Overview

***Initial Application Review: September 16, 2022***

Summary: Farm Sanctuary is seeking a Senior Director of People & Culture to develop and execute the organization’s strategic plan to further create a best-in-class People & Culture unit aligned with Farm Sanctuary’s vision, mission, goals. Farm Sanctuary is committed to pioneering operational and programmatic excellence in the farm sanctuary movement sector. This exciting and rewarding role will serve as a change-maker in advancing the well-being of Farm Sanctuary workforce and ensuring best-in-class staffing and talent. Acting as an effective business partner, the Senior Director, People & Culture will be highly engaged with the CEO, Director of Social Justice Initiatives, senior leadership team, and Board of Directors and will provide strategic and operational solutions to the company. The ideal candidate is a highly empathetic, entrepreneurial, and emotionally intelligent executive with expertise as a “culture builder” and will be able to navigate the complexities and nuances of Farm Sanctuary’s purpose and contexts in which we work.

The Senior Director of People & Culture will be responsible for leading a transformation of Farm Sanctuary’s workforce culture by maximizing the full depth and breadth of the Human Resources and working closely with the Director of Social Justice to effectively integrate social justice into all Farm Sanctuary’s policies and culture. Building organizational capability is a strategic imperative for the organization, requiring a targeted use of talent management as an instrument of business transformation to develop a higher-performance culture and to facilitate the delivery of outcomes to meet strategic objectives. This leader will provide sound advice, counsel, direction, and decisions to ensure mindset, competencies, and required skills are aligned to the current and future growth strategies.

Key Accountabilities:
Leadership

  • Serve as a strategic partner, advisor, and coach to the CEO, Executive Staff, and Board of Directors.
  • Review and establish priorities, plans, and delivery for all elements of a multi-year People strategy.

Equity and Social Justice

  • Champion Farm Sanctuary’s guiding principles for equity and social justice
  • Partner with the CEO and Director of Social Justice Initiatives to execute the equity and social justice action plan
  • Continuously evaluate all employee policies, practices, and programs, ensuring fair, equitable, and inclusive outcomes.

Wellbeing & Safeguarding

  • Be the strategic leader and champion of workplace psychosocial health, safety, and well-being for employees. Build a strong culture where health, safety, and wellbeing are fully integrated and valued in all areas of the business.

Responsibilities:

  • Partners with the CEO, with support from the HR Manager, to plan, develop and manage a people strategy that supports the overall mission and strategy of the organization, resulting in best-in-class, innovative practices, systems and policies in areas such as talent acquisition and retention, compensation, organizational design and change, performance management, and learning and development.
  • Evaluates and advises on the impact of long-term planning of new programs/strategies on the attraction, motivation, development and retention of our people resources.
  • As a member of the leadership team, acts as a strategic partner and provides insightful, innovative thinking and problem solving on critical HR issues.
  • Manages legal and organizational risk related to employment matters and advises leadership on compliance with employment law, with input from the Legal Department and/or outside counsel.
  • Partners with the HR team for all complex and senior-level recruiting and employee relations.
  • Supports the rollout and execution of organizational priorities and practices that support equity. Continues building an inclusive and engaged workplace, helping to instill cultural awareness and sensitivity, applying an equity lens to every aspect of the work and ensuring that Farm Sanctuary attracts and retains diverse talent. Holds staff and leadership accountable to tangible DEI plans, goals, and metrics.
  • Brings new and innovative ideas, people policy changes and new programs that will enhance the organizational culture and the employee experience, and that will foster an organization-wide  culture and practice of inclusion and belonging.
  • Partner with the Director of Social Justice Initiatives on a strategic plan, and recruitment and retention philosophy, that prioritize knowledge, experience, and commitment to equity and social justice values and BIPoC staff safety and experience. 
  • Responsible for the continued development of the talent management model, which includes talent acquisition, talent development and succession planning. 
  • Provides leadership and guidance to the HR Manager and Intern & Recruiting Specialist on talent acquisition. 
  • Ensures the implementation of the Farm Sanctuary compensation philosophy and all of its guiding principles.
  • Coaches and mentors leaders to develop themselves and their teams to achieve improved performance and engagement and to support the organization through change. Oversees and leads management training initiatives, provides coaching, and/or sources executive coaches as needed.
  • Supports the HR Manager to develop relationships with the employees of Farm Sanctuary and becomes someone who is sought for advice on HR, cultural, and organizational issues. Facilitates integration of diverse teams, workgroups, and cultures.
  • Supports the HR Manager to counsel managers on and mediate employee relations and performance issues and to provide counsel to fellow managers on appropriate methods of performance management.
  • Develops initiatives, policies and programs to complement existing practices and creates consistency across the organization.
  • Identifies and tracks people-related metrics across the organization. Recommends policy changes to leadership based on internal data and a strong understanding of relevant industry trends.  

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field. Relevant advanced degree (Law, Business) and/or PHR or SPHR certification a plus. 
  • 8-10 years of professional experience with progression in activities and responsibility, and a minimum of three to five years in a leadership capacity; some nonprofit experience preferred.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and expertise with HR practices and principles; understanding of applicable state and Federal law; experience working in a multi-state environment
  • Enthusiasm for and ability to support a change agenda and change management throughout an organization in partnership with the executive team.
  • Makes good strategic and tactical decisions based on a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment.
  • Empathetic and engaging individual, who demonstrates strong emotional intelligence.
  • Passionate about the mission of Farm Sanctuary, enthused by the challenges confronting the organization, and dedicated to achieving its goals.
  • Drives initiatives with limited resources and roll-up your sleeves attitude to achieve desired results.
  • Strong background in leading recruiting strategies and knowledge of employment and labor laws
  • Alignment with Farm Sanctuary’s values of compassion, understanding, integrity, transformation, and freedom. 
  • Familiarity, commitment to, and experience with the practice of equity, social justice, and the principles embedded in Farm Sanctuary’s mission.

Job Specifications:

  • This is a full-time, exempt position.
  • This position is remote.
  • Travel quarterly to support Farm Sanctuary teams in Watkins Glen, NY and Acton, CA. 
  • The salary range is $95,000-110,000, commensurate with experience.
  • Competitive benefits package, including 13 paid holidays; generous paid time off; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; 403(b) plan; flexible spending accounts; long-term disability insurance and free access to CALM meditation app and the Nivati wellness platform

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Any photos or videos taken in the scope of employment and/or related to Farm Sanctuary are considered work product and intellectual property of Farm Sanctuary.

Farm Sanctuary is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, or age.  

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