Position: Senior Director of People and Culture
Department: People and Culture

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Categorization: Hybrid In-Person

Status: Full-time Exempt

Start Date: May 2025

The Organization

Since 2003, The Opportunity Network (OppNet) has ignited the drive, curiosity, and agency of students from under-resourced communities, who are first-generation college students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers. This year, OppNet will reach more than 10,000 students of color nationwide to support them in achieving their college and career goals.

All of the work OppNet leads is in service of realizing our vision of a nation connected through vibrant communities and networks actively in pursuit of a nation where all young people can freely create their path to enduring success that honors their passions, ambitions, and full identities.

The Job

The Senior Director of People and Culture is a dynamic leadership role that creates and leads the vision and strategy for our talent function. The Senior Director will ensure that OppNet attracts, develops, and retains exceptional leaders who will positively and sustainably impact our community. The individual must design and execute a robust people operations strategy, overseeing talent functions such as recruitment, HR operations, performance management, compliance, and organizational culture; develop the vision for and lead the execution of a talent strategy for OppNet that is aligned with our values and maximizes the impact of our team members; and collaborate with key stakeholders to develop processes and programs to support the professional development of team members.

The Senior Director will be a critical partner to the COO in strategic decision-making and organizational culture as OppNet continues to enhance its quality programming and build capacity. The Senior Director of People and Culture will directly supervise the Coordinator of People and Culture and lead the People and Culture team. This role is an exciting opportunity for an individual with experience managing the talent strategy and human capital initiatives at an equity-driven organization, a demonstrated ability to coach and develop others and build a solid and inclusive team culture, and a commitment to contributing to OppNet’s mission.

About You

The candidate will demonstrate an awareness of the needs and challenges high school and college-level students from historically underserved and underrepresented communities face. The individual will actively participate in all organizational-wide learning sessions and self-reflection and work with others to enact changes to meet the organization’s goals. The candidate should possess outstanding professionalism and discretion, organization and attention to detail, energy and initiative, the ability to prioritize and complete various tasks on time, and a willingness to work on multiple assignments. The individual is enthusiastic about collaborating and eager to safeguard and augment the effectiveness of the organization’s operations to facilitate accelerating development and long-term success. 

What You Will Be Doing

Talent Acquisition and Retention (25%)

• Design and drive a talent acquisition strategy to identify and recruit solid and diverse pools of candidates for open roles;

• Implement the hiring process, which includes supporting hiring managers in launching searches for new roles and building thoughtful hiring processes that align with the core competencies for open roles;

• Regularly review applicant data to inform our recruitment and cultivation strategy and share progress with hiring managers and the Enterprise Leadership Team (ELT); 

• Collaborate with Operations to design and implement orientation and onboarding plans and employment policies and procedures to ensure compliance, prioritizing alignment with OppNet’s values;

• Oversee the offboarding process, hold exit interviews with outgoing staff, and support managers in processing the information gathered in exit interviews.

Culture and Engagement (25%)

• Support managers in maximizing performance management systems and structures to create robust individual development plans for team members;

• Coach and mentor managers and other OppNet leaders on best HR practices, fostering effective management and ensuring alignment with OppNet’s values and goals;

• Design and administer organizational surveys (e.g., culture, equity, onboarding); analyze the data and provide opportunities for all staff and teams to process the data and set priorities;

• As needed, support all employees and ensure staff member concerns are addressed promptly with clear resolutions.

Leadership and Cross Department Collaboration (20%)

• Mentor and coach, the Coordinator of People and culture and team members, fostering their growth through access to learning and development opportunities;

• Provide strategic insights and recommendations on growth strategy, data usage, performance management, and leadership dynamics;

• In close collaboration with the COO and other key stakeholders, play a key role in  developing, assessing, and managing internal and external professional development opportunities responsive to individual and organizational needs;

• Collaborate with the BigOps Leadership Team to coordinate activities related to Finance, People and Culture, Operations, and Research, Evaluation, and Actionable Insights;

• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure that staff are fully aware and able to maximize OppNet’s benefits offerings, including PTO, family and medical leave, health insurance, etc.

