Employee Status: negotiable W-2 part-time or contracted services
Direct Reports: 0
Reports To: GM/President

OVERVIEW

Alexandria Pet Care is adding an HR Advisor to our established organization of 20+ people, to lead improvements in Employee Engagement, DEI and general small business Human Resources advising for our amazing team.

Plan and execute employee training on DEI and Healthy Workplace Skills, lead Employee Relations, and lead HR Policy updates and interpretations. Work with each employee to gather ideas, and work with leadership to implement best practices.

The perfect fit will be a personable and accomplished HR professional who wants to have a direct and personal impact in our diverse and inclusive small business.  

POSITION STATUS: PART-TIME AND REMOTE WORK FROM HOME

This position can be part-time or contracted services. Most work is remote work from home, with in-person meetings as needed.

Location in Northern Virginia required.   No relocation. 

Our preference is a part-time W2 employee, hired for 25-35 hours a month for 2 months to allow a review and creation period, followed by a workload of 10-15 hours per month for ongoing duties.

For the best-fit candidate who prefers fractional HR services on a consulting basis, professional services may be contracted for the same monthly hours.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Employee Engagement: Leading Employee Satisfaction, Success and Performance
   Make us better every day because you’re here (we’ll do the same!) as we attract, hire, and maintain a diverse workforce
   • Recommend and execute strategies to foster a culture of gratitude, assumption of positive intent, and healthy well-functioning internal teams
   • Provide support and guidance to individuals on employee relations issues and concerns
   • Provide balanced advocacy for the needs of the business and the needs of the employees while ensuring adherence to all policies
   • Lead employee engagement including listening sessions and feedback channels like discussion groups, individual meetings, and engagement surveys
   • Review and update our performance management system including current job descriptions, standards of performance, key performance indicators, and performance evaluation instruments, and oversee the organization’s performance evaluation process
   • Oversee practices of recruiting, onboarding, retention, and offboarding by partnering with managers in the onboarding, management, and termination of employees in accordance with Alexandria Pet Care personnel policies
   • Develop and implement initiatives for retention, competence modeling, equity pay modeling, career development, and employee engagement.
   • Advise strategies for ensuring employee performance success and employee workplace satisfaction in our high-expectation and fast-paced client work
2. DEI and Heathy Workplace Skills: Implementing Policies and Training
   Help all employees learn to care for themselves, each other, and to feel supported at work
   • Implement initiatives and key performance indicators designed to protect our culture as a welcoming environment for our diverse and caring employees with ways to support, affirm, and treat each other with care
   • Develop and execute DEI policies that improve our employee well-being, employee satisfaction, and employee engagement
   • Craft samples and scripts for us to talk with our clients and educate them on their impact on DEI in our community
   • Select and deploy DEI+ training initiatives for new hires and ongoing annual use to build a climate of acceptance and gratitude, and other topics designed to increase awareness and support of equity and inclusion values.
   • Develop and execute clear Healthy Workplace policies, including professional standards for communication and behaviors that uphold the mission and values of our company
   • Select and deploy Healthy Workplace Skills training for new hires and ongoing annual use, such as positive communications, active listening, teamwork, emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion, adaptability and flexibility, compassion fatigue and workplace stress, how to handle conflict, and taking initiative
   • Suggest strategies for employees to maximize their wellbeing and potential in our environment of excellence and high client expectations

3. Compliance and Communications: Creating Best Practice HR Resources for Our Company
   Create channels for shared employee knowledge and ensure business HR compliance
   • Create caring and clear HR related communications: provide employees HR information with clarity of policies, expectations, deadlines, and rationale for decisions
   • Facilitate and present at least once monthly via team meetings, individual meetings, zoom calls
   • Review and update Employee Handbook policies, other employee documentation, and company practices to improve these assets and ensure compliance.
   • Review and update new hire onboarding processes and new hire training content
   • Review and update internal methods of accurate electronic employee records
   • Advise leadership on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
   • Operate within budget and be mindful of organizational resources when making finance decisions
   • Always represent Alexandria Pet Care in a professional and courteous manner 

SKILLS REQUIRED

We are committed to excellence in serving our clients, and seeking a like-minded HR professional who will serve our employees with excellence of thought, practices, and internal programs, with these qualities:  

