VP of People and Culture

About the position Active Minds is seeking an experienced, motivated and strategic Vice President of People and Culture to lead its dynamic People and Culture team. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the VP of People and Culture will be a key member of the leadership team charged with strategically leading human resources, talent, and culture and engagement work across the organization. This role is responsible for driving innovation, strategic thinking, and execution of all HR strategic priorities at Active Minds, ensuring that all members of the staff, full-time employees (currently ~60) and seasonal interns, have the resources they need to productively accomplish their roles and thrive. This is an outstanding opportunity for a human relations executive with strong leadership experience and creative problem-solving skills in a high-growth, mission-driven organization. The VP of People and Culture will directly oversee the Director of People & Culture and Senior Associate of HR Operations, working closely with the VP of Equity and Inclusion and other members of the Executive Team, and across the Operations Team and full staff. ABOUT ACTIVE MINDS Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society. For more than 20 years, we have equipped the next generation of peer mental health advocates to take action through a variety of programs, including the Active Minds Chapter Network, A.S.K., and Send Silence Packing. Our advocacy, initiatives, and campaigns foster lasting change in how youth view and discuss mental health, encouraging them to use their voices to influence broader conversations and inform mental health supports within their communities. Together, we are building a diverse movement of champions committed to improving mental health for all.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive and scalable People & Culture strategy and framework that align with the business objectives, strategic plan goals, organizational culture expectations, and growth plans.
• Manage the implementation of the People & Culture strategy across the People & Culture team effectively; ensure there is consistent representation of it across their work and throughout the organization.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive talent strategy that aligns with our growth goals and positions the company as an employer of choice.
• Oversee recruitment efforts, working closely with department heads to identify and attract high-caliber talent across all functions, with operational support from the People and Culture team.
• Partner with the Director of People & Culture to design and implement processes for a seamless candidate experience, including employer branding, sourcing, interviewing, onboarding and offboarding.
• Champion a people-first culture that emphasizes engagement and inclusivity and centers our organization’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
• Working with the VP of Equity and Inclusion and Director of People and Culture, implement data-driven approaches to measure and improve employee engagement, job satisfaction, organizational culture enhancement strategies and tactics, and overall best-in-class retention practices including an annual staff engagement survey.
• Oversee employee engagement programming (ie biannual staff retreats, virtual gatherings, in-office and virtual employee experiences) that foster a sense of belonging, wellbeing, and continuous learning, with operational support from the People and Culture team and in conjunction with the Director of Operations & Special Projects.
• Design and oversee learning and professional development initiatives, ensuring all employees have opportunities to grow their skills and career paths; including oversight and maintenance of full staff trainings, professional training programs for people managers and professional development fund.
• Lead efforts to identify leadership potential within the organization and build a robust leadership development pipeline.
• Create and maintain systems to identify skill gaps and accountability resourcing.
• Oversee and continuously improve the performance management framework, including goal setting, growth development plans, performance reviews, disciplinary action, and feedback mechanisms with clear deliverables and timelines
• Manage compensation and benefit strategies that attract and retain talent while aligning with organizational budgets.
• Regularly benchmark and review compensation practices to remain competitive and aligned with industry standards.
• Support the Director of People and Culture in overseeing the administration of benefits and payroll (overall process and weekly deliverables), including the annual open enrollment process.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws and employment standards across regions, in collaboration with our PEO.
• Oversee labor and employee relations, with support from the Director of People and Culture and Chief Operating Officer.
• Proactively identify people-related risks and implement solutions to mitigate them.
• Maintain knowledge of employment law, human resources, and talent management regulations; in turn, lead annual review and update of Employee Manual and Culture & Operations Handbook.
• Consult and coordinate with the COO and in-house counsel, when necessary, for employment related matters.
• Supervise the People and Culture Team, ensuring their roles and responsibilities are clear, executed effectively, and they are given the necessary support and resources to be successful.
• Maintain continuous lines of communication, keeping the Executive Director & COO informed of all critical issues necessary for organizational leadership.
• Provide analytical support to Active Minds’ Executive Team, including development of internal management reporting capabilities.
• Serve as a member of the organization’s Leadership Team, responsible for operationalizing and assessing the organization’s strategic and innovation opportunities, culture-building, and more as needed.

Requirements

• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical People & Culture initiatives.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, listening, presentation and written communication skills and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently while participating as an effective and collaborative member of interdisciplinary teams.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize work effectively, adjust to multiple demands and follow tasks through to completion.
• Entrepreneurial team player who can multitask.
• Superior management skills with mentoring and coaching experience for a team with diverse expertise and ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reports and peers.
• Effective tactical, strategic thinker and problem solver; self-reliant and results oriented.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, preferably in a nonprofit environment, with at least 5 years of managerial experience in leading a team and mentoring staff in a high-growth environment.
• Proven experience in a senior HR role(s).
• Deep knowledge of HR functions (talent management, recruitment, employee engagement, performance management, discipline processes etc.).
• Strong interest in and commitment to the mission and goals of Active Minds.
• Experience managing the relationship with a PEO/HRIS partner.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor’s degree or other certification in human resources preferred
• HR certification (e.g. PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP) strongly preferred
• Experience with Salesforce is a plus

Benefits

• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Company Wide Mental Health Days
• 401(k) Matching
• HSA and FSA Options
• Life Insurance
• Short Term, and Long Term Disability
• Fully Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Reimbursement Program
• Professional Development Stipends

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