Human Resources Intern

Job Description

Organizational Summary

Contraceptive care is basic health care. Yet too many patients in the U.S. struggle to access the care they want, when they want it.

A national nonprofit founded in 2014, Upstream USA partners with healthcare organizations to provide free training, education, and technical assistance to improve their contraceptive services and meet their patients’ needs – at no cost to them. Over ten years, we’ve supported 200+ healthcare partners (including primary care practices, federally qualified health centers, health systems, and more) with a transformative approach that empowers patients to access the contraceptive care where they already receive most of their healthcare.We’re on a path to partnering with health care organizations that collectively serve 5 million patients by 2030.

We do not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies or the government. Our work is made possible by generous support from venture philanthropy. That privilege comes with high expectations about growth and scale and a focus on measurable outcomes and impact.

We’re a 2023 Audacious Project recipient that continues to garner attention from many leading publications, including Harvard Public Health, Bloomberg, MedPage Today, Baltimore Sun, the Fresno Bee, and WBUR. We welcome individuals interested in career opportunities, partnerships, or philanthropic endeavors seeking additional information to visit our website (www.upstream.org) or email us at [email protected].

Position Summary

As a Human Resources Intern on our People & Culture team at Upstream USA, you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and contribute to various aspects of the human resources function. You will work closely with members of our People & Culture team to support employee engagement, total rewards, onboarding, learning & development, recruitment and other People & Culture team operational initiatives. This internship offers valuable learning opportunities and exposure to the dynamic field of human resources with opportunity to gain visibility and hands-on experience in the key HR functional areas listed below. Availability to commit to 25+ hours per week for the duration of the internship preferable.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

HR Administration Support

• Provide administrative support to the People & Culture team, including maintaining employee records, updating databases, and preparing related documents.
• Assist in creating and maintaining employee folders, ensuring all required paperwork is complete and up to date.
• Organize and file documents in employee folders, including offer letters, contracts, performance evaluations and other relevant documents.
• Support with compliance-related tasks, such as ensuring proper documentation and adherence to policies and procedures with guidance.

Learning and Development

• Succession Planning: source and document succession profiles and the specific requirements for mission-critical roles.
• Mentoring Pilot: assist in best practice research and formation of a new mentoring pilot (launches in the Fall of 2026)
• 15Five Mid-Year Performance Evaluations: provide support in the administration of June performance reviews.
• High-value activity: facilitate a presentation for a larger audience that is the culmination of the intern’s experience working on our People team or present on a special topic of interest. Gain practical experience with facilitation, communication and critical thinking skills.

Recruitment Support

• Assist with the talent acquisition and recruitment process, including posting job openings, reviewing resumes, database updates and maintenance in Greenhouse (our applicant tracking system) and scheduling interviews.

Employee Engagement

• Assist with survey administration, data analysis, and action planning based on employee feedback; help analyze data to assist in developing an organization wide goals.

Talent Acquisition

• Job description audit
• Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) Playbook review
• Assist with core competency integration into hiring guide and job description templates

Employee Onboarding and Offboarding

• Support the onboarding process for new hires which may include welcome packages, facilitating orientation sessions, and ensuring a smooth transition into the organization.
• Assist with offboarding activities, such as shadowing exit interviews and processing employee departures.
• Additional duties as assigned

Required Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

Upstream fosters a mission-oriented workplace and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds. The ideal candidate upholds our mission of accessible, patient-centered contraceptive care, builds trust through empathy and honesty, and contributes to a collaborative culture. They bring enthusiasm to their work, creating opportunities for connection and celebration.

• Pursuing a degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology or a related field.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Understanding of employee file maintenance and
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Enthusiastic about learning and contributing to the HR (People & Culture)function.
• Experience with file management or creating and organizing documents is a plus.

Travel Requirements

This role will require local travel twice each week into our Boston office for in person meetings.

Hiring Range

The hourly rate for this internship is $20/hour.

Pay Transparency

Final offers for this position will be based upon several factors including the scope of the role, market compensation analysis, position requirements, candidate’s experience level and capabilities, fairness in internal pay considerations and will be made within the parameters of Upstream USA’s compensation framework and philosophy.

Other Upstream Staff Expectations

• All Upstreamers must be able to attend work-related in-person meetings and functions as needed.
• In our hybrid work environments, there is a basic expectation that our Upstreamers will ensure that their work from home setups will have reliable access to phone and Internet to ensure connectivity to their teams.
• At Upstream we gather for moments that matter for training, teaming and connection. Our teams come together for occasional in person meetings and organizational retreats. As part of our hybrid work practices, this travel expectation will be applicable for all Upstreamers, even those based remotely.
• Engage in organization-sponsored  learning & development

Upstream Benefits

Upstream USA offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long and short term disability, 401K with a match, generous vacation, personal, sick and holiday time off, parental leave, professional development, a fitness and cell phone allowance for all full time employees and part time employees who work a minimum of 24 hours per week. Intern positions and contingent worker roles are not eligible for benefits.

Hiring Process

Candidates who advance in our preliminary review process will have an opportunity to discuss the position, their employment background and lived experience with a member of our talent acquisition team by telephone. Those who advance to subsequent steps in our interview process may participate in up to three rounds of meetings by Zoom or in person and in a thought exercise/case study assignment. Each round could consist of multiple meetings with various Upstreamers. If you need anything in advance of your interviews, please reach out to your recruiter.

Our Culture

We are dedicated to fostering a fair and accessible talent lifecycle, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive. From recruitment to career development, we strive to create a workplace where talent is recognized, supported, and empowered to contribute meaningfully. Building a strong, representative workforce is essential to our success, and we prioritize collaboration, transparency, and shared leadership to cultivate an environment where all voices are heard and valued.

Our commitment extends beyond hiring—we invest in professional growth, mentorship, and inclusive workplace practices to support long-term success for our employees. You can learn more about our organization on our career site.

Upstream Careers

Our goal is to attract, develop and retain exceptional people, and to create a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential.  Upstream is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. Upstream USA participates in E-Verify.

Upstream Headquarters

2 Oliver Street, Suite 402, Boston, MA 02109

www.upstream.org

No phone calls please.

Be advised that we do not ever conduct hiring interviews via text or email. Please protect yourself by learning more about our hiring practices and common red flags to look out for.