ACLU of Colorado is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization guided by a mission to protect, defend, and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado through litigation, education, and advocacy. As the oldest and largest civil rights organization in Colorado, its work is guided by the Bill of Rights, ensuring the freedoms contained within are available for members of marginalized communities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ people, women, immigrants, people experiencing poverty, people with disabilities, unhoused people, incarcerated people, and students. ACLU of Colorado envisions a future where the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado are honored, respected and upheld. Learn more at www.aclu-co.org.

Summary of Position

The ACLU of Colorado seeks an experienced and systems-oriented People and Operations Manager to strengthen our internal HR systems and organizational infrastructure. Reporting to the Deputy Director, this role is responsible for managing core human resources functions while advancing a workplace culture grounded in equity, accountability, and care.

This position serves as a trusted partner to staff and leadership, overseeing people-centered practices in recruitment, employee experience, and performance management and compliance, while supporting workforce planning, compensation administration, and organizational effectiveness. The role will also support labor relations processes, cross-functional initiatives, and coordination with the national ACLU network.

The ideal candidate brings sound judgement, strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and a proactive solutions-oriented approach with the ability to build systems that support people and help teams thrive.

Primary Responsibilities

HR Compliance and Labor Relations

• Maintain and update HR policies, employee handbook, and personnel records in compliance with applicable laws.
• Manage benefits administration in partnership with executive and finance staff.
• Manage HR platforms and monitor key HR metrics to inform organizational decision-making.
• Ensure consistent record retention, confidentiality, and compliance practices.
• Identify and mitigate organizational risk related to employment practices and policies.
• Support managers and staff through coaching, training, employee relations and workplace concerns.
• Design and oversee performance management systems and calibration processes to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Design compensation philosophy and support compensation administration, including salary benchmarking, pay equity analysis, and maintenance of salary bands in alignment with organizational philosophy and applicable regulations.
• Oversee organizational training programs and learning management systems.
• Support collective bargaining processes, including preparation, coordination and participation in negotiations as a member of the management bargaining team.
• Support management bargaining team in preparation for collective bargaining negotiations with research, document preparation, and project management.

People and Operations

• Lead full-cycle recruitment and hiring processes, building diverse and values-aligned candidate pipelines.
• Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes to ensure a consistent, welcoming, and compliant employee experience.
• Partner with managers to support employee engagement, retention, and professional development.
• Design and manage programs related to internships, fellowships, and staff recognition.
• Support organizational safety and security protocols, including coordination of response planning and training.
• Champion strategies to foster an equitable, inclusive, and belonging-centered workplace.
• Coordinate with IT vendor on higher order projects, including hardware and software upgrades, network upgrades and maintenance, and transitions to new IT processes.

Qualifications

• SHRM certification or equivalent HR credential required.
• Minimum of four to six years of experience in human resources or people operations with nonprofit experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR compliance.
• Experience supporting a unionized environment preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop HR policies, programs, and training.
• Strong coaching, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work across all levels of staff.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and comfort learning new systems.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and navigate sensitive situations.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Commitment to civil rights, civil liberties, and the mission of the ACLU.

ACLU of Colorado’s Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion

ACLU of Colorado is an equitable opportunity employer. It believes that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances its ability to meet its mission and creates an environment where all community members can thrive. It strongly encourages applications from all qualified persons, including people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented and marginalized groups.

ACLU of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other basis protected by State or federal requirements. It is committed to providing a providing a work environment that practices equitable and inclusive treatment and is quick to act to prevent and address harassment or discrimination of any kind.

Essential Job Functions

The following activities are essential for success in this role:

• Ability to remain at workstation for long periods of time.
• Ability to work in the office approximately two days a week or eight days per month.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written formats.
• Regular use of a computer and phone.
• Reliable transportation to commute to and from the office in downtown Denver.
• Ability to travel between locations across the state of Colorado.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt, non-union position. The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $115,000 based on skills and years of experience and within pay scale parameters of the ACLU of Colorado. ACLU of Colorado offers comprehensive benefits including medical, vision, and dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, 401(k) contribution, paid vacation, and holidays.

Location

The People and Operations Manager may work from any location within the state of Colorado with regular access to Denver.

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter, résumé, and references in an email to [email protected] with “People and Operations Manager” in the subject line. No phone calls, please. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of ACLU of Colorado as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the successful candidate has been selected. To request an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact [email protected].