Director of People and Culture

The ACLU of Maryland; Baltimore (MD); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The ACLU of Maryland seeks its next Director of People & Culture, a senior HR leader energized by progressive, people-centered HR in service of a larger purpose.

As a racial justice organization, we value transparency, collaboration, trust, and consistency in building a healthy, high-performing workplace. This hybrid, Maryland-based role shapes our people strategy and staff experience.

Qualifications

• Senior HR leadership experience within a mission-driven organization.
• 10+ years progressive HR experience across the employee lifecycle.
• Commitment to advancing equitable, anti-racist, people-centered workplace practices aligned with the organization’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Set values-aligned culture strategy in partnership with leadership.
• Coach senior leaders and strengthen supervisory capability.
• Steward labor-management relations, bargaining, and CBA administration.
• Shape an inclusive employee experience across onboarding, development, recognition, retention, and transition.
• Lead HR functions including talent, performance, compensation, benefits, policy, compliance, HR systems, workforce planning, and succession.
• Recruit and supervise a part-time People & Culture support professional.

Skills

HR leadership

Labor relations

Coaching leaders

Strategic planning

Equity & anti-racist practice

Tools

HR systems

Job description

The ACLU of Maryland is seeking its next Director of People & Culture—a senior HR leader energized by the opportunity to practice progressive, people-centered HR in service of a larger purpose.

As a racial justice organization, we believe how we work is as important as the work we do. Our staff are deeply mission-driven, and we value transparency, collaboration, trust, and consistency in building a healthy, high-performing workplace.

This is an opportunity to strengthen the employee experience, cultivate productive labor relationships, and help shape the future of our people and culture strategy.

About the ACLU of Maryland

The ACLU of Maryland works in the courts, the legislature, and alongside communities to advance civil rights and civil liberties and dismantle structural racism throughout Maryland. We center racial equity in our work, internally and externally, and are accountable to Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color. Our core values - transparency, collaboration, equity, integrity, and accountability - are intended to shape both the work and the experience of working here.

What you'll lead

• Set values-aligned culture strategy in partnership with the Executive Director, connecting People & Culture priorities to the organization's strategic direction.
• Coach senior leaders and managers, strengthen supervisory capability, and create more consistent people practices across teams.
• Steward labor-management relations, bargaining, CBA administration, manager training, and employee relations.
• Shape a holistic employee experience across a hybrid workforce, from onboarding through development, recognition, retention, and transition, and build an inclusive culture where staff feel connected to the mission and one another.
• Equip people leaders to foster healthy, thriving teams, and create meaningful opportunities for staff voice, using people insights to drive measurable improvements.
• Lead the core People & Culture function, including talent, performance, compensation, benefits, policy, compliance, HR systems, workforce planning, and succession.
• Recruit and supervise a part-time People & Culture support professional, shaping that role as the function grows.

You may be a strong fit if you...

• Have led an HR or People & Culture function at a senior level and are ready to bring that experience to a mission-driven organization.
• Bring 10+ years of progressive HR experience across the employee lifecycle.
• Have an HR philosophy that reflects a commitment to advancing equitable, anti-racist, and people-centered workplace practices in alignment with ACLU Maryland's mission and values.
• You recognize that exceptional HR thoughtfully balances employee experience with organizational stewardship, legal compliance, and pragmatic risk mitigation.
• Have coached senior leaders and managers and helped strengthen management practice.
• Have experience administering a collective bargaining agreement and navigating labor-management relationships.

Experience in racial justice, civil rights, advocacy, legal services, or other mission-driven settings is especially relevant - including organizations led by or working directly with communities most affected by structural inequity. Transferable experience from other sectors is welcome. If your workplace has not given you room to do this work, board service, volunteer leadership, or community involvement is a meaningful way to show us where your purpose and passion sit.

Salary is $160,000 - $170,000, with a comprehensive benefits package and relocation support. This is a hybrid role supporting a geographically distributed Maryland workforce, with more in-person participation during the legislative session. Candidates must live in Maryland or be willing to relocate within six months of employment.

Equal opportunity & accommodations. The ACLU of Maryland is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the recruitment and employment process.