Human Resources Generalist

HUMAN RESOURCES GENERALIST

Remote/Hybrid - San Clemente, CA

Full-Time

ABOUT US:

The Surfrider Foundation is the world’s largest grassroots coastal conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. We have achieved many important victories by persuading state, federal, and local decision makers to protect vital coastal and ocean resources. These accomplishments demonstrate the important role of recreational users in advancing coastal and ocean stewardship. Since 1984, Surfrider's appeal is not only our strong reputation and track record of success, but also the lifestyle and values we embody.

By joining the Surfrider Foundation, you will be welcomed into an open and inclusive network of incredibly supportive and collaborative people who work hard and play hard. You will have the opportunity to work with dedicated people who are also passionate coastal users with their feet in the sand and toes in the water. You help bring together diverse voices and perspectives to provide our community with the leadership and tools necessary to make a difference at their beach and in coastal communities across the United States. At Surfrider, we build leaders and we are problem solvers; our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. Coastal recreation is fun and working at Surfrider is too.

OPPORTUNITY:   

The Surfrider Foundation is seeking a Human Resources Generalist to support the continued growth, retention, and engagement of our nationwide team. This is a hands-on, individual contributor role that partners closely with the Sr. Human Resources Manager to implement and sustain effective HR programs, ensure compliance, and enhance the overall employee experience.

This position is well-suited for a mid-career HR professional who thrives in a collaborative nonprofit environment, can independently manage day-to-day HR operations, and enjoys wearing multiple hats while contributing to broader people initiatives. The Human Resources Generalist will be meaningfully dedicated to Surfrider Foundation’s mission and play a key role in supporting the staff and volunteers whose passion and commitment make this work possible. The role balances operational HR responsibilities with collaborative support on strategic, people-focused projects and offers a strong foundation for long-term growth within human resources or nonprofit operations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:      

Recruitment, Retention and Workforce Planning: 

• Partner with the Sr. Human Resources Manager and leadership team to support Surfrider’s talent strategy and staffing needs.

• Support the full recruitment lifecycle, including job description development, posting management, applicant review, interview scheduling, hiring committee guidance, and onboarding.

• Proactively identify opportunities to improve the employee experience and recommend innovative HR solutions.

• Assist with the annual employee performance evaluation process.

Training and Development: 

• Assist in updating, developing, and customizing training and learning resources that support employee onboarding, role readiness, and organizational knowledge.

• Support employee engagement initiatives, including action planning, implementation, and follow-up in partnership with leadership and the HR team.

• Maintain, update, and improve internal training and onboarding materials, including Surfrider 101, new hire orientation resources, the staff section of the website, and other internal materials as needed.

Administration of Benefits: 

• Administer employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and 401(k).

• Manage benefits enrollment and changes for new hires, qualifying life events, and employee departures.

• Coordinate and administer the annual open enrollment process, including employee communications, system updates, and vendor coordination.

• Perform day-to-day HR administrative tasks to support a smooth and compliant employee lifecycle.

Time & Attendance:

• Support the organization’s time and attendance systems, including ongoing maintenance of employee records and PTO accruals.

• Monitor, reconcile, and audit time and leave data to ensure accuracy, policy compliance, and alignment with federal and state requirements.

• Provide guidance and support to employees and supervisors on timekeeping and PTO policies, procedures, and best practices.

• Troubleshoot system issues and user questions, escalating complex or system-level concerns to the payroll provider as needed.

• Assist with process improvements and documentation related to time and attendance practices to support consistency across a multi-state workforce.

General Human Resources Support:

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

• Review and maintain HR policies and practices aligned with legal requirements and best practices.

• Provide guidance and support to managers and employees on sensitive and complex HR matters, including accommodations, investigations, disciplinary actions, and terminations.

• Stay current on HR trends, employment law updates, and emerging technologies.

• Escalate complex issues to the Sr. Human Resources Manager as appropriate.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Reports to: Sr. Human Resources Manager

HR Team & Work Environment:

The Surfrider Foundation employs 81 staff nationwide across 18 states, with a mix of remote, hybrid, and in-office employees. This small but mighty HR team consists of two team members, this vacancy and the Sr. Human Resources Manager. This role will work in close partnership with the Sr. Human Resources Manager to strengthen and scale HR operations.

