Director of People & Culture

Director of People & Culture

Department: Finance & People Resources

Status: Exempt, Full-Time

Location: Seattle, WA.

Pay Rate: $115,500 - $131,250/year

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

FareStart has been helping people transform their lives through food for 30 years — one person, one job and one community at a time.

People experiencing poverty struggle to escape the cycle they are in and often face other compounding barriers to getting and keeping a job. At FareStart, we help people overcome barriers by teaching work and life skills needed to succeed in employment and in life. By investing in people, providing meals and building community, we transform homelessness, hunger and poverty into human potential.

OUR VISION

Every individual has the opportunity to thrive in an equitable and just world.

OUR MISSION

FareStart transforms lives, disrupts poverty and nourishes communities through food, life skills and job training.

OUR VALUES

• Acceptance: We build relationships based on the belief that the past informs but does not dictate the future.
• Respect: We treat everyone with dignity, regardless of background or differences. We actively listen and seek first to understand.  We are honest, even when it is difficult.
• Openness: We create a culture of trust through transparency and open communication. We are open to new ideas.
• Collaboration: Contribute positively to strengthen the organization and our impact through teamwork and through partnerships.
• Accountability: We are responsible to each other, to our community and ourselves. We are committed to rigorous evaluation and making fiscally responsible decisions that align with our mission.
• Inclusion: We provide a community of belonging, regardless of background. We value and seek out diversity.
• Growth: We are a learning organization.  We invest in continuous improvement and growth.

ABOUT THE POSITION

This position provides leadership and guidance to the organization’s People & Culture team and provides counsel and subject matter expertise to the organization’s leadership and management staff.  This position is responsible for setting, enforcing, and evaluating legally compliant HR and DEI policies, procedures, and best practices, and is the project lead on all departmental projects with primary responsibility for successful outcomes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Direct the development, implementation, and administration of organization-wide people and culture and DEI plans, policies, and practices in accordance with the organization’s strategic plans and legal requirements.
• Ensure all identities, employees, and other stakeholders have a sense of equity and belonging.
• Embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into all human resource policies, procedures, and practices.
• Lead a high performing People  & Culture team that encourages personal initiative, accountability, and responsibility while managing and overseeing direct reports as well as oversight for all down-level reports. 
• In partnership with department leadership, lead and implement the organization’s people & culture strategies.
• Provide oversight of discipline and termination process of employees in accordance with all legal regulations and the organization’s policies. 
• Manage the organization’s talent acquisition process for management-level staff and build a pipeline of diverse candidates for key roles. 
• Collaborate with leadership to identify ways to support the organization’s mission through talent management.
• Identify key performance indicators for the organization’s human resource functions; assess the organization’s success and market competitiveness based on these metrics.
• Provide guidance and strategy for the organization’s compensation, benefits, performance appraisal, engagement, and talent management programs.
• Ensure compliance with employment, benefit, insurance, safety, and other laws, regulations, and requirements.
• Maintain knowledge of laws, regulations, and best practices in employment law and human resources.
• Draft, implement, and manage the budget for the people & culture department in collaboration with the department leadership. 
• Participate in professional development and networking conferences and events.  
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At FareStart, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration or related field, and ten (10) or more years of human resources management experience and supervisory experience; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws and personnel rules and policies. 
• Proficiency with or the ability to quickly learn the organization’s HRIS and other HR systems. 
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team, within diverse teams and environments.
• Demonstrated computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.  Ability to work with customized databases and technology and to conduct internet research.
• Ability to communicate effectively and comfortably with audiences of different backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to display sensitivity, tact, and responsiveness in various situations and maintain a high level of confidentiality.  Able to handle confidential information with discretion. 
• Ability to identify and suggest changes that promote positive impacts with a lens for diversity and inclusion. 
• Ability to listen, give and receive feedback in a productive and professional manner.  Able to translate vision into planning and implementation. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt communication based on audience and purpose with inclusivity.  Ability to disseminate information effectively to appropriate levels.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks and requests and meet deadlines in a professional manner.  Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with excellent communication skills.
• Ability to evaluate problems and effectively solve them in a timely manner.  Ability to respond to concerns with empathy and inclusivity.  Respond appropriately to conflict. 
• Ability to delegate responsibilities, work with others, and coach employees to develop their full potential.
• Ability to provide helpful, behaviorally specific feedback to others and engage in open and honest communication.  Regularly meet with employees to review their development progress and express confidence in their abilities to be successful. 

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

• Human Resources (SHRM-CP or PHR) Certification. 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• This position is exposed to a typical office environment. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• There may be a combination of remote work and onsite work dependent upon business needs.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• This position may occasionally be required to lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.  The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch.

BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS

• Competitive pay based on experience and qualifications
• Paid time-off (5 weeks first year of employment)
• Paid holidays, including up 2 floating holidays
• 401(k) savings plan with company match
• Medical (including vision), Dental, Disability, and Life Insurance
• Employee discounts at FareStart retail social enterprises
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free ORCA pass

Why Should You Apply?

• Be part of our mission to disrupt poverty.
• Join a supportive, respectful, and celebratory community among our staff, students, board, and volunteers.
• Organizational commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
• FareStart encourages the personal and professional growth of its employees.

For information on FareStart, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at: www.farestart.org/about

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity

FareStart is committed to becoming a fully inclusive, antiracist, diverse organization.  To fulfill our mission, vision, and values we are seeking candidates who demonstrate shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism.

Our Commitment to Anti-Racism

FareStart defines antiracism as the clear acknowledgment that racism permeates organizations, communities, and industries, including our own. We recognize that we have a duty to be vigilant in addressing and confronting racism in how we make decisions, show up in our communities, build business practices and policies, and engage in intentional partnerships and philanthropic endeavors to fulfill our mission and vision.

Salary : $115,500 - $131,250