  
• Manages the J-PAL applicant database, including linking job postings to the database, answering applicant queries, 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  
• Interfaces with temporary agencies regarding hires.
• Coordinates onboarding for new employees, including creating contact records in Salesforce, developing web bios for the J-PAL website, and facilitating onboarding training. Maintains and updates staff web bios for J-PAL team members worldwide.
• Maintains and regularly updates Salesforce personnel data records, ensuring accuracy and completeness of employee information.
• Advises managers and employees on MIT’s leave-of-absence policies and processes.
• Supports the social committee and executes on monthly events 
• Assists AD-HR in the administration of the yearly worldwide recognition program, J-Stars
• Supports various working groups, creates agendas, facilitates meetings, and follows up on action items. 
• Assists in administering the performance management cycle (sending timelines, tracking completion, and maintaining documentation). Coordinates the communication and administration of the performance management cycle. 
• Coordinates logistics for training sessions (scheduling, communication, etc.).
• Other tasks as assigned.

Supervision received: 

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

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: Demonstrates strong attention to detail and produces accurate, reliable work. Able to manage assigned tasks independently while seeking guidance when appropriate. Brings excellent writing, copyediting, and proofreading skills, with the ability to draft clear and professional communications. Approaches work with flexibility, a collaborative mindset, and a willingness to support team priorities, while maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information with care.
• Software proficiency: Demonstrated proficiency with standard workplace technologies, including the effective and responsible use of AI tools, and the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new systems and applications.
• 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.



Professional development

J-PAL invests in your professional development. As a member of the finance and operations team, you will have the opportunity to continue to learn, engage, and grow.

Learn: J-PAL supports a culture of learning, with opportunities to attend weekly MIT–Harvard Development Seminars and take classes for credit at MIT or elsewhere with our generous tuition assistance program.

Compensation

Information about the pay range and pay grade for this position can be found here.

Benefits

You will be based at J-PAL Global, our head office at MIT in Cambridge, near Boston, MA. 

As a member of the MIT community, you benefit from more than just your salary. 

J-PAL hires highly qualified staff and rewards them accordingly. Total compensation packages are competitive for the non-profit and international development field with excellent MIT benefits, including comprehensive health insurance, a 401(k) match and pension-based retirement plan, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, MIT community discounts, a generous vacation policy, and a flexible work policy that includes the opportunity to work from home two days a week. Please note this position is not eligible for full-time remote work.