Benefits Coordinator

Job Title: Benefits Coordinator

Reports to: Director of People & Culture (DPC)

Organization: Dogwood Alliance

Location: Remote. Dogwood Alliance is registered as an employer in the following states: NC, MI, GA, MS, NY, PA. Interested candidates must reside in one of these states.

Position Type: Part-Time (16 hours per week), Non-Exempt, Contracted until the end of 2026.

About Dogwood Alliance:

Dogwood Alliance mobilizes diverse voices to protect the unique forests and communities of the Southern US from destructive industrial logging through grassroots action, holding corporate and government decision-makers accountable, catalyzing large-scale conservation and advancing a 21st century vision that fully values forests for the myriad ways in which they sustain life. Having transformed the practices of some of the largest corporations in the world, Dogwood is on the leading edge of international, national and regional efforts to advance forest protection in the US South. For more information, visit our website: www.dogwoodalliance.org.

Position Summary: The Benefits Coordinator serves as a support to the Fin/Ops department, ensuring that daily people processes are executed with precision, empathy, and equity. Reporting to the Director of People & Culture, this role holds primary authority over HR data integrity and administrative workflows, directly impacting the organization’s ability to support its staff effectively. By managing the essential logistics of recruitment, onboarding, and benefits maintenance, the Coordinator enables a seamless employee experience that reflects Dogwood’s commitment to a transformative culture of belonging.

Key Responsibilities:

Systems Management & Data Integrity

• Authority: Holds primary decision-making power over the accuracy and upkeep of the HRIS (BambooHR); has the authority to flag data discrepancies and enforce data-entry standards.
• Support: Provides clean data reports and extracts to the Director of P&C to support organizational strategy and DEI metric tracking.
• Performs regular audits of digital personnel files and independent contractor agreements to ensure 100% legal compliance and document readiness.

Recruitment & Onboarding Logistics

• Support: Review, document and update recruitment and onboarding documents. Facilitates the administrative side of onboarding & offboarding, ensuring processes are completed and internal systems are optimized for employee experience when they are entering or exiting the organization.

Benefits & Policy Administration

• Authority: Acts as the first point of contact for staff regarding basic benefits enrollment questions and PTO policy inquiries. Research and investigate new benefits, vendors, and brokers.
• Support: Collaborates with the Finance & Operations team to ensure benefit changes and payroll-related updates are documented accurately.
• Maintains the digital staff site, ensuring staff have access to the most recent versions of the Employee Handbook and policy resources.

Competencies & Experience:

Systems Fluency & Detail Orientation

• High proficiency in HRIS platforms (e.g., BambooHR) and Google Workspace. You take pride in clean data and enjoy building organized systems that prevent administrative friction.

Human-Centered Communication

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with high emotional intelligence with an understanding and commitment to confidentiality. You can communicate policy information in a way that feels supportive and clear rather than bureaucratic.

Commitment to Equity & Justice

• A deep understanding of how DEI principles manifest in day-to-day HR operations. We value lived experience and the ability to recognize how traditional HR processes may inadvertently create barriers for marginalized groups.

Proactive Project Management

• The ability to thrive in a 16-hour work week through rigorous prioritization. You are self-motivated and capable of managing recurring weekly cycles (data audits, recruitment updates) independently.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position is part-time, 16 hours per week (ideally 4 hours a day, 4 days a week) at a rate of $20.00 per hour. As a part-time, hourly role, it does not qualify for the full benefits package, but offers a flexible remote work schedule and paid holidays.

EEOC Statement:

At Dogwood Alliance, we are unwavering in our commitment to fostering an environment of equity, justice, and inclusivity. Dogwood Alliance advances environmental justice and climate action by mobilizing diverse voices to protect Southern forests and communities from industrial logging. Our staff and culture reflects this mission. We aspire to have a diverse and visionary leadership, an equitable leadership structure and a transformative culture of belonging and care.

We believe that every individual, regardless of their background, deserves equal opportunities to thrive and succeed. Our dedication to upholding the principles of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) runs deep in every aspect of our organization. In this spirit, Dogwood Alliance provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Furthermore, Dogwood Alliance does not discriminate against qualified individuals because of their disabilities and makes efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities in performing and thriving in their jobs.

Our commitment extends beyond mere compliance with legal standards; it's a promise to actively cultivate an environment where each employee's unique experiences and talents are celebrated and respected. We are dedicated to providing equal opportunities in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, and all other aspects of employment. Harassment and retaliation are contrary to our values and will not be tolerated.

We strive to eliminate barriers that could impede the full potential of any member of our team. We encourage open conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion and are committed to addressing any concerns promptly and transparently. Together, we work to build a team culture that reflects the forests we swear to protect—one that champions collective care, embraces diversity, and empowers each individual to contribute their best. Our commitment to equity and justice is resolute, and we are dedicated to partnering with our staff, volunteers, communities to create a more just and green future for all.

Application Process & Deadline:

At Dogwood Alliance, we recognize the critical importance of the Benefits Coordinator role in driving our mission forward. To ensure we find the best possible candidate, we have designed a thorough and thoughtful hiring process. We will keep the application open until we find the ideal person for this crucial position, accepting applications on a rolling basis. Here’s an overview of what you can expect from our hiring process:

First Step: Getting to Know You Through Your Resume

• What to Expect: Your resume will be reviewed by our team. This is our first step in understanding your skills and background.

Second Step: Introductory Call

• What: A 30-minute chat with the Hiring Manager.
• Purpose: You'll get to know more about the job and meet the manager who is hiring. The manager will ask about your resume and why you're interested in this job.

Third Step: Second-Round Interview (45-60 minutes)

• Who: Two members of the Dogwood Alliance team.
• What: A more detailed interview focusing on your past work and experiences. They will ask behavioral questions about your career and personal experiences to understand how you handle situations.

Final Step: Brief Interview with Director of Finance & Operations (30-45 minutes)

• Who: The Director of Finance & Operations
• What: A final interview focusing on deeper competencies and culture add. They will be asking deeper questions and answering your own questions about the role.

Intended Start Date: July 1, 2026, open to negotiation.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply online via our BambooHR portal. Please submit a resume and responses to our application questions.

If you need any assistance or accommodations in completing the application, please contact the Director of People & Culture, Balpreet Kaur at balpreet@dogwoodalliance.org.