The Organization: MassChallenge

The Role: Senior Manager, People Strategy

Location: Boston, MA

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Compensation: $90-95K annual

MassChallenge is the global network for innovators who are working to solve massive challenges. We connect startups, experts, corporations, and communities to grow and transform businesses and economies. Our mission is to equip bold entrepreneurs to disrupt the status quo and create meaningful change. Our mission is BIG, and thus we are a team that gives 100% every day. Our MC values ensure we stay true to our mission and our core beliefs.

MassChallenge is currently seeking a Senior Manager of People Strategy to join our Boston-based office.

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, People Strategy is a hands-on HR generalist role responsible for leading and strengthening all core people functions, including benefits, compliance, employee relations, talent and performance management, and culture initiatives. This role reports to the COO and serves as the organization's sole HR function. This individual brings deep HR expertise and a strong passion for cultivating an inclusive, equitable, and mission-aligned workplace grounded in DEIBA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility). This person should be knowledgeable about AI and energized to embrace AI to HR-related tasks.

As a key member of the organization, this role will partner closely with leadership and people managers to build and support scalable people systems that support growth while maintaining a values-driven, people-first culture. This position is ideal for a mid-career HR professional who thrives in a small nonprofit environment and is excited to shape and evolve the People function with lots of growth potential.

Location

This role is hybrid and will be expected to work from the Boston office for at least two days per week, typically Tuesday and Thursday.

What You'll Do

HR Strategy & Operations

• Serve as the organization’s HR generalist lead, overseeing day-to-day people operations.
• Support development and implement people strategies aligned with organizational mission and growth plans.
• Build and sustain scalable processes and systems appropriate for a growing nonprofit.
• Partner with leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, and talent development.

Benefits & Total Rewards

• Working with our broker and direct manager, manage and continuously evaluate benefits programs (health, retirement, leave, wellness, etc.). Responsible for negotiating annual renewals to optimize cost and value.
• Oversee open enrollment and employee education on benefits.
• Manage all aspects of employee leaves with our outsourced partner.
• Ensure competitive, equitable, and mission-aligned compensation practices in alignment with our salary bands.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and nonprofit regulations for staff in all US-based roles.
• Maintain an up-to-date employee handbook, policies, and documentation.
• Oversee HRIS data integrity, personnel files, and required reporting.
• Advise leadership on employee relations issues and risk mitigation.

Culture & Employee Experience

• Champion a strong, inclusive, and values-based organizational culture.
• Lead initiatives that enhance engagement, retention, and belonging.
• Support leadership in fostering transparent communication and accountability.
• Develop and lead employee listening and feedback initiatives, including engagement surveys (e.g., Pulse and ORG360), to gather insights and drive continuous improvement.

DEIBA Champion

• Embed DEIBA principles into all people practices, including hiring, performance management, and advancement.
• Partner with leadership to set measurable DEIBA goals.
• Lead training and initiatives that advance equity and accessibility across the organization.
• Ensure equitable policies and consistent application of HR practices.

Talent Acquisition, Management & Development

• Own end-to-end recruitment — from job posting and candidate screening through offer and pre-boarding.
• Ensure inclusive hiring practices across all stages of the recruitment process.
• Build, own, and continuously improve onboarding and offboarding programs that reinforce culture and values.
• Design and implement performance management frameworks that promote growth and accountability.
• Support managers in coaching, feedback, and career development conversations.
• Own mid-year and end-of-year performance review processes, including communication, timelines, and execution.

Who You Are & What You Bring

Education & Experience Requirements

• 4-5 years of progressive HR experience, including broad generalist responsibilities.
• Proficient in HR systems (ADP Workforce Now, LinkedIn Recruiter)
• Comfortable with other key platforms (SharePoint, Asana, Outlook, etc.)
• Strong working knowledge of benefits administration, employment law, and compliance.
• Demonstrated experience leading or advancing DEI/DEIBA initiatives.
• Excellent interpersonal, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.
• High level of discretion and emotional intelligence.
• Proven track record of success in positions that required a strong mix of business skills, leadership abilities, strategic thinking, and sound judgment in driving organizational effectiveness is required.
• HR certification (SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR)preferred.
• Experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization strongly preferred.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinker with operational excellence
• Culture builder and change leader
• Equity-centered decision maker
• Trusted advisor to leadership
• Systems-oriented with strong attention to detail
• Growth mindset and comfort in ambiguity

Why This Role Matters

This position plays a critical role in ensuring the organization grows sustainably while remaining deeply aligned with its mission and values. The Senior Manager, People Strategy will help build the foundation for a thriving, inclusive workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

Who We Are

MassChallenge is the global network for innovators who are working to solve massive challenges. We connect startups, experts, corporations, and communities to grow and transform businesses and economies. At MassChallenge we:

• Help entrepreneurs build the next generation of transformational businesses by connecting them with the resources, partnerships, and communities that help them launch, grow, and scale their startups.
• Help our partners build, grow, and evolve their corporate innovation practices.
• Leverage the power of entrepreneurship to strengthen global innovation ecosystems.

Why You Should Join Us

We believe working at MassChallenge is fulfilling because of the mission, challenging because of the pace and work, and rewarding because you get to build to the next step in your career here. When you join MassChallenge you join an incredible team and network of innovators and entrepreneurs, you take ownership over significant and strategically important projects, you focus on impact and output, and you help strengthen the global innovation ecosystem.

Our Core Values:

• Founder Mindset: Optimism, Tenacity, Love the Problem
• Connect & Collaborate: Empathy & Inclusion & Fun, Build Community, Connect the Dots
• Progress over Perfection: Build on experience, Fail Fast,DemonstrateTraction

Compensation

• MassChallenge offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment.
• Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with skills and experience.
• For this position, the base salary range is $90-95K annual
• Internal equity considerations and the average salary of the peer range will be reviewed before making a final offer.

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MassChallenge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We seek individuals from a broad variety of backgrounds with varying levels of experience who have a desire to do meaningful work. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, color, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.