Human Resources (People & Culture) Intern - Hybrid: Remote in Boston area with 2 days in office
Organizational Summary
Contraceptive care is basic healthcare. Yet too many patients in the U.S. struggle to access the care they need, when they need it. Founded in 2014, Upstream USA is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that equitable, patient-centered contraceptive care is available to everyone.
Our Mission and Impact
Upstream works to ensure individuals can make fully informed, autonomous decisions about the contraceptive methods that are best for them. We are currently the largest contraceptive organization in the country improving contraceptive care in primary care settings, operating in 37 states and Washington, D.C.
While our foundational work focuses on partnering with healthcare organizations offering primary care, such as federally qualified healthcare centers (FQHC) and health systems, we are always evolving. We are actively pursuing additional, innovative paths to ensure every patient has streamlined access to the contraceptive service of their choice, where and when it is most convenient for them.
A Different Kind of Nonprofit
Supported entirely by venture philanthropy, Upstream operates with a culture of aggressive growth and a laser focus on measurable outcomes. To maintain our independence and nonpartisan stance, we do not accept funding from the government or pharmaceutical companies.
- Our 2030 Goal: We are on a mission to partner with organizations that collectively reach 5 million patients of reproductive age.
- Recognition: We are a 2023 Audacious Project recipient, with our work featured in publications like Harvard Public Health, Bloomberg, and MedPage Today.
We welcome individuals who are driven by impact and scale to join us in making equitable contraceptive access a reality for all.
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 (June 8, 2026 - August 14, 2026) 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
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.
Create a Job Alert
Interested in building your career at Upstream USA? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.
Apply for this job
*
indicates a required field