This position is primarily remote, with less than 10% in-office time annually for pre-scheduled meetings, collaborations, and special events at Surfrider Foundation headquarters in San Clemente, CA. Surfrider’s culture is casual, collaborative, and ocean-minded, grounded in a shared commitment to meaningful, purpose-driven work and a deep appreciation for the places we strive to protect.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:  

Required:

• Minimum 4+ years of progressive, hands-on experience working directly in human resources, with responsibility across multiple HR functional areas.

• Strong working knowledge of federal, state (including California), and local employment laws and regulations, with the ability to apply them in day-to-day HR practices.

• Demonstrated experience across core HR functions, including employee relations, recruitment and onboarding, benefits administration, training and development, and organizational support.

• Experience supporting or managing the full recruitment lifecycle, including job postings, applicant screening, interview coordination, and onboarding.

• Proficiency working within HRIS/HRMS platforms and HR-related software systems to maintain accurate employee data and support HR operations.

• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion, sound judgment, professionalism, and diplomacy.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with a high level of attention to detail and accuracy.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including active listening, conflict resolution, and the ability to clearly explain policies and processes.

• Comfortable facilitating meetings, trainings, or presentations; confident speaking on camera (e.g., Zoom) and to larger or diverse groups.

• Advanced working knowledge of Mac OS and Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Ability to work effectively and independently from a home office while collaborating with a remote and distributed team.

• Must reside in Southern California within a reasonable commuting distance to Surfrider Foundation headquarters in San Clemente, CA.

• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree or coursework with an emphasis in Human Resources or a related field.

• PHR (Professional in Human Resources) or similar HR certification.

• Experience supporting multi-state or remote workforces, particularly within nonprofit or mission-driven organizations.

• Experience contributing to organizational planning, employee engagement initiatives, or process improvement projects.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer.

• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds (e.g., personnel files).

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary Range Transparency:

Category Level: Human Resources Generalist

Salary Range: $65,000 Minimum - $84,250 Maximum

How Does the Surfrider Foundation Establish Salary Ranges? 

The Surfrider Foundation researches, evaluates, and compares like-sized non-profit organizations to establish ranges for each position level to ensure that employees are justly compensated. The established range takes multiple factors into account; experience, educational background, scope and complexity of work, special skills, added value to the organization, geographic cost-of-living, inflation/current market demand, equity, and more. The Surfrider Foundation prides itself on a high rate of retention, with 32% of staff having been employed with the organization for 10+ years. Please keep in mind that the maximum end of our ranges also account for longevity and tenure within the role.

BENEFITS: 

Health: Medical, dental and vision benefit premiums are paid 100% by Surfrider Foundation for employee-only coverage. Dependents may be added on at an additional cost.

401(k) Plan: offering a match of .50¢ of every dollar contributed by the employee up to a maximum of 4% of earnings (in other terms, a 2% employer match).

Vacation Accrual: Enjoy a generous allotment of vacation days per year. Unused days roll over to the following year, subject to company maximum accrual policy.

Sick Time Accrual: 12 sick days/year

Holidays: 20 paid holidays total in 2026

Happy Healthy Summer Fridays: We provide several half Fridays to get outside and enjoy an early start to your weekend!

Parental Leave: Surfrider provides 6 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.

Other Benefits: Long-Term Disability Insurance, Term Life Insurance, Employee Assistance program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or Health Savings Account (HSA).

JEDI COMMITMENT:

The Surfrider Foundation is committed to fostering a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization for all people who protect and enjoy the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches. Our success and impact depend on learning from our community, standing in solidarity with our allies and working towards a more just future, both for our organization and the environmental movement as a whole.

The Surfrider Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. Together we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class.

To learn more about our Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments, please visit: https://www.surfrider.org/pages/diversity-equity-inclusion

TO APPLY:

Please attached your cover letter (including your salary requirements) and resume via the link provided.

Deadline for receiving submissions: February 16, 2026

Email: careers@surfrider.org

*Phone inquiries and walk-ins will not be accepted - thank you for understanding.