Diversity Lab is recruiting for a human resources and operations expert. At Diversity Lab, we create and invest in innovative initiatives that boost diversity, inclusion, and equity in law firms and legal departments. Behavioral science, data, and design thinking are at the core of everything we do. 

We are looking for an experienced HR professional to develop and implement procedures, policies, and professional development systems to support our amazing group of 15+ team members (and growing!). If you have an established background in HR and are passionate about working in environments with diverse teams, we would love to talk with you about this opportunity! Send your resume to info@DiversityLab.com.

About Diversity Lab

Diversity Lab works with law firms and legal departments across the globe to create more fair, equitable, and inclusive communities and workplaces. We disrupt bias in talent systems by embedding structure, accountability, and transparency. We leverage data, behavioral science, and design thinking to create and pilot experimental ideas with more than 300 leading law firms and legal departments across the U.S. and beyond. In collaboration with our clients, we measure the results and share the lessons learned with the broader legal community.

Our inaugural project – the OnRamp Fellowship – is now the largest re-entry program for lawyers returning to the profession after an extended career hiatus. To date, we have placed more than 100 women lawyers, one-third of whom are racially and ethnically diverse, with top law firms and legal departments across the country.

To inspire others to develop and experiment with innovative initiatives such as the Fellowship, we launched the Women in Law Hackathon in 2016, and the Diversity in Law Hackathon series in 2018. These first-of-their-kind "Shark Tank" style pitch competitions brought together 200 high-level law firm partners, legal department leaders, talent experts, and law students in small teams working together to generate ideas to increase diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. 

The Mansfield Rule is an idea that was generated by one of the Women in Law Hackathon teams and further developed by Diversity Lab. Starting with the first iteration in 2017, which included more than 40 law firms and now includes 200+ firms, Diversity Lab has measured and reported significant progress in the Certified firms’ pipelines to leadership. As a result of its success, there is now a version for midsize law firms and legal departments and we recently expanded into the UK.

In 2020, Diversity Lab launched the Move the Needle Fund (MTN), the first-ever collaboration among 30 legal departments, four law firms, and a dozen community leaders designed to test and measure research-backed “bias interrupters.” The MTN bias interrupters are science-driven tweaks to talent and business systems – such as hiring, feedback, work assignments, and pay processes – that disrupt and minimize unconscious biases in the workplace to provide fair and equal access to career-enhancing opportunities for lawyers of all backgrounds.

The Skills Needed to Be Effective in This Role

No one is perfect, so we don’t expect one human to embody all these skills. But if you have some of these key skills and are willing to learn, we encourage you to apply.

This individual will be responsible for advising on, developing, and implementing HR policies and procedures for Diversity Lab in collaboration with our company’s Executive Committee, as well as managing our team recruiting, onboarding, performance reviews, feedback, compensation, and promotion processes. This role will also oversee key operational functions such as executing contractor and vendor agreements and liaising with outside providers such as our accounting experts. 

The position requires extensive interaction with our team and external vendors, so strong interpersonal and communication skills – including a positive, problem solving approach and attitude – are incredibly important.

The main responsibilities, skills, and qualifications for this role include the following. 

HR Responsibilities:

• Utilize HR experience to advise Executive Committee on HR requirements and best practices
• Develop, memorialize, and implement HR procedures and policies that reflect company’s innovative and collaborative culture and growth mindset
• Oversee and manage career development and progression of current Diversity Lab team, including compensation, promotions, and performance 
• Develop and execute performance reviews and career development plans for team members
• Develop and update job descriptions and roles and responsibilities charts
• Ensure ongoing company compliance with all federal and state labor laws (liaise with outside counsel as needed)
• Facilitate professional development opportunities for our team of life-long learners
• Manage monthly team meetings to help our team leverage their collective problem-solving power and collaborate with Executive Committee to plan activities for teamwide retreats
• Celebrate company and employee milestones and oversee planning of team-wide virtual and in-person meetings and events
• Liaise with employee benefits providers and communicate with team members regarding benefits 
• Oversee and manage recruiting and onboarding of new Diversity Lab teammates, including resume screenings, candidate assessments and interviews, job offer packages, and orientations
• Oversee and manage employee outplacement and exit interviews
• Manage employee software systems such as Gusto

Operations Responsibilities:

• Oversee external payroll and accounting professionals
• Liaise with and oversee external tax professionals and work with state and federal agencies to ensure compliance
• Oversee operational needs of company, including the management of company software and employee equipment
• Work with team and external vendors to ensure compliance with Diversity Lab’s security protocols (including technology policies and NDAs)
• Review and execute contractor and vendor agreements/SOWs
• Review and manage company insurance plans such as workers compensation, cybersecurity, and other policies
• Supervise marketing and communications personnel in collaboration with CEO/Executive Committee
• Perform other job-related duties and special projects as required

Skills:

• Deep knowledge of best HR practices and requirements in a remote workplace environment (knowledge of and/or experience with HR in start-up environments is a plus)
• Strong attention to detail and quality oriented
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to new and rapidly changing situations and environments; comfortable with constant change and iterative processes
• Project management skills, including time management, goal-setting, multitasking, and prioritization to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• High EQ; ability to interact effectively with team members and external partners; self-awareness and sensitivity to communications and team relationships and  empathy for individual team member needs
• Excellent interpersonal relationship skills, including responsiveness and a willingness to solve problems in a friendly, diplomatic, and efficient manner
• Advanced writing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills
• Interest in continuing to learn and grow professionally, and in embodying a learning mindset
• Self-motivation; ability to take initiative with minimal assistance and to manage time efficiently
• Willingness to listen to and learn from feedback, as well as offer feedback effectively to others
• Active commitment to and passion for creating inclusive and equitable workplaces and communities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of five years of HR experience (knowledge of and/or experience with HR in start-up environments is a plus)
• Knowledge of federal and state labor laws and regulations
• Experience in the legal profession with talent development is a plus
• Experience with managing and developing junior team members
• Highly proficient with Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Forms), Word, Excel, and other tools with ability to learn new software quickly (experience with Gusto is a plus) 

Location Details

• Job format is full-time remote work; reliable internet and telephone access are required
• Applicants will be fully considered regardless of their location within the United States; however, the following locations, where other teammates are located, are preferred: Boston; New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Denver, Austin, Houston, Baltimore, and Louisiana
• You will be asked to travel within the U.S., likely 4-6 times per year (COVID exceptions currently in place)

Benefits

We offer a 401(k) program featuring a 4% employer match, as well as a basic life insurance policy with a $50,000 benefit for which the premium is paid by the organization. Employees are additionally entitled to participate in group health and dental insurance policies; premiums for these policies are 100% the responsibility of the employee.

Additionally, teammates are welcome to contribute pre-tax income to a Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and/or Health Savings Account, subject to federal rules and regulations. Contributions to a Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and/or Health Savings Account are 100% the responsibility of the employee.

To support our team members’ ongoing growth and development, Diversity Lab provides each employee with an annual professional development allowance.

Diversity Lab offers vacation time and paid federal holidays, as well as additional paid holiday time at its discretion (e.g., we typically provide paid holiday time between Christmas Eve Day and New Year’s Day each year).

The anticipated salary range for this role is $100,000 to $108,000.

We hope you decide to apply. Send your resume to info@DiversityLab.com.