Senior Vice President, People and Culture

JVS Boston

Senior Executive at a nonprofit, shaping talent strategy and fostering diverse workplace culture. Engaging deeply in people functions from vision to execution with an equity focus.

Posted 6/17/2026full-timeBoston • Massachusetts • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $160,000 - $190,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

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

What you’ll need

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

Comp & perks

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.

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Hard Skills & Tools

HR leadershiptalent acquisitiontotal rewardsemployee relationsorganizational designHRISDEI&Blearning & developmentcompensation designworkforce planning

Soft Skills

communicationleadershipadvisorymentoringcross-functional collaborationcourageous counselcultural health advocacycontinuous improvementauthentic engagementsensitivity in conversations