Human Resources Intern

Human Resources Intern

APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at-risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non-traditional, community-based animal rescue work. 

The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both. The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community-based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service.

BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW: The Human Resources Intern provides administrative and project-based support to the Human Resources team while gaining hands-on learning experience in nonprofit HR operations. This unpaid internship is designed for individuals interested in exploring a career in Human Resources and developing professional skills in recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, HR administration, and nonprofit operations.

This internship is intended to provide educational and professional development experience under the supervision and mentorship of HR professionals and is not intended to replace the work of paid employees. Responsibilities may vary based on departmental needs, intern learning goals, and available training opportunities.

Interns will gain exposure to a fast-paced nonprofit environment while learning about HR systems, employment practices, onboarding processes, recruiting coordination, and employee engagement initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

HR Administration Support

• Assist with drafting, formatting, and organizing HR-related materials, correspondence, and onboarding documents
• Support updates and revisions to job descriptions and HR templates
• Assist with organizing digital and physical HR files and maintaining accurate documentation
• Shadow HR team members during administrative processes and projects as appropriate

Recruitment & Onboarding Support

• Assist with posting open positions on internal and external job boards
• Support interview scheduling and candidate communication coordination
• Help prepare onboarding and orientation materials for new hires
• Assist with organizing new hire paperwork and onboarding checklists
• Observe and support recruiting and onboarding processes under HR team guidance

Employee Engagement & HR Projects

• Assist with employee engagement initiatives, recognition efforts, and internal communications
• Support HR projects, audits, tracking spreadsheets, and reporting activities
• Help maintain organizational charts, training records, and survey tracking documents
• Participate in team meetings and learning opportunities related to HR operations

HR Systems & Operational Exposure

• Gain exposure to HRIS, payroll, and benefits administration processes through supervised training opportunities
• Assist HR team members with administrative preparation related to payroll and employee data tracking
• Observe HR operational workflows and compliance practices within a nonprofit environment

General HR Support

• Provide administrative support to the HR team as assigned
• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality when handling sensitive information
• Escalate employee questions or concerns to appropriate HR team members
• Support additional projects and operational tasks as needed

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Interns may gain experience in:

• Recruiting and candidate coordination
• Nonprofit Human Resources operations
• Employee onboarding and engagement practices
• HR systems and payroll process exposure
• Professional communication and organizational skills
• HR compliance and employment practice fundamentals
• Cross-functional collaboration within animal welfare operations

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Attend and participate in training sessions, meetings, and professional development opportunities as assigned
• Maintain open and consistent communication with supervisors and team members
• Adapt to changing priorities and organizational needs
• Perform additional learning-based or administrative duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

• Current college student, recent graduate, or individual interested in pursuing a career in Human Resources, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field preferred
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace programs
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism
• Willingness to learn, receive feedback, and work collaboratively in a team environment
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks
• Interest in nonprofit work and animal welfare preferred

PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds at times
• Must be able to access and navigate various departments and facilities as needed

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is normally performed in a standard office environment with occasional exposure to animals and shelter environments.

EXPECTATIONS:

• Must embody APA!'s Core Values of Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion
• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality in all HR-related matters
• Work collaboratively and respectfully with staff, volunteers, and leadership
• Demonstrate reliability, initiative, and a willingness to learn

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS: This position reports directly to the Director of Strategic HR or another individual designated by APA!.

TIME COMMITMENT: This is an unpaid internship position intended for educational and professional development purposes. Schedule and weekly hours may be flexible based on academic schedules, organizational needs, and internship learning objectives. Availability during standard business hours is preferred.

LOCATION: 

• APA! Main - Town Lake Animal Center 1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703
• May travel to offsite locations as needed
• May work remote on occasion

COMPENSATION

This is an unpaid internship intended for educational and professional development purposes. Academic credit may be available if coordinated through the intern’s educational institution.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT

Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply. 

Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation.

APA! is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request an accommodation, please contact Talent Acquisition at [email protected]  at least one week in advance of your interview.