Contracted HR

Theatre Off Jackson is looking for an experienced HR practitioner to work with us on an ongoing contract basis. We are a small arts nonprofit in a period of significant growth, including adding staff, expanding what we can offer them, and investing in the people who make the work happen. This engagement combines project work (hiring, handbook, review cycle, benefits, pay structure, and onboarding) with ongoing HR management that keeps the organization running.

Organization:
Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Avenue S, Seattle, WA.

Engagement type:
Independent contractor (1099). This is not an employment position.

Estimated volume:
Approximately 5-10 hours per week on average, fluctuating with hiring activity and heavier during periods of active project work.

Term:
Ongoing, with no fixed end date. An initial check-in at 90 days, and a scope and rate review annually.

Budget:
Approximately $15,000 annually.

Rate: $60–$80 per hour, or an equivalent fixed-fee or monthly retainer structure. We are open to proposals.

Location:

Primarily remote, but we would be interested in someone with the ability to provide a periodic on-site presence at TOJ for staff conversations, onboarding, and leadership meetings.

Start:
Immediately.

Contact: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). with subject line “Contracted HR Support”

For 21 years, TOJ has served as a vital home for Seattle’s diverse arts community by offering affordable and mission-driven performance spaces. We support local artists, from emerging to established, by providing accessible venues, production support, and opportunities for community collaboration. TOJ is committed to equity, representation, and honoring the cultural legacy of the Chinatown-International District.

TOJ employs roughly 20–25 people across full-time, part-time, and seasonal or contract roles, with two more positions being added before the end of the year. We process payroll through Quick Books. The organization is actively investing in its staff, with a commitment to institute a SIMPLE IRA matching program and paid vacation leave in the near future, and we are establishing a performance review cycle and a refreshed handbook to go alongside them.

We are looking for an HR practitioner to carry that work forward.

We are looking for a practitioner who can build durable systems, document them clearly enough that staff can run them, and stay with us as the organization grows. The first year is weighted toward building; the work settles into a steadier rhythm after that.

The work below reflects our priorities for the first year, weighted toward building. Sequencing will be set collaboratively; the hiring work and employee handbook are time-sensitive and come first.

• Support the hiring of two new positions targeted to begin by the end of the year.
• Partner with the General Manager on recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and off-boarding personnel.
• Provide job description review, posting logistics, interview structure, resume review, initial phone screens, offer letter, and pre-hire documentation.
• Ensure Washington and Seattle posting and pre-hire compliance requirements are met.

• Streamline and document TOJ’s onboarding process into a repeatable sequence.
• Update the supporting materials: checklists, new hire paperwork packet, first-week and first-90-day structure.
• Ensure the process works across full-time, part-time, and seasonal or contract roles.

• Update TOJ’s employee handbook to reflect current practice, new benefits, and current Washington and Seattle requirements.
• Manage the acknowledgment and distribution process.

• Support leadership and the board…