Consultancy Opportunity: People & Culture Special Projects

Background

Equality Now is seeking an experienced People & Culture Special Projects Consultant to provide project-based support to the People & Culture team from approximately September 1 through December 15, 2026. The consultant will provide practical, hands-on support for priority projects already planned or underway. The focus is on project execution, developing practical tools and resources, and moving initiatives through completion and implementation.

Scope of Work

The consultant may support some or all of the following areas based on organizational priorities:

1. Employee Handbook and Policies

• Support completion and rollout of the revised Employee Handbook and related policies.
• Review materials for clarity, consistency, and usability.
• Develop FAQs, summaries, manager guidance, and implementation resources.
• Support policy communications and implementation tracking.
• Organize policies, procedures, templates, and related resources.

The consultant will not provide legal advice and will work from approved legal guidance where required.

2. Training

• Develop employee and manager training based on approved policies and procedures.
• Create presentations, facilitator guides, scenarios, FAQs, and participant materials.
• Develop manager training on policy application, documentation, escalation, and performance management.
• Develop reusable onboarding and refresher materials.
• Support selected training sessions and implementation as needed.

3. People & Culture Process Improvement

• Review and improve existing People & Culture processes.
• Develop or update workflows, SOPs, templates, checklists, and guidance.
• Improve onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual administration.
• Clarify responsibilities and process handoffs.
• Document approved processes for continued internal use.

4. People Systems and Automation

• Support agreed improvements within BambooHR and other existing systems.
• Automate elements of onboarding and offboarding where possible.
• Develop reminders, approvals, checklists, and workflows.
• Support testing, implementation, and user guidance.
• Improve organization of employee information, forms, and resources.

Significant software development is not required.

5. Recruitment Tools and Processes

• Standardize recruitment templates and workflows.
• Develop structured interview guides and candidate assessment tools.
• Create practical resources for hiring managers.
• Improve recruitment tracking and documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve consistency and efficiency.

The consultant will not serve as Equality Now's primary recruiter unless separately agreed.

6. Employee and Manager Resources
Develop practical resources such as manager toolkits, employee FAQs, templates, checklists, onboarding and offboarding materials, policy guidance, documentation resources, and recruitment tools.

7. Special Projects and Implementation
The consultant may also support other discrete People & Culture projects through research, benchmarking, project planning, stakeholder coordination, drafting materials, tracking deliverables, implementation support, and project handover.

Consultant Profile

Equality Now is seeking a mid-career People & Culture professional, ideally with approximately 5 to 8 years of relevant experience in human resources, People Operations, organizational development, learning and development, or a related field.

Relevant experience may include:

• Employee handbook and policy implementation
• Employee and manager training
• HR process improvement
• SOPs, workflows, templates, and practical tools
• Project management and implementation
• HR systems and automation
• BambooHR or a comparable HRIS
• Recruitment tools and processes
• Learning and development
• Change implementation and employee communications

Experience within an international nonprofit, NGO, human rights, advocacy, or mission-driven organization is strongly preferred. The consultant should be able to work independently, manage multiple workstreams, quickly understand existing organizational context, and turn partially developed initiatives into practical deliverables. This assignment is intended for an individual consultant providing hands-on support rather than a large consulting firm or executive-level adviser.

Duration and Level of Effort

The consultancy is anticipated to run from approximately September 1 through December 15, 2026.

Equality Now anticipates up to two consulting days per week, with a maximum of approximately 30 consulting days. The schedule may be flexible based on project requirements. The anticipated level of effort is a maximum and not a guaranteed minimum. Consulting days will be authorized based on organizational needs and agreed priorities. Additional work requires prior written approval.

Fees

The anticipated daily rate is USD $250 to $350, with a maximum rate of $350 per day, depending on experience, qualifications, location, and cost reasonableness. The final fee will be based on the agreed rate and actual authorized days worked, up to approximately 30 days. Travel or other direct expenses must be separately approved in advance.

Proposal Requirements

Applicants should provide:

1. Brief statement of relevant experience and approach
2. Current CV or résumé
3. Examples or descriptions of comparable work
4. Availability between September 1 and December 15, 2026
5. Proposed daily rate
6. Three professional references

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on relevant People & Culture experience, policy and training experience, process and systems improvement skills, project management capability, ability to work independently, experience in mission-driven organizations, availability, and overall cost reasonableness. Preference will be given to consultants who can quickly integrate with the existing team, take ownership of workstreams, build on work already underway, and leave behind sustainable tools and processes.

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for a brief discussion regarding experience, availability, approach, and proposed daily rate.