Assistant Director, HR & Operations

ABOUT RED HOOK INITIATIVE(RHI )

Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a community-based nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of the more than 6,500 residents of Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn's largest public housing complex. RHI believes that the social change to overcome systemic inequities begins with empowered youth, and that change in communities should come from within. In partnership with community adults, we nurture young people in Red Hook to be inspired, resilient, and healthy, and to envision themselves as co-creators of their lives, community, and society.

Youth development, community building, and community hiring are at the core of RHI's approach to strengthen Red Hook's future. Our model gives young people and residents the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to interrupt the systems and barriers that perpetuate historic inequities for the community. Residents lead the way toward a more equitable, hopeful future.

Over our 22-year history, RHI's model and dedicated team have been nationally recognized for our innovative, place-based approach to social change. RHI was recently awarded an unrestricted gift of $1M from MacKenzie Scott through her philanthropic open call venture, Yield Giving.

RHI's programs include :

• Youth Development : RHI engages over 450 adolescents each year, from middle school through young adulthood, endeavoring to interrupt cycles of injustice and to build hope.
• Building Community : Working with Red Hook youth and adults to organize, exercise leadership to drive positive change for the community, and increase social cohesion to build a more resilient neighborhood.
• Investing in Residents : RHI hires locally and invests in residents who will improve their lives and the community in which they live. More than $1.1M was earned in the last year by people from Red Hook.
• Red Hook Farms : A youth-centered urban agriculture and food justice program operating one of Brooklyn's original and largest farms. Red Hook Farms cultivates affordable, fresh produce and provides STEM and nutrition education, leadership development, and employment opportunities for local youth and residents.

THE OPPORTUNITY

RHI is seeking an Assistant Director of HR and Operations to play a critical operational role in ensuring that RHI's administrative, government contract management, and day-to-day HR process support run smoothly and efficiently. Reporting to the Director of Talent & Operations, this position acts as the primary liaison to BTQ, RHI's external finance partner, this role ensures all contract and compliance requirements are met while supporting HR administration and internal operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES

Government Contracts Administration

HR & Onboarding Support

Finance / Administrative Support

General Administration

May be assigned other responsibilities as determined by the Director of Talent & Operations and the COO.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

WORKING CONDITIONS (ENVIRONMENT) & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The ideal candidate should be able to meet the physical demands of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

COMMITMENT TO DEI & EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

RHI actively engages individuals from all backgrounds and is committed to embracing diversity across all areas and aspects of the organization. We firmly believe that an atmosphere of civility and mutual respect towards individual differences and embracing an inclusive and equitable environment is indispensable to building a successful organization, contributing to a positive and meaningful employment experience for staff, and advancing the best possible outcomes for the clients served by RHI's programs. We are also committed to community hiring and supporting the job prospects of Red Hook residents.

As an equal opportunity employer, RHI is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, age, marital status, military status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or any other characteristic or basis prohibited by applicable law.

This position is based on-site at RHI's main program office in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The ideal candidate should be within reasonable commuting distance to our main program office or a resident of Red Hook or one of its neighboring Brooklyn communities. Proof of full COVID vaccination is required prior to starting employment.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

RHI strives to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our core values and commitment to our employees. The salary for this position is : $70,000 - $80,000 commensurate with an employee's or candidate's competencies and experience. Additionally, RHI provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which includes 12 counseling sessions per year, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health, dependent and commuter expenses, life insurance, 24 PTO days, "Summer Fridays," when possible and a hybrid work schedule when direct services are not in session.

TO APPLY

Please log on to the RHI career portal at : for further instructions about how to apply for this position. Please be sure to attach your cover letter and resume as one combined pdf.

Date Issued : October 20, 2025

Job Posted by ApplicantPro