Senior Vice President, People and Culture

Role Overview

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Team on people, culture, and organizational health.
• Co-develop and drive the multi-year People & Culture strategy aligned with JVS’s organizational plan.
• Represent the People & Culture function at the Executive Team level and, as appropriate, to the Board of Directors.
• Provide candid, courageous counsel on sensitive people matters, organizational dynamics, and cultural health.
• Lead workforce planning in partnership with the CEO, program leaders, and Finance.
• Design and evolve organizational structures, job architectures, and role accountabilities.
• Advise on executive transitions, succession planning, and leadership pipeline development.
• Oversee full-cycle recruiting strategy, ensuring JVS attracts a diverse, mission-aligned workforce at all levels.
• Design and lead retention strategies grounded in data: turnover trends, engagement signals, and compensation benchmarking.
• Build and sustain an employer brand that reflects JVS’s culture and values.
• Personally handle or directly oversee complex, high-risk employee relations matters, including investigations and terminations.
• Ensure consistent, equitable application of HR policy and practice across all levels and departments.
• Maintain deep working knowledge of employment law and ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Lead design and administration of competitive, equitable total rewards programs (compensation, benefits, recognition).
• Oversee salary administration, pay equity analysis, and compensation benchmarking.
• Ensure the HRIS platform (ADP) is well-managed and leveraged for meaningful analytics and reporting.
• Lead design and delivery of fair, developmental performance management processes.
• Oversee leadership development and manager capability programs; manage the organization’s LMS.
• Own and drive JVS’s DEI&B strategy, embedding equity across all employee lifecycle practices.
• Champion Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and partner with external DEI consultants to implement sustained cultural change.
• Directly lead, mentor, and develop the People & Culture team.
• Foster strong cross-functional relationships with Finance, Programs, Development, and Operations.
• Champion continuous improvement in HR processes with a focus on efficiency, consistency, and equity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or related field; or 15+ years of directly relevant senior HR leadership experience in lieu of degree.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible HR experience, including at least 5 years in an executive or senior HR leadership role (VP, SVP, or CHRO-equivalent).
• Demonstrated experience as a true thought partner and advisor to a CEO or executive leadership team.
• Proven track record as a working leader: personally engaged in ER investigations, executive recruitment, compensation design, and culture initiatives.
• Deep expertise across the full HR function: talent acquisition, total rewards, employee relations, organizational design, HRIS, DEI&B, and learning & development.
• Experience in a nonprofit, human services, workforce development, healthcare, or similarly mission-driven organization strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices at the federal, state (Massachusetts), and local levels.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage authentically at all levels, present to the Board, and navigate sensitive conversations with clarity and care.
• Commitment to JVS’s mission and values; ability to work effectively across diverse communities.

Benefits

• JVS is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates and values employee differences and similarities.
• Employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination.