Senior Director of People and Culture

Position Summary: Are you a strategic, and people-centered leader with deep experience in human resources? If so, Democracy Forward Foundation (“Democracy Forward”) is seeking a Senior Director of People and Culture to join our team. The Senior Director, People and Culture, is a senior leader who will help drive and execute Democracy Forward’s strategic vision through values-aligned and impact-driven hiring, leadership and management training, performance management, employee engagement, and HR systems and policies. This role reports to the Chief, People, Culture, and Strategy and will partner closely with the CEO and President to strengthen organizational effectiveness and deliver a consistent impact-driven culture and experience to all team members. The ideal candidate will have experience with scaling and change management and working in a mission-driven organization. They will have experience building and maintaining high-performing teams, attracting and retaining diverse talent, developing and implementing training programs, and improving HR processes and systems in a fast-paced environment. This role will need the ability to think big picture while also not being afraid to get into the weeds and support the People and Culture team on day-to-day matters. This is a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic, thoughtful and creative professional with a track record of human resources leadership to join a high-impact, growing organization. This position is full-time. Democracy Forward’s office is located in Washington, DC. While this position offers flexibility to work remotely, it requires regular in-office presence, with at least 3 days on average in office to effectively support the nature of the role. The Senior Director will report to the Chief of People, Culture, and Strategy, and will work closely with the People, Culture, and Operations team, executive leadership, and all staff at the organization. Key Responsibilities: Below are the key areas of responsibility for this role. The specifics of each responsibility may vary based on the needs of the organization and department. Management, Strategy and Leadership: Develop and implement innovative and practical HR strategies and initiatives that align with organizational objectives. Supervise a People and Culture team of six, including HR operations, talent acquisition, and training and engagement verticals. Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, leading efforts to embed Democracy Forward’s IMPACT values across all HR systems, processes, and communications, acting as a culture steward for the organization. Support organizational leadership in cultivating a culture of accountability, inclusivity, and excellence, including through providing real-time support and skills-development for your team. Compensation and Benefits: Oversee all HR operations and administration, including the organization’s benefits programs and payroll approval; manage relationships with benefit brokers and coordinate annual Open Enrollment. Develop and manage compensation and benefit strategies that attract and retain talent while aligning with organizational budgets. Training and Engagement: Identify and support opportunities for management and employee professional development and growth; providing coaching and mentoring to help employees thrive. Collaborate with the Training and Engagement Manager to create and implement training plans for staff, including for new hires, managers, diversity and inclusion, and ethics and compliance. Support the feedback and review process, documentation of performance issues, and performance improvement plans. Direct the reflections and feedback cycle, ensuring equity and consistency in the process across teams. Maintain knowledge of industry trends and best practices in workplace development. Culture and Employee Relations: Engage employees to develop strong working relationships, build morale, and increase productivity and retention. Manage and resolve