Black Pen Recruitment

Human Resources

• Lead PEN America’s human resources strategy in partnership with executive leadership, including oversight of organizational staffing structure, workforce planning support, and overall talent development
• Lead negotiations and manage collective bargaining agreements to ensure compliance and effective labor relations
• Supervise HR team in all facets of the HR function, including labor relations and organizational and office operations
• Lead and refine the organization’s performance management systems for union and non-union staff, including goal-setting, evaluations, promotions, and feedback
• Support managers on effective staff supervision, performance documentation, and employee development
• Ensure compliance with applicable labor and employment laws and regulations, including oversight of policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements
• Serve as a senior internal resource on employee relations matters, including grievances, investigations, and disciplinary processes, in coordination with outside counsel as appropriate
• Develop, refine, and ensure adherence to employee handbooks, policies, salary bands, and remote work practices
• Oversee HR operations, including benefits administration, payroll, PEO partnership, and HR systems and processes
• Support staff training, professional development, and wellness initiatives
• Promote a work environment grounded in belonging and respect, and support leadership in addressing opportunities to enhance employee engagement and retention
• Other duties as assigned

Director, Human Resources

• Lead the interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, and support the negotiation process to ensure consistent and equitable application across the organization
• Identify, create, and modify standardized processes to properly implement CBA provisions and organizational policies
• Collaborate with and advise management in the identification and resolution of potential collective bargaining issues
• Provide guidance and training to supervisors on labor relations best practices, including performance management, conflict resolution, and documentation
• Cultivate effective relationships with all staff and union leadership
• Manage all communications with union representatives, serving as a liaison between management and union representatives
• Coordinate and assist senior management and outside counsel on union grievance resolutions, and arbitration preparation as needed
• Support employee relations matters, including investigations, performance issues, and disciplinary actions, in accordance with organizational policies and legal requirements
• Ensure employee handbook and policies are up-to-date and legally compliant; monitor compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws
• Support implementation and use of performance management tools for all staff
• Partner with operations manager to develop and coordinate employee engagement initiatives
• Maintain accurate records and documentation related to labor relations matters
• Collaborate with HR leadership on policy development, performance management, and other HR initiatives, ensuring cohesiveness between union and all staff policies, practices and communications

Manager, Labor and Employee Relations

Manager

• Track and/or attend Congressional briefings, hearings, and other external events
• Provide information and updates to PEN America staff
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders and policymakers
• Serve as the primary point of contact for federal legislative tracking
• Research, analyze, and evaluate legislative and regulatory proposals
• Help maintain knowledge management and data management infrastructure
• Assist in managing and expanding a database of key contacts
• Provide support for convenings, events, coalitions, and working groups
• Fact-check and cite-format testimony, reports, and other written products
• Draft social media, website copy, press releases, blog posts, and policy briefs

Manager, Policy and Government Affairs

General Counsel

• Lead PEN America’s legal advocacy team, with overall responsibility for managing PEN America’s direct litigation and amicus docket, including discovery, motion practice, relationships with co-counsel and member-writers involved with PEN America in any litigation (in coordination with Membership team); includes recruitment of pro bono counsel
• Play a lead role in developing PEN America’s legal advocacy program, including overarching strategy and litigation priorities that support and advance the organization’s goals and priorities, in consultation with program colleagues and organizational leadership
• Serve as a key point of contact for prospective legal/litigation opportunities (including proactive outreach) and track and help drive internal analysis and decision making about such opportunities
• In collaboration with the staff attorney, serve as public spokesperson on PEN America’s legal advocacy and as the organization’s expert voice on broader legal developments in the free expression field.
• Represent PEN America, as appropriate, in coalitions and partnerships with a focus on legal advocacy
• In conjunction with the staff attorney, serve as a primary point of contact for PEN America staff with respect to the organization's legal advocacy
• Provide general in-house First Amendment expertise to programmatic staff, including legal review and analysis for PEN America advocacy work, such as for reports, blogs and statements
• Assist the Sy Syms Managing Director of U.S. Free Expression Programs in determining strategic and programmatic priorities, while bringing their legal expertise to bear on the development of organizational principles and positions
• Collaborate with the Development team to support fundraising for legal advocacy program
• If appropriate, determine if and when creation of a legal externship and fellowship program or other program seconding lawyers to PEN America is desirable and feasible

Legal Director

Director

• Develop and execute a strategy to advance and elevate PEN America’s presence in Los Angeles, including through public programming; membership and community outreach, engagement, and cultivation; advocacy; fundraising; and media outreach
• Collaborate with the Development team to identify and cultivate individual donors and foundation funders to support organizational fundraising efforts
• Serve as the primary spokesperson and representative of PEN America and its priorities in Los Angeles, effectively communicating its mission and vision to a wide variety of community partners and constituents
• Oversee the creation and development of innovative initiatives including advocacy campaigns and public programs that will build PEN America’s profile in Los Angeles and throughout California
• Coordinate with the Literary Programs department to conduct public programming and support and engage with the literary community in Los Angeles
• Collaborate with the U.S. Free Expression Programs department to ensure our free expression advocacy work is informed by perspectives of our constituents in Los Angeles and California, and to ensure our work reaches and serves those constituents.
• Coordinate with the Membership team to expand and serve PEN America’s membership in Los Angeles and throughout California, particularly to ensure that it encompasses a diversity of literary, film industry, academic, and other writing communities.
• Build partnerships with counterpart organizations, including academic, literary and cultural institutions, film and television industry stakeholders, advocacy groups, and community leaders
• Build PEN America Los Angeles’ profile through partnerships, dynamic programming, media coverage, outreach efforts, and being a presence at key events and in prominent settings
• Oversee and develop, as appropriate, the operational structure of the PEN America office in Los Angeles, liaising with PEN America’s operational departments including Human Resources and Finance
• All PEN America staff are considered to be stakeholders in the development of our shared organization. As such, staff play a role in varied activities within the workplace as part of their job responsibilities. These may include committees or task forces to work on office issues, diversity and inclusion, strategy projects, training or other initiatives.