Compliance, Systems, Tools, and Planning (15%)

• Engage in OppNet’s annual and long-term strategic planning efforts as a culture carrier for the organization;

• Recommend and implement compensation strategies to ensure that the organization stays competitive in the market, retains and motivates its top talent, and provides fair and equitable compensation for staff;

• Be aware of evolving state and federal laws on management, policies, processes, and practices, and work to ensure OppNet complies with all applicable laws and regulations concerning employment practices, employee health and safety, employee and labor relations;

• Manage and refine OppNet’s people operations systems with an eye for maximizing efficacy and impact, including applicant tracking systems (ATS) and human resource information systems (HRIS);

• Develop, manage, and implement overall HR operations budget systems for tracking costs, including expense reporting, documentation, quarterly projections, forecasting, and annual budgeting;

• Participate in professional development to maintain knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law.

Organizational  Learning, Development, and Program Reflection  (15%):

• Participate in organization-wide DEI learning sessions, equity working groups, and optional identity-based affinity groups

• Attend weekly team meetings, All Hands meetings, All Staff meetings, team retreats, and

annual institution-wide retreat

• Develop professional and personal intentions related to OppNet’s DEI commitment,

incorporated into annual performance reviews.

Who we are looking for

• 10 years of professional experience with at least 3 years of senior management experience in a high-performing organization; experience working in a non-profit strongly preferred;

•  Ability to lead and foster teamwork; strong leader and team player with a proactive, service-oriented attitude;

• Experience in identifying, facilitating, and collaboratively implementing best practices related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility;

• A proven track record for building robust talent development systems, including developing healthy talent pipelines, robust recruitment and onboarding processes, and effective professional development and performance management systems;

• Adaptive and technical experience developing, implementing, and reinforcing human resources processes and tools to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability;

• Strong people and organizational management skills, with a track record of developing strong and engaged performers and coaching others on how to motivate and inspire teams;

• Outstanding track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously with attention to both the big picture and day-to-day details;

• Knowledge of traditional Human Resources functions, including benefits administration, payroll, employee relations, and compliance with labor and employment laws; and

• Confidentiality and integrity when managing sensitive information;

• Strong proficiency in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail) and Dropbox;

• Experience with a Human Resources Information System (Experience with ADP Workforce preferred).

Requirements to Work for OppNet

• HYBRID IN-PERSON. Job responsibilities require regular scheduled and ad hoc physical presence with NYC-based OppNet stakeholders.

• OppNet requires that all employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including new hires, unless an exemption has been approved. 

Salary and Benefits

We take a thoughtful and deliberate approach to generating salary offers that take into account previous work experience, the role you’re entering into, and fairness within OppNet. Fairness is important to us and it is critical that our compensation approach ensures fairness across the organization.  Hence, we make every effort to make our first offer our best offer because we want to demonstrate that we value you and your work from day one.

The hiring salary range for this role is $108,896 - $123,000 and will be commensurate with experience.

At OppNet, eligible employees can enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical coverage (health, dental, and vision), an HRA, Flexible Spending Account, family leave (up to 100% coverage for twelve weeks), life insurance, and retirement benefits. Full-time employees can participate in our 403(b) retirement benefit program. Additionally, we offer generous time off from work (through a combination of vacation, sick, and holidays).

Application Instructions

Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining how your professional background and experience relate specifically to the responsibilities and qualifications listed above, salary requirements, and earliest available start date.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you meet some but not all of our qualifications?  OppNet is an equal-opportunity employer.  Even if you may not meet every qualification listed, we strongly encourage you to apply without hesitation. If you believe in our organization's mission and feel confident in your potential to excel at OppNet, we warmly welcome your application. Our commitment lies in considering a wide range of candidates, and valuing various workplace experiences and backgrounds.  Whether you are new to the non-profit sector, returning to work after a break, considering a career change, or taking the next step in your professional journey, we are excited to hear from you! We recognize that multifarious teams make the strongest teams, and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.