Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association Inc. is seeking its first dedicated Human Resources Manager to build and lead the organization’s HR function. This is a rare opportunity to establish best practice HR systems in a mission driven organization supporting the long term health of Southeast Alaska salmon fisheries.

SSRAA works in partnership with commercial fishermen and regional stakeholders to enhance and rehabilitate salmon production for the social and economic benefit of Southeast Alaska communities.

This role will serve as a trusted advisor to leadership and employees while building policies systems and practices from the ground up.

What You Will Do

• Establish and manage all HR functions including policies compliance employee relations and workforce planning
• Advise and support a developing leadership team
• Lead recruitment onboarding performance management and retention efforts
• Ensure compliance with state and federal employment laws
• Serve as a steady and ethical resource for employees and management
   

What We Are Looking For

• Experienced HR professional comfortable working independently
• Strong judgment and ability to educate leadership
• Practical problem solver with strong communication skills
• Commitment to mission driven work
   

Why Join SSRAA

• Build an HR program from the ground up
• Meaningful work tied directly to Alaska fisheries and communities
• Competitive benefits with 90 percent employer paid premiums
• Long term stability and leadership impact
   

Location
This position is based in Ketchikan Alaska and is expected to be primarily on site.

Skills & Abilities Required:

• HR & Regulatory Compliance: Comprehensive and demonstrable knowledge of federal, state (Alaska), and local employment laws (e.g., FLSA, ADA, Title VII, OSHA), HR best practices, and the ability to autonomously interpret and apply complex regulations to policy development and operational decisions. 
• Talent Acquisition and Retention: Proven ability to develop and execute full-cycle recruitment, strategic sourcing, and retention programs tailored to meet the challenges of recruiting and retaining talent in rural communities. 
• Workforce Safety and Risk Management: Experience in developing, administering, and enforcing workplace safety programs, including working knowledge of OSHA standards, accident investigation, and Workers' Compensation claim management. 
• Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution: Advanced skill in managing complex, sensitive employee relations issues, including conducting effective and objective workplace investigations, mediation, and administering fair and legally sound disciplinary and termination procedures. 
• Compensation and Benefits Analysis: Working knowledge of compensation structures, job analysis, market benchmarking, and benefits administration to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness. 
• Strategic Consultation: Ability to act as a credible and trusted advisor to upper management and the Board on workforce risks, organizational development, policy changes, and long-term talent strategy. 
• Integrity, Professionalism, and Confidentiality: Impeccable professional ethics and the absolute ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential personnel information and complex investigations with discretion and objectivity. 
• Independent Judgment: Demonstrated capacity for independent decision-making and self-direction in managing all daily and strategic HR functions without immediate supervision, aligning with the "island of one" structure. 
• Superior Communication and Influence: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the specific ability to convey complex legal and policy information clearly to diverse audiences. 
• Exceptional Organization: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, oversee comprehensive record-keeping (digital and paper), and ensure meticulous attention to detail in all regulatory and personnel documentation. 
• Strong Analytical and Problem-Solving Aptitude: Advanced ability to analyze HR metrics, identify root causes of organizational issues (e.g., high turnover, safety incidents), and develop practical, sustainable solutions. 
• Project and Time Management: Proven ability to manage large, multi-faceted HR projects (e.g., policy overhauls, training rollouts, open enrollment) from conception to completion meeting strict deadlines. 

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field. A year-for-year equivalent of technical level human resources work experience may be substituted for the hire education requirement.
• A minimum of three years senior technical or professional level human resource management experience.
• Experience working within Human Capital Management (HCM) software.
• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credential preferred.

Core Competencies:

• Belief in SSRAA’s mission statement.

Reporting to this position: This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but does serve as a coach and mentor for other department managers and supervisors.

Physical demands: Ability to work at a desk and with computers for extended periods of time. Ability to lift 35 pounds and do light physical and demanding mental activities. 

Work environment: Office 85% or more; Fieldwork, including local and remote hatcheries and other facilities minimal and as needed 15% or less. This sometimes requires overnight travel. Work may occasionally be in cold, wet conditions.  

SSRAA is a growing organization changing as needed to best address its goals. Any description of work is a picture of the major responsibilities of a position at a given point in time. Jobs are dynamic and assignments/priorities may change. This position description is not intended or implied to be an employment contract but is a communication tool to explain the responsibilities, advertise the job, and identify performance measures and potential training needs. SSRAA is an at-will employer.