HR Leadership Fellow

Published: 6/14/2022

Job Description

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Position Type: Leadership Fellowship
Schedule: 5–10 Hours Per Week
Work Arrangement: Remote/Hybrid with occasional Boston-based activities
Cohort: Fall 2026
Start Date: August 24, 2026
Compensation: Unpaid Leadership Fellowship / Academic Credit Eligible

Overview

RISE Foundation is seeking motivated, ambitious, and emerging Human Resources Leadership Fellows to join our Fall 2026 leadership cohort.

The HR Leadership Fellowship is designed for students, recent graduates, and emerging professionals who want to develop advanced skills in human resources, talent management, employee relations, organizational development, HR compliance, and people leadership.

Fellows will work closely with RISE Foundation's HR leadership and executive team while contributing to real organizational initiatives and helping build the Foundation's people operations infrastructure.

This is more than an administrative internship. Fellows will be given opportunities to develop leadership skills, take ownership of HR projects, participate in strategic initiatives, and gain exposure to executive-level HR decision-making.

Position Description

HR Leadership Fellows will support the development and implementation of RISE Foundation's Human Resources strategy while gaining practical experience across multiple areas of people operations.

Fellows may work on projects involving recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, HR compliance, workforce planning, organizational development, performance management, policy development, and HR operations.

Depending on experience and performance, Fellows may be assigned increased project responsibility and leadership opportunities throughout the fellowship.

Key Responsibilities

Assist with recruitment and talent acquisition initiatives.
Support candidate outreach, screening, and interview coordination.
Assist with onboarding and orientation programs.
Support employee engagement and retention initiatives.
Conduct HR and employment research.
Assist with development and review of HR policies and procedures.
Support employee handbook and HR documentation projects.
Assist with HR compliance initiatives.
Maintain organized and confidential HR records.
Support HR reporting, data collection, and workforce metrics.
Assist with performance management initiatives.
Support employee communications and HR programming.
Participate in organizational development projects.
Assist with leadership development and training initiatives.
Support HR events, workshops, and professional development activities.
Conduct research on emerging HR practices and workforce trends.
Collaborate with HR leadership and other departments on cross-functional initiatives.
Participate in special projects assigned by HR leadership.

Leadership Development

HR Leadership Fellows will receive exposure to:

Human resources strategy.
Talent acquisition and workforce planning.
Employee relations.
HR compliance.
Organizational development.
Performance management.
Employee engagement and retention.
Leadership development.
Compensation and benefits strategy.
HR analytics and reporting.
Organizational culture.
Nonprofit workforce management.
Executive HR leadership.

Fellowship Projects

Fellows may be assigned ownership of projects such as:

Developing HR resources and internal guides.
Supporting recruitment campaigns.
Creating onboarding materials.
Conducting employee engagement research.
Developing HR training resources.
Researching employment compliance requirements.
Building HR dashboards and reports.
Supporting organizational culture initiatives.
Developing employee recognition initiatives.
Assisting with workforce planning.
Supporting HR technology and HRIS projects.

Qualifications

Required

Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college, university, graduate program, or professional program.
Strong interest in Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Professionalism, initiative, and sound judgment.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Strong attention to detail.
Commitment to the mission of RISE Foundation.

Preferred

Previous HR, administrative, leadership, volunteer, or internship experience.
Student leadership experience.
Coursework in Human Resources, Psychology, Business, Employment Law, Organizational Behavior, or related subjects.
Familiarity with HRIS, applicant tracking systems, Microsoft Office, or Google Workspace.
Interest in pursuing a career in Human Resources or executive people leadership.

Previous professional HR experience is not required.

What You'll Gain

HR Leadership Fellows will receive opportunities to develop:

Hands-on HR leadership experience.
Executive-level exposure.
Talent acquisition experience.
Employee relations experience.
HR compliance knowledge.
Organizational development skills.
Leadership and project management experience.
Professional mentorship.
Networking with HR and executive leaders.
Experience working within a growing national nonprofit.
Career preparation for future HR internships, graduate programs, and HR careers.

Fellowship Expectations

Fellows are expected to:

Maintain consistent communication with their HR leadership team.
Meet assigned project deadlines.
Participate in scheduled fellowship meetings and workshops.
Maintain professionalism and confidentiality.
Take initiative and demonstrate leadership.
Actively participate in the development of RISE Foundation's HR function.
Complete assigned projects and provide progress updates.

Time Commitment

The fellowship requires approximately 5–10 hours per week.

The schedule is designed to accommodate academic and professional commitments while providing meaningful leadership experience.

About RISE Foundation

RISE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and young adults ages 15–25 through mentorship, education, leadership development, career readiness, workforce opportunities, and community engagement.

Our organization is building a multidisciplinary leadership team focused on creating meaningful opportunities for young people while developing the next generation of nonprofit, healthcare, business, education, and community leaders.

Equal Opportunity Statement

RISE Foundation is committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive leadership-development environment. We welcome qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds and provide equal opportunity without discrimination in accordance with applicable law.

\nCompany Description

RISE Foundation is a mission-driven organization dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for young people and strengthening communities. We bring together passionate individuals who want to make an impact, develop their skills, and contribute to work that matters. Through collaboration, leadership development, education, service, and community engagement, RISE provides opportunities for people to grow while helping others rise.