Senior Vice President, People and Culture

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a rare opportunity to serve as a senior executive and culture steward at one of Greater Boston’s most impactful nonprofits. The SVP of People and Culture is a strategic thought partner to the CEO and Executive Team — a hands-on working leader who personally owns the full arc of the people function, from vision to execution.

You will shape how JVS attracts, develops, and retains the mission-driven talent that powers our work. You will build and lead a high-performing People & Culture team, embed equity into every employee lifecycle practice, and serve as the internal conscience and culture steward of the organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Executive Partnership

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.

 

Organizational Design & Workforce Planning

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.

 

Talent Acquisition & Retention

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.

 

Employee Relations & HR Operations

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.




Total Rewards & HRIS

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.




Learning, Development & Performance

Lead design and delivery of fair, developmental performance management processes.

Oversee leadership development and manager capability programs; manage the organization’s LMS.




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B)

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.




Team Leadership

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.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

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.




Preferred

SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent senior HR certification.

Graduate degree (MBA, MPA, MA in Organizational Development, or equivalent).

Experience building DEI infrastructure, including ERGs, external consulting partnerships, and equity audits.

Familiarity with workforce development, multi-site service delivery, or government-funded environments.

Experience with HRIS platforms such as ADP Workforce Now or comparable systems.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Thought Partnership & Strategic Influence — Sound judgment and genuine partnership that shapes strategy, not simply implements it.
Hands-On Leadership — Personally engaged in complex situations, hiring decisions, and culture moments alongside effective delegation.
Organizational Effectiveness — Diagnoses and addresses structural, cultural, and people-related barriers to performance.
Equity & Inclusion — Integrates DEI&B into every facet of HR practice with both courage and care.
Data-Driven Decision Making — Uses HR analytics and market benchmarks to drive people investments and measure organizational health.
Culture Stewardship — Actively shapes and protects organizational culture; models JVS values.
Interpersonal Effectiveness & Credibility — Builds trust across all levels with high discretion, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence.

HOW TO APPLY

JVS is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter describing your interest in JVS’s mission and your relevant experience to [email protected]. Please include “SVP, People and Culture” in the subject line.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early submissions.