Equity-Based Human Resources Consultancy

Equity-Based Human Resources Consultancy Opportunity 

Freedom Network USA (FNUSA) is seeking proposals from consultants with expertise in leading small, nonprofit organizations to become anti-racist organizations. 

About Us 

Freedom Network USA (FNUSA) is the nation’s largest alliance of organizations and individual advocates working with survivors of all forms of human trafficking to ensure that trafficked persons have access to justice, safety, and opportunity. FNUSA mobilizes its collective strength to build a transformative approach to human trafficking that is grounded in anti-racism and anti-oppression. We are a growing team of passionate advocates, providing training and technical assistance, advocating for legal and policy changes, and working to build a better anti-trafficking field. FNUSA is a values-based organization. Learn more and meet our team, mission, and values at https://freedomnetworkusa.org/about-us/.  

​​​​​Project Overview 

FNUSA was founded in 2001 as a network of direct service providers working with survivors of human trafficking. The founders were experts in women’s, immigrants’, and workers’ rights. They identified as working from a human rights-based approach, believing that human trafficking (including both labor and sex trafficking, of US Citizens and foreign nationals, of all gender identities and sexual orientations, both adults and minors) is a result of the depravation of human rights. They were predominantly, but not exclusively, white women. 

FNUSA has continued to grow and expand over the past 20 years. We incorporated as a 501c3 and hired our first full-time, permanent staff (our Executive Director) in 2015. We have transitioned to mostly remote work, with 17 employees living in 10 states. We are a racially diverse staff, with a significant number of BIPOC and queer staff members, however, our Executive Director and one of two program directors are white cis women.   

As we have grown and matured, we continue to interrogate our approach, mission, vision, values, and language and have committed to an anti-oppression and anti-racist approach. In early 2021, we engaged an equity consultant to provide a training series to get a common, baseline understanding of racism, anti-racism work, the 4 levels of oppression, and to support FNUSA’s growth in anti-racism work.  

In 2022, FNUSA developed and implemented salary transparency for all positions. A compensation philosophy, chart, and method for determining pay within the chart was developed and implemented. Pay was benchmarked against several salary charts for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. Compensation bands were established for all positions. 

In 2022, we hired Healing Equity United (HEU) to conduct an assessment and provide recommendations. The assessment included input from staff, members, and Board members. The Final Report was presented to the full staff, membership, and Board in late summer 2023. The staff gathered for a processing retreat facilitated by HEU in fall 2023 to prioritize the recommendations in the report and begin planning for implementation. 

Several recommendations and priorities that surfaced in the report and from the staff, surround compensation and benefits. As new positions have been added, it has been difficult to include some of them into the compensation chart. Questions have been raised about whether the chart, bands, and approach are leading to equitable results.  

Scope of Services 
FNUSA seeks a consultant to provide recommendations for revising the current compensation philosophy, bands, chart, and benefits structure with an equity lens. This is a fully remote contract.

The consultant will deliver the following, over the course of 6 months: 

1. Equity Assessment- Assess the compensation and benefits structure to identify current strengths and opportunities for improvement. Pay specific attention to the following to ensure that they are designed to promote equity and to support a diverse staff. 
   1. Employee compensation- Including current pay scale and benefits (including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, working hours, holidays, and paid and unpaid leave) 
   2. Recruitment- Including the content of job descriptions and postings, where job
      openings are listed, and the process for interviewing and choosing candidates
   3. Organizational support- Including travel and reimbursement, office supplies, professional development, and other monetary and nonmonetary policies and programs that support employees 
   4. Organizational culture- Interrogate the unwritten ways that the organization operates, communicates, and relates 
2. Improvement Plan- Provide a path forward to ensure equity and support, including: 
   1. Recommended policy, procedure, and practice changes that can be accomplished with the current budget 
   2. Recommended training, materials, or support services needed for staff 
   3. Facilitated discussions about the relevant recommendations with staff  
   4. Provide hands-on guidance and consultation to FNUSA’s administrative staff in implementing initial changes 
   5. Recommendations for the next phase of organizational growth and ​​development 

Skills and Qualifications 
​​​Required

• Experience and expertise in equity-based human resources policies and practices. 

• Experience and expertise in supporting small non-profit organizations. 

• Personal and professional commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, human rights, and survivor empowerment. 

​​​Preferred

• ​​​Lived Experience. We are not hiring you for your story; you will never be asked to share your personal story as part of this consultancy. FNUSA values both professional and lived experience and seeks to support experts with lived experience in using all of their skills and expertise.  

Budget and Term 

FNUSA has budgeted up to $15,000 for this project. We hope to begin the assessment by 4/15/2024 and end by 10/6/2024. 

Submission Information 

Upload your proposal using the online application. Responses should provide a clear and concise description of your ability to meet the requirements of this RFP. Your proposal should be no more than two pages and should include the following information: 

1. The name, contact information, and qualifications of the person(s) providing the services. 
2. A brief description of your experience and expertise in designing equity-based human resources policies.  
3. A statement of project cost, including consulting time, materials, and other anticipated costs. (No travel is expected.) 
4. At least two references who can speak to your ability to carry out this scope of work. 

Timetable 

Equity Statement 

Survivors of trafficking are strongly encouraged to apply. Lived-experience is evaluated as equivalent to work or educational experience by FNUSA, unless specific certifications are required. FNUSA does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, gender identity or presentation, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, religion, immigration status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability.