Position Description

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the HR Manager will lead and manage all people operations functions at RISE, ensuring the organization attracts, supports, and retains staff aligned with its mission and values. This role is responsible for handling the full employee lifecycle, including, but not limited to, hiring and recruitment, compliance, employee relations, performance management, and partnership with RISE’s Professional Employer Organization (PEO) for payroll and HR administration.

The HR Manager is responsible for building and maintaining a strong, values-aligned HR infrastructure that balances empathy with accountability in a high-impact, mission-driven environment. This role will establish consistent and equitable people practices, provide guidance through complex and sensitive personnel matters, and serve as a trusted partner to leadership and managers. Through clear systems, sound judgment, and hands-on execution, the HR Manager will help ensure RISE’s internal culture and operations reflect the dignity, responsibility, and excellence the organization seeks to advance in the broader community.

About RISE

RISE is the largest nonprofit organization in Nebraska focused solely on habilitative programming in prisons and reentry support. At RISE, transformation starts pre-release and continues post-release. Our inside/out model bridges incarceration to the community and considers all the critical steps in that journey. We prepare and train people for each phase through intensive character development, employment readiness, job creation through entrepreneurship, family programming, and case management. We transform people in the community by building awareness and empathy that leads to support and opportunity. These connections heal families, create employment pathways, and lower recidivism. The mission of RISE is to break generational cycles of incarceration.

RISE has received a “Best Places to Work in Omaha” award from Baird Holm and the Greater Omaha Chamber. RISE is a recipient of the Non-Profit Association of the Midlands Catalyst Award, honoring non-profits that inspire action, advance excellence and innovation, and drive transformation while making a meaningful impact. In 2025, RISE received the Roger Baldwin Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the ACLU of Nebraska.

Responsibilities

HR Ownership & Leadership
- Work closely with the VP of Operations and other organizational leaders, serving as the central point of contact for organizational HR
- Manage HR decisions while aligning with RISE’s mission, values, and legal obligations
- Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on people-related risks, trends, and opportunities
- Build scalable HR systems and practices that support a growing, mission-driven nonprofit organization
Talent Acquisition & Hiring
- Own end-to-end recruitment and hiring for all employee roles
- Partner with hiring managers to:
  - Clarify role needs and competencies, then develop job descriptions aligned with RISE culture and operational realities
  - Lead equitable, consistent hiring processes
  - Provide compensation recommendations
  - Manage job postings, candidate screening, interviews, reference checks, and offers
  - Ensure hiring practices reflect RISE’s commitment to dignity, equity, and second chances
- Train and engage staff in best practices for interviewing
- Design and manage a thoughtful, values-aligned onboarding experience, including orientation, that sets clear expectations from day one, pulling in RISE team members as support
Employee Relations and Discipline
- Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations matters
- Support and coach managers in performance management, feedback delivery, and discipline
- Ensure clear and consistent documentation throughout the employee lifecycle
- Lead and manage sensitive employee matters, including performance concerns, policy violations, workplace conflict, formal complaints, investigations, corrective action, and terminations
- Handle all situations with empathy, clarity, consistency, confidentiality, and accountability
- Ensure all disciplinary actions and terminations are legally compliant, well-documented, and aligned with RISE’s values
Compliance and Risk Management
- Ensure RISE remains compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws
- Maintain the employee handbook, policies, and procedures
- Manage required training, documentation, and reporting
- Proactively identify people-related risks and recommend mitigation strategies
- Serve as the internal expert on HR compliance matters
PEO, Payroll and HR Administration
- Act as the primary liaison with RISE’s PEO for:
  - Payroll
  - Benefits administration
  - HRIS management
  - Compliance support
  - Employee data accuracy, reporting, and records management
  - Troubleshoot and resolve HR administration issues
Culture, Values and Organizational Health
- Help steward RISE’s culture by reinforcing values through policies, practices, and people decisions
- Balance care for staff with clear accountability, especially in a high-impact, emotionally demanding work environment
- Support initiatives that promote staff well-being, engagement, and retention
- Model humility, discretion, and professionalism in all interactions
- Ensure HR practices align with RISE’s work
Partnership with Leadership
- Partner closely with the VP of Operations on strategic HR decisions, while fully owning day-to-day execution
- Provide leadership with clear, actionable insights on people-related trends and challenges
- Escalate issues appropriately while avoiding unnecessary dependency or approval-seeking

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field is preferred.
Professional HR certification required: Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Three (3) or more years of progressive experience in Human Resources.
Demonstrated experience managing core HR functions, including employee relations, compliance, benefits administration, recruitment, onboarding, and performance management.
Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR compliance requirements.
Experience developing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
Experience supporting managers through performance concerns, corrective action, and difficult employee conversations.
Strong understanding of confidentiality standards and ethical HR practices.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace; experience with HRIS systems preferred.
Strong commitment to RISE’s mission to break generational cycles of incarceration is required.
High emotional intelligence and ability to navigate sensitive and complex interpersonal dynamics.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, and problem-solving ability.
Ability to be flexible and solution-oriented in a fluid, fast-paced environment.
Ability to build trust across all levels in an organization.
Ability to maintain professionalism and composure in high-stakes or emotionally charged situations.

Other

Must be willing to work flexible hours, occasionally working evenings and weekends.
Must have access to a vehicle, possess a valid driver’s license with proof of insurance.
RISE is a background-friendly employer and seeks to employ those who have lived experience within the system we serve; background checks may be run on final candidates as a compliance measure.

RISE

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