• PASSION: A laser focus on bringing the Alexandria Pet Care mission to life in our daily work
• INCLUSION LEADER: Skilled in advocating for employees’ success at work in a virtual environment, free of judgment or bias; able to educate employees free of judgment or bias, specifically able to meet all people where they are culturally and personally
• TRAINING: Demonstrated ability to teach standard operating procedures, policies, and expectations to employees with common sense and kindness
• EMPATHY: Demonstrated ability to acknowledge the emotional needs of a caregiving workforce in a virtual environment, and offer positive support
• POSITIVITY: Ability to provide positive influence and reinforcement within an atmosphere of multiple priorities, unforeseen issues, and troubleshooting
• MOTIVATED BY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS: Experience as a deep listener and clear communicator who draws from best practices for relationship building employees
• ASSUMING POSITIVE INTENT: Ability to assume that everyone is doing their best they can and with good intentions, given their knowledge, training, experience, and temperament.
• ALWAYS SEEKS SOLUTIONS: understands current state parameters, evaluates alternatives and improvements, sets a future state vision, and implements solutions
• UPHOLDS CONFIDENTIALITY: Maintains employee privacy and confidentiality while demonstrating high levels of interpersonal sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and judgment.
• QUESTIONING MINDSET: Meets challenges with active listening and curiosity, to seek understanding before action
• TECHNICAL SAVVY: Strong understanding and application of computer technology, apps, phone, with proficient use of screens and software programs including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, calendar scheduling layouts, email, other 3rd-party apps

EXPERIENCE

• Brings 10 – 50 years of relevant human resources experience.
• Passion for people, culture, workplace harmony, and process improvements.
• Employee relations experience, including experience managing difficult situations, conversations and investigations.
• Direct exposure to DEI, diversity programs, employee relations, and training and development

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Bilingual (Spanish) is a plus
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certifications preferred.
• Certified Diversity Professional (CDP) by a SHRM-recognized organization is preferred
• Corporate Human Resources experience with industry exposure preferred in healthcare, animal medical care or welfare, general professional services, or general personal services.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Our work environment is virtual, with all employees working from home.  We meet as a team often on zoom, and in-person several times a year. Physical requirements for this position include:

• Ability to maintain stationary position to be able to operate a computer, phone, and other office equipment
• Ability to complete multiple hours of desk-based computer work
• Must be able to identify, analyze and assess details
• Ability to communicate with others and exchange information accurately and effectively
• Ability to present, meet, listen, and discuss effectively in person or on camera
• Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner

WORK SCHEDULE

• Our HR Advisor is needed 25-35 hours a month for 2 months to allow a review and creation period, followed by a workload of 10-15 hours per month for ongoing duties.
• Work is primarily Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm
• Occasional evening or weekend hours may be needed, to meet with field employees who are unable to meet HR on weekdays between 9-5

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This position’s compensation will vary whether part-time W-2 status ($30 per hour and up) or fractional HR services on a consulting basis contracted in negotiation ($30 per hour and up).  This part-time position does not qualify for health insurance benefits, 401(k), or paid time off.  Perks available include:

• Mileage reimbursement at IRS standard rate
• Work from home
• Flexible hours

TO APPLY
Please email these materials to Elizabeth Legere, elizabeth@alexandriapetcare.com. Candidates who pass an initial screening interview will be asked later to provide 3-5 references. Candidates receiving a job offer will be required to pass a background check and to provide proof of Covid vaccinations and boosters.

• Cover letter
• Chronological resume

ABOUT US

Alexandria Pet Care is a specialized in-home pet caregiving company providing personalized pet sitting and dog walking for 800+ local households.  We deliver excellence by being a mission-driven, woman-owned, and inclusive business that celebrates diversity in all its forms. Everyone who works here is paid well, with generous benefits, and the expectations are high. Thanks to our excellent small neighborhood teams of employees who keep an ongoing high standard of client care, Alexandria Pet Care enjoys an extremely loyal client base and year-over-year growth.

We’re known as the most trusted and most experienced team in town, and we’re the only local service with every employee Fear Free Certified® and CPR/First Aid certified.  Our service area encompasses 30 square miles including all of Alexandria City along with the portion of Fairfax County, Virginia between Huntington and Mount Vernon. 

We’re a relationship-based company with a stellar reputation and 5-star ratings on Google, Facebook, Nextdoor and Yelp.  Since the company’s inception in 2004, Alexandria Pet Care has only hired career pet experts to provide tailored in-their-home animal care for all types of indoor household pets. 

To streamline our client experience and employee scheduling, the company uses a comprehensive client relationship management system to schedule, track, bill, document client instructions, and log services, so we can provide clients with real-time visit updates and photos about how their pet is doing. We are a 365-day appointment-based operation with employee teams working 105 hours a week, from 7 am to 10 pm every day.

Alexandria Pet Care is committed to being a preferred local employer for professionals seeking diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and do not discriminate because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship status, or sexual orientation.

We require full vaccination and boosters for COVID-19 for all employees entering client homes – to protect our employees, our clients, and our business – and highly encourage full vaccination for all other operations staff. We also strongly encourage all employees entering client homes have T-dap, influenza and hepatitis B vaccines up to date for working directly with animals and their owners, unless a medical or religious exemption applies.

In closing, we are committed caregivers. Our team of deeply caring people takes great pride in their expertise and their work.   We are focused on a safe, inclusive and fulfilling workplace for our employees, so they can focus on delivering and excellent client experience for each pet owner who hires us.

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