Director of Human Resources in Portland, Oregon at IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Find out more at www.irco.org.

POSITION: Director of Human Resources

JOB CLASS/GRADE: Admin Director/Pay Grade 1

WAGE: Starting at $120,000 per year based on experience

FLSA; EEO; WC: Exempt; Professional; 8864

LOCATIONS: IRCO Main Office, 10301 NE Glisan St Portland OR 97220,

Hybrid schedule

FTE; FT/PT; STATUS: 1.0 FTE; Full-Time with Benefits; Regular

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: (1)

APPLY AT: www.irco.org

PROGRAM(S): Administration

SECTOR/DIVISION: Human Resources / Administration

REQUIREMENTS: English language fluency sufficient to perform the duties of the position

This job announcement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. This is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Program Summary
IRCO’s workforce of approximately 750 employees is supported by a Human Resources Team responsible for talent management, total rewards, employee relations, compliance, and organizational development. HR also plays a key role in fostering and celebrating a positive workplace environment where fairness and acceptance combine to unite employees around a common goal.

Position Summary
The Director of Human Resources provides strategic leadership and oversight of all HR functions in alignment with IRCO’s mission, vision, values and organizational priorities. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this role partners closely with the Executive Director and senior leaders to develop and implement strategies that support a high-performing, welcoming, and legally compliant workplace. The Director leads a team of HR professionals, including two managers and five specialists and is responsible for advancing organizational effectiveness across talent acquisition, employee relations, comp and benefits, learning and development, internal communications, and risk management.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Develop and lead a comprehensive people strategy aligned with IRCO’s scale and funding complexity mission, and its mission, vision, and values.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director and Executive Leadership Team on workforce planning, organizational design, and workplace culture.
• Translate organizational priorities into scalable strategies that support a linguistically and culturally complex workforce.
• Leverage workforce data and analytics to drive decision-making related to staffing, retention, and organizational effectiveness.

Talent & Leadership Development

• Oversee org-wide talent strategy, including workforce planning, recruitment, development, and retention.
• Build leadership capacity across the organization through performance management, coaching, and development systems.
• Establish and sustain succession planning and career pathway frameworks to support internal mobility and long-term organizational stability.
• Ensure talent practices reflect IRCO’s commitment to fairness, accessibility, and responsive service delivery.

Culture, Employee Experience & Belonging

• Champion a welcoming, multilingual, and trauma-informed workplace culture that reflects the communities served.
• Partner with the Director of Employee Wellness, Bridging, and Belonging (EWBB) to embed fairness and acceptance into all HR practices and organizational systems.
• Collaborate with EWBB to lead initiatives that strengthen employee engagement and wellbeing that supports retention.
• Provide executive oversight of employee relations strategy, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally sound outcomes.

Total Rewards & Workforce Sustainability

• Design and oversee internally equitable and competitive compensation and benefits strategies aligned with nonprofit funding realities.
• Ensure pay structures, job architecture, and benefits programs support recruitment and retention.
• Partner with executive and finance leadership to align workforce investments with long-term sustainability.

Risk Management, Compliance

• Provide executive oversight of compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Lead organizational risk management strategies related to employment practices.
• Ensure effective policies, practices, and systems are in place to mitigate risk and support organizational accountability.

HR Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee the design and effectiveness of HR systems, processes, and internal infrastructure to support a 750-person workforce.
• Ensure HR operations are efficient, compliant, and scalable, including HRIS, payroll integration, and reporting.
• Budget for HR Team needs.
• Lead HR function through effective team structure, delegation, and leadership of internal HR staff.

Governance, Reporting & Executive Partnership

• Partner with the Executive Director, Board, and Finance to support executive evaluation, compensation strategy, and organizational planning.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to executive leadership, board committees, and external stakeholders as required.
• Contribute as an active member of the Executive Leadership Team, shaping organizational strategy and direction.

Education & Experience

MINIMUM JOB SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in business or related field with concentration in HR
• HR Certification, PHR, SHRM-CP
• 10 years of progressive HR leadership experience including senior-level oversight of multiple HR functions
• Demonstrated experience serving as a strategic partner to executive leadership and contributing to organizational decision-making
• Deep knowledge of employment law, compliance, and risk management
• Proven ability to lead and develop HR teams and build scalable people strategies across a mid- to large-sized organization
• Experience supporting a workforce that reflects the broad range of communities IRCO serves with a strong commitment to consistent process under civil rights law
• Strong analytical and business acumen, with the ability to translate data into actionable workforce strategies

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• MBA, MPA or equivalent advanced degree in related field
• Senior HR Certification SPHR, SHRM SCP
• Experience in nonprofit, social services, or mission-driven organizations, particularly those with complex funding structures (awards, contracts, public funding) and operating in highly regulated environments
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change, culture transformation, or growth initiatives
• Experience supporting trauma-informed workplaces or culturally specific service organizations

Physical, Mental, & Environmental Requirements

• Positions at this level have an overriding need or ability to analyze problems / concepts or make decisions on the information. Positions at this level have overriding impact on organization operations, programs and policies, expense or budgetary outcomes. Positions at this level are single incumbent high-level staff or technical positions, or those of the Senior Leadership Team where no internal review is likely because of specific nature of the position. Positions function with virtual autonomy
• Positions at this level are single incumbent high-level staff or technical positions, or those of the Senior Leadership Team where no internal review is likely because of specific nature of the position. Positions function with virtual autonomy
• This level has a work environment that is well protected, with virtually no hazards or obstacles. There is very little element of personal risk or hazard. Job conditions are stable, usually well managed, and very comfortable.
• Schedule: The work schedule is mostly stable and does not fluctuate without prior notice. (2)

Supervisory Responsibilities

Positions at this level are normally responsible for full managerial responsibilities including providing direction to other supervisors/managers regarding the supervision of their staff. Supervisory span will include direct and indirect reports (6)

What We Offer

IRCO is a very employee-friendly workplace and offers great benefit packages to our staff:

• Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
• Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
• Work that helps your community
• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting
• 3% match for student loans or college savings
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Flexible spending accounts

Required Engagement

Engage fully in recommended professional development, as well as other assigned or required training activities. This engagement can also include participation in optional activities that embrace IRCO’s mission, vision, and values-based initiatives.

How To Apply

1. Complete the IRCO application in our Careers Portal: IRCO Application for Employment.
2. Upload your resume and cover letter addressing your qualifications for this position IRCO Careers.
3. For questions about this position, please email jobs@irco.org

Please note that physical applications are accessible from IRCO’s main office, 10301 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97220. Due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to contact applicants or return calls regarding applications. Complete applications should include a cover letter, resume, and IRCO application.

IRCO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any characteristics protected by State and Federal law. We will make reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws.