Fractional HR Leader

Challenged Athletes Foundation; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

The Challenged Athletes Foundation in San Diego is looking for a high-level, fractional HR professional to join our team on a short-term basis (3–6 months), with potential to extend or go full-time. This role reports to the CEO and requires presence in the office two days per week.

Responsibilities include providing HR support, managing recruitment processes, and ensuring compliance with employment legislation. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of HR leadership experience and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience.
• Strong judgment and ability to build trust quickly.
• Familiarity with California employment regulations required.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day HR support across employee relations and performance management.
• Act as trusted partner to leadership on organizational structure.
• Manager recruiting, onboarding, and offboarding processes.

Skills

Executive communication

Coaching abilities

Employee relations

Organizational design

Job description

The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) is a world leader in helping individuals with physical challenges get involved – and stay involved – in sports and fitness. CAF believes that participation in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence, and enhances quality of life. Since 1994, more than $178 million has been raised and over 48,000 funding requests from challenged athletes in all 50 states and 70 countries have been satisfied. CAF is headquartered in San Diego with regional presence in New York City, San Francisco and Boise, Idaho.

CAF is seeking a high-level, fractional HR professional to join our team on a short-term basis (3–6 months) that has potential to be extended and/or go full-time. This role reports to the CEO and is ideal for a seasoned HR leader who is energized by mission-driven work and comfortable operating both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment. This engagement requires presence in the office two days per week and is a contract, 1099 position.

Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day HR support across employee relations, performance management, and general HR operations
• Act as trusted partner to leadership on organizational structure and all people-related matters.
• Support ongoing initiatives related to capacity, process improvements, and operational effectiveness
• Manager recruiting, onboarding, and offboarding processes
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation across all regions
• Work with legal counsel when necessary
• Create & manage employee engagement programs, feedback mechanisms, and recognition frameworks
• Help stabilize and advance HR processes during a period of departmental transition

Qaulifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience
• Excellent executive communication and coaching abilities.
• Ability to operate in ambiguity with action-oriented, pragmatic solutions.
• Strong background in employee relations and organizational design
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution
• Experience in nonprofit organizations is a plus
• Familiarity with California employment regulations required
• Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to build trust quickly