JOB / POSITION TITLE: HR MANAGER, RECRUITING & RETENTION
STATUS: Exempt
SALARY RANGE: $65,000 to $85,000
PRIMARY PURPOSE: The HR Manager, Recruiting & Retention leads all efforts to attract, hire, and retain high-quality staff (and volunteers) who are passionate about animal welfare. This role drives full-cycle recruiting, onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, and retention strategies to ensure Hawaiian Humane Society has a stable, engaged, and mission-aligned workforce.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES / FUNCTIONS:
- Analyzes workforce metrics (e.g., time-to-hire, turnover rates, retention by department) using HR software; prepares trend reports and makes data-driven recommendations to senior leadership.
- Develops and executes comprehensive recruitment strategies; conducts full-cycle recruiting for all staff and volunteer positions.
- Designs and manages onboarding programs for new hires and volunteers, leveraging the HRIS system.
- Creates and leads retention initiatives, including benefits enhancements, recognition programs, and career-pathing opportunities.
- Design and execute staff morale-building initiatives and employee engagement activities to foster a positive workplace culture, strengthen team connections, and support overall retention goals.
- Lead internal communications across the organization, including maintaining and updating the company intranet, drafting and distributing new-hire announcements and departure communications, and providing administrative assistance for the full onboarding process (offer letters, background checks, first-day paperwork, orientation scheduling, etc.).
- Builds and maintains partnerships with local universities, veterinary schools, community organizations, and animal-welfare networks in Hawai‘i to expand talent pipelines.
- Oversees the performance management process; re-engineers the current system into a best-practice, merit-based framework with clear goals, feedback, and calibration.
- Leads annual employee engagement surveys, analyzes results, and implements action plans in partnership with leadership.
- Coordinates volunteer recruitment and retention efforts in collaboration with the Volunteer Services team.
- Handles employee relations issues that arise in the context of recruitment, onboarding, performance, and retention.
- Performs other duties as assigned to support the mission and operations of the organization.
JOB CONDITIONS:
- Working Conditions: Primarily indoors in an office setting; occasional outdoor or shelter-floor work for events and candidate tours.
- Equipment Use: PC, HRIS, Microsoft Office Suite, telephone, occasional use of Society vehicles.
- Work Hours: Standard 40-hour week, Monday–Friday, with flexibility for evening / weekend recruiting events and shelter needs.
MENTAL, PHYSICAL & COMMUNICATION DEMANDS:
- Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to present to all levels of the organization.
- Strong interpersonal skills and patience when dealing with emotional or difficult situations.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
- Ability to handle people and animals in a courteous, professional manner.
- Prolonged periods of computer work; occasional lifting up to 30 lbs. and driving.
PASSION / KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS:
- Deep passion for animal welfare and the mission of the Hawaiian Humane Society: promoting the human-animal bond and the humane treatment of all animals.
- Thorough knowledge of full-cycle recruiting, retention strategies, performance management, and employee relations.
- Proficiency with HRIS / ATS systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Understanding of Hawai‘i and federal employment laws.
- Excellent project management, analytical, and relationship-building skills.
Education and Work Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or related field required.
- Minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience in talent acquisition and / or employee retention, preferably in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
- PHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification preferred.
- Experience in animal welfare, veterinary, or service-industry recruiting is a strong plus.
