Sr Director, People Operations

Organization Overview

Liberty Hill’s work is focused on Los Angeles County; however, we understand that what happens in L.A. influences the nation. In this historical moment, we believe it is especially important for Los Angeles to be a beacon of social justice nationwide.?

OUR APPROACH: Liberty Hill is a public foundation founded in 1976 to power social change from the ground up by fueling grassroots community organizing. Every dollar invested in community organizing yields a $90 return in community benefits through progressive policy change. We support organizers who are tackling injustice with our three-pronged strategy, involving:

Grant making - Liberty Hill’s unique approach to grant making ensures that social justice organizations that build power through grassroots community organizing, coalition building and partnerships, and advocacy have the resources they need to win campaigns and defend underserved communities. The Foundation also focuses on organizations led by and for most impacted by systemic injustice, largely low-income communities of color, because they are best suited to create their own solutions. With input from seasoned activists and policy experts, Liberty Hill awards grants to L.A.’s most effective grassroots groups. At the same time, our rapid response funds can move money fast in times of crisis or opportunity.?

Leadership Training - When it comes to fighting for justice, leadership matters. Through Liberty Hill’s Wally Marks Leadership Institute, we have provided hundreds of rising organizers and activists across Los Angeles County with tools and skills to help change themselves and their communities. With the Commissions Training Program, Liberty Hill prepares community leaders to serve effectively on L.A.’s many influential boards and commissions.

Alliance Building - Liberty Hill works at the intersections of philanthropy, grassroots organizing and public policy, forging powerful relationships and building coalitions between funders, activists and policymakers. Coalitions established by Liberty Hill have influenced everything from school discipline practices to environmental regulations.

In 2017, Liberty Hill launched the Agenda for a Just Future (AJF) to fight for our youth, our health and our homes with three focused campaigns. We believe we can stop incarcerating kids, ensure adequate affordable housing for every Angelino and end the oil drilling that sickens our region’s poorest communities.

Position Overview

At Liberty Hill, we seek to cultivate a strong sense of belonging in an engaged, rewarding, and productive workplace where team members collaborate from multiple locations in a remote hybrid work environment. Reporting to the SVP, Chief of People and Advancement (SVP), the Sr. Director, People Operations (SDP) is the head of human resources, and consults with the SVP, CEO, and Executive Team to set the strategic vision for People Operations at Liberty Hill.

We constantly work toward cultivating a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve, bringing a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to an environment where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. The SDP will be a champion for our organizational culture and will support the Executive Team and other leaders, fostering organizational development and growth. They will build professional credibility and mutual trust, and ensure that internal clients have access to high-quality advice and guidance in giving and receiving direct feedback.

The SDP will be driven, efficient, and entrepreneurial in their quest toward excellence. They will be self-aware and unafraid to admit mistakes, embracing curiosity and personal growth. They will have proven experience navigating employee relations and building relationships built on trust and credibility. This role presents a unique opportunity to join a growing organization at an exciting time.

Primary Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Employee Relations

• Establish trusting relationships with the SVP, CEO and Executive Team members as a strategic thought partner and advisor.
• Provide expert HR support and handle employee relations issues with care and confidence.
• Recommend and administer employee policies.
• Supervise termination process, conduct exit interviews, report themes to Executive Team.
• Supervise the Employee Engagement Committee and other affinity groups.

Recruiting, Onboarding, HRMS

• Develop HR frameworks and tools, ensuring that these meet business needs, align with our Core Values (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) and strategic goals, and comply with legal requirements.
• Develop recruiting plan to effectively assemble qualified, diverse candidate pools for new positions; facilitate and supervise external recruiting services as necessary to meet these needs.
• Oversee onboarding for new employees, including building out existing automated processes to streamline the employee life cycle.
• Subject matter expert for HRMS system (Paylocity), including recruiting and applicant tracking hub, onboarding platform, and consulting with Finance on payroll, time and labor.
• Maintain employee resource center and knowledge base in SharePoint.

Performance Management

• Partner with SVP, CEO, and Executive Team to develop existing framework for performance evaluation into one that focuses on more frequent direct and constructive feedback.
• Provide ongoing training for all Supervisors and above on writing and delivering feedback
• Coach Executive Team and supervisors on giving and receiving feedback, and identifying and addressing performance issues; facilitate progressive discipline as necessary.
• Consult with Executive Team to develop a career paths framework for professional development, helping employees plan how to advance within and even beyond Liberty Hill.

Compensation and Benefits

• Oversee employee total rewards administration, and propose changes and recommendations to Executive Team as needed.
• Supervise external compensation consultant to conduct compensation and benefits analysis every two years.
• Ensure new positions, promotions, and any compensation changes align with our compensation standards and practices through effective partnering and coaching supervisors
• Coach Executive Team and supervisors in compensation and benefits conversations with their direct reports.

Organizational Design and Development

• Partner with SVP and Executive Team to develop and maintain the culture, Core Values and organizational design needed to reach our strategic objectives; coordinate succession planning.
• Partner with existing consultants to facilitate Insights color energy conversations and learning.
• Create and implement learning and development program for building the next level of Liberty Hill leaders.
• Partner with SVP and executives to devise succession plans for all departments and teams
• Oversee annual staff activities, such as retreats, staff appreciation events, wellness programs.
• Maintain accurate, organized personnel files for legal compliance and annual audit.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• BS/BA Degree in Human Resources, Organization Development, Management, or related field or equivalent years of experience.
• 7+ years experience in a human resources, recruiting, talent management or related role.
• Strong knowledge of all relevant laws and compliance.
• Proven ability to interact well with all levels of an organization and to maintain timely, constructive communications.
• Proven strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including dispute resolution.
• High level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive situations, confidential information and documentation.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, the ability to prioritize and organize multiple projects, meet deadlines, problem-solve and multi-task.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Expert knowledge of HRIS systems (Paylocity preferred) for managing automated employee life cycle.
• Excellent technical skills, specifically HRMS (Paylocity preferred), Ease Central, Office 365, Slack, Asana or other project management software.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in a supervisory role.
• Advanced degree or certification in Organizational Development, Human Resources, Management, or similar area.
• Has personal lived experience that directly relates to the role and responsibility of the position and the mission of Liberty Hill.
• Familiarity with the concept of systemic oppression in America, and social and racial justice.

Physical Requirements

• Manual dexterity for operating a computer keyboard, printer, facsimile machine, photocopier, calculator and/or ten-key adding machine.
• Ability to sit at a desk or conference table for extended periods within an office environment.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.

Liberty Hill Foundation is not just an equal opportunity employer; we are actively seeking to build a diverse and inclusive team with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to support the incredible diversity of grassroots organizing across the country. LHF does not discriminate based upon race/ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a veteran, status as an individual with a disability, and any other characteristics.