Vice President of Human Resources

Meet Us: King Arthur Baking Company is an award-winning, audience-leading baking company with a strategic vision to be the resource for baking education and inspiration.  Through traditional and new media, in-person and virtual education, we strive to be a leader in helping novice and expert bakers alike.  We're not going anywhere - we've been part of the family since 1790. We work to build stronger communities and increase access and the connection to real foods. We take pride in our responsible sourcing and our "never bleached" guarantee. And we work closely with farmers, millers, and suppliers in a continued commitment toward sustainability. Our wheat flour is grown and milled right here in the United States. Flour this good uses only the purest ingredients, free from GMOs.  As a founding B Corporation, we are committed to using the power of business as a force for social and environmental good. We believe every employee's contributions make our company what it is: vibrant, successful, and committed to spreading the joy of baking. We are a welcoming and inclusive 100% employee-owned company.

The Position:  King Arthur Baking is seeking a dynamic forward-thinking people leader to join our strategic leadership team as Vice President of Human Resources (VPHR). This individual will bring strategic, cultural and operational leadership capabilities with a demonstrated passion for building inclusive workplaces, seeing the value that diversity brings. The VPHR develops and implements the Human Resource strategy in support of the company’s mission, aligned with the company’s strategic plan, and grounded in our values. The successful execution and implementation of initiatives designed to drive workforce engagement and effectiveness is critical, including the foundational elements of compensation, benefits, employee relations and compliance.

As a 100% employee-owned benefit corporation, attention to understanding and nurturing King Arthur’s ownership culture is foundational to HR effectiveness. This leader will ensure the HR function is keenly focused on helping people thrive - starting with building trusting relationships and ensuring employee-owners understand what is expected of them. Overseeing the core capabilities of organizational development, talent acquisition and development, performance management, and compensation and benefits, HR delivers high level of service, is accessible, and communicates clearly and often. Rapid evolution of technology is redefining the workplace, and the VPHR will leverage technology and redefine process, policies and practices to deliver HR operational excellence.

The Benefits: Yes, we have the regular "stuff" - medical, dental, vision, company paid short- and long-term disability, life insurance, paid parental leave, paid time off to rest, paid holidays to have fun, a 401(K) with a company match. But here's what makes us different: 40 paid volunteer hours a year, profit sharing*, participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)* and knowing that those working with you are dedicated and engaged co-employee owners that believe in you and your extraordinary abilities to move us all forward.  

*Amounts vary based on achievement of financial targets. Participation based on hire date and program entry date.

The Location: White River Junction, VT; onsite daily.

Reports to: CEO

Location: White River Junction, VT

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

HR Strategic Functions

• Collaborate with Strategy Team to define and execute long range strategic plan and the change leadership required for ongoing success.
• Define human resources strategy to achieve business objectives and to build and sustain an inclusive culture of belonging for all employees.
• Analyze effectiveness of people operations and policies; establish methods for measuring effectiveness of HR programs across the organization; share reports with Strategy Team and Board of Directors using business and human resource metrics.
• Build relationships and work effectively with all employee-owners, reinforcing our culture and values.
• Bring innovative thinking and foster a culture of adaptability to keep our organization looking to the future to shape progressive people practices within a 100% ESOP and Benefit Corporation.

Talent Acquisition, Retention, and Development

• Build organizational talent, ensuring an inclusive and diverse workplace with equal opportunity.
• Integrate inclusive best practices into recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning.
• Lead proactive talent assessment with Strategy Team, evaluating and coaching organizational change; identify people dimensions of business partner opportunities; propose and implement needed solutions.
• Hire, guide and evaluate the work of HR team members who provide direct support to the business.
• Guide leadership development with action plans for growth (cross-functional, stretch assignments).
• Advise leaders on organizational effectiveness, organizational design and talent management challenges. Influence and provide coaching in effectively managing people and facilitating change.
• Nurture company values and culture awareness and preservation into talent management decisions.

HR Service Delivery & Operational Excellence:

• Develop HR capability to deliver service and operational excellence.
• Drive core process improvements and promote best practices.
• Leverage technology to provide leaders with the tools and information required to manage their human capital issues. This may include automation of select HR processes, and manager and employee self-service.
• Identify and assess options and solutions to business and workplace issues, providing leadership, wisdom, and alternatives for effective people decisions and actions.

Team Management & Leadership

• Inspire and lead HR team with clarity of expectations and attention to exemplary communication, providing guidance and development opportunities to maximize potential and drive excellent performance.
• Communicate a vision that inspires people across the organization to act.
• Possess depth of experience to confidently interact with Strategy Team and Board of Directors.

Experience and Education

• 10-15 years of relevant experience, with at least 5 consecutive years at the executive level, ideally in a company of 300 employees
• Experience in effective strategic HR planning and implementation
• Experience leading organization development, organization design and change management in today’s workforce with an eye towards the future of cutting-edge workplaces.
• Deep understanding of HR practices, employment law, total rewards (including equity compensation at a private company), and compliance standards across different regions
• Experience in consumer products organizations desired
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms to build metrics/analytics into HR dashboards & decision making
• Aptitude in communicating and public speaking
• BS/BA (or equivalent experience) in business, HR, social sciences or related field

Success factors/competencies for this role

1. Passion for making a difference – enthusiasm for King Arthur’s mission and values
2. Open to change, with bias for action and continuous improvement
3. Provides exemplary customer service to both internal and external customers
4. Sets high standards for oneself, meets deadlines, learns from mistakes, is receptive to feedback
5. Effective communicator, readily accessible, willing to listen, seeks to understand, respects others’ points of view
6. Business and financial acumen; strategic predisposition with ability to implement actionable initiatives
7. Track record of building positive working relationships with employees and managers
8. Is community minded – gets involved, volunteers

Physical Requirements/Work Environment/Safety

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

• Physical Requirements: This role consistently uses standard office equipment such as computers and phones. Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Work environment: Indoors, a normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, or temperature changes. This role operates in a professional office environment where most work is performed at a desk. Remote work environment that meets KAB standards for work.

Safety

Understands that safety is the responsibility of everyone at the organization and is responsible for adhering to/providing work in a safe and ergonomic manner, identifying unsafe conditions and correcting conditions immediately or reporting them promptly. Participates in safety and compliance training and safety and health programs.

There's room at our table for you!  Apply today.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors protected by law. King Arthur Baking Company provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to participate in both the application process and during employment. Such individuals are encouraged to seek accommodations to allow them to apply for a position, participate in the application process, and meet the essential functions and requirements of the position.