Director, People & Culture

Lakefield Veterinary Group; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Wellness and development benefits

Job summary

Lakefield Veterinary Group seeks a Director, People & Culture to lead People Operations, Employee Relations, Benefits/Total Rewards, and Regional HR Business Partners across our hospitals. This senior leader will balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, shaping scalable people solutions that support growth and exceptional patient care.

The role emphasizes field engagement, culture, and partnership with hospital leaders, ensuring alignment with business goals and Lakefield values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, organizational development, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience with increasing leadership responsibility.
• 5+ years leading Employee Relations, HR Business Partners, People Operations, Benefits, Compensation, or Total Rewards.
• Experience supporting multi-site or geographically dispersed workforces.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations matters and workplace investigations.
• Experience leading HR programs and processes in a rapidly growing organization.
• Working knowledge of payroll, benefits, compensation practices, and employment law.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect people strategies to operational outcomes.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication, coaching, and relationship-building capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead People Operations, ensuring accurate and compliant payroll, HR systems, policies, and employee lifecycle processes.
• Partner with Payroll and Finance to ensure timely payroll processing and data integrity.
• Collaborate with Chief People Officer to identify workforce needs and develop practical solutions.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Create scalable, consistent people processes across a multi-state organization.

Skills

Leadership

HR strategy

Payroll knowledge

Employee relations

People operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Organizational Development

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Greenhouse

Job description

We believe exceptional veterinary care starts with exceptional people. We partner with hospitals across the country to preserve what makes each practice special - its people, culture, and connection to community - while providing the operational support, resources, and strategic leadership that allow teams to thrive. As we grow, we remain committed to creating an environment where team members feel respected, supported, and empowered to deliver outstanding care.

Our Values

Our culture is built on five core values that guide us in the way we work:

• Respect
• Learning
• Do the right thing
• Wow service
• Fun

We expect all team members to actively demonstrate these values in their daily work and interactions.

Position Summary

The Director, People & Culture (P&C) serves as a trusted partner to business leaders and a key steward of Lakefield’s culture, team member experience, and people practices. This role is responsible for leading People Operations, Employee Relations, Benefits - Total Rewards, and our Regional HR Business Partner model while ensuring our hospitals receive consistent, practical, and people-centered support.

Success in this role requires balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on execution, translating business needs into scalable people solutions that strengthen culture, drive consistency, and support organizational growth. The Director will spend meaningful time building relationships with hospital leaders and team members, developing a deep understanding of field operations and ensuring P&C remains closely connected to the realities of the business.

This leader succeeds by balancing a strong field orientation with operational excellence while creating the people processes, tools, and support structures that enable hospital leaders to focus on delivering exceptional patient care and team member experiences.

What you’ll do (Key Responsibilities)

People Operations & Compliance

• Lead People Operations, ensuring accurate and compliant administration of payroll, HR systems, policies, and employee lifecycle processes.
• Partner with Payroll and Finance teams to ensure timely, accurate payroll processing and continuous improvement to ensure data integrity and controls.
• Partner closely with the Chief People Officer on identifying workforce needs and developing practical solutions for our Operations and Medicine teams.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws while balancing business needs and team member experience.
• Identify opportunities to streamline and strengthen people processes, creating consistency and scalability across a growing multi-state organization.
• Support Talent Acquisition processes and transactions.

Total Rewards

• Oversee administration of Lakefield's benefits programs, wellness offerings, leave programs, and employee experience initiatives.
• Oversee compensation and total rewards programs, including market benchmarking, pay practices, annual compensation planning, and employee communication.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend enhancements that support attraction, retention, and engagement.

Employee Relations

• Serve as the organization's senior Employee Relations resource, providing guidance and consultation on complex workplace matters.
• Oversee investigations, performance management consultation, conflict resolution, policy interpretation, and workplace risk assessments.
• Coach field leadership through challenging people situations using sound judgment, consistency, and an understanding of each hospital's unique culture, team dynamics, and business needs.
• Promote a culture of accountability, respect, and trust while mitigating organizational risk.

Regional HR Business Partner Leadership

• Develop Lakefield's Regional HR Business Partner model at scale, in partnership with the Senior Manager, People & Culture, ensuring consistent support and partnership across hospitals and regions.
• Create the frameworks for coaching and the professional development of the HR Business Partners while establishing clear standards of service and partnership.
• Use data, trends, and field insights to proactively address organizational challenges and strengthen leader capability.

Culture & Field Partnership

• Champion Lakefield's culture and values through visible leadership, relationship-building, and active engagement with hospital teams.
• Maintain a regular presence in hospitals and field operations to understand team member experiences, support leaders, and ensure People & Culture remains closely connected to the business.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders, helping navigate growth, change, and organizational challenges while preserving the unique cultures of our hospitals.

This list is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be modified as business needs evolve.

What we’re looking for

Required

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience with increasing leadership responsibility.
• 5+ years leading one or more of the following functions: Employee Relations, HR Business Partners, People Operations, Benefits, Compensation, or Total Rewards.
• Experience supporting multi-site or geographically dispersed workforces.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations matters and workplace investigations.
• Experience leading HR programs and processes in a rapidly growing organization.
• Working knowledge of payroll administration, benefits programs, compensation practices, and employment law.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect people strategies to operational outcomes.
• Exceptional judgment, discretion, and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong communication, coaching, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Ability to influence leaders through credibility, partnership, and practical solutions.

Preferred

• SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, SPHR, or PHR certification.
• Experience supporting healthcare, veterinary, retail, hospitality, or other service-based multi-location organizations.
• Experience building or leading HR Business Partner teams and field-based support models.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now, Greenhouse, and other HR technology platforms.
• Experience supporting organizational growth, acquisitions, or change initiatives.

CORE COMPETENCIES

All Lakefield team members are expected to demonstrate:

• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Collaboration across teams and functions
• Professional judgment and integrity
• Accountability and ownership of responsibilities
• Adaptability in a growing, evolving organization
• Alignment with Lakefield’s values

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position provides direct leadership, coaching, and development for the following P&C leaders:

• Senior Manager, People & Culture
• Manager, Total Rewards
• Manager, Payroll

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This role operates in an office/hybrid environment with 3 days per week on-site at our office in Kent, WA. Physical requirements may include:

• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing
• Working at a computer
• Clinical exposure (if applicable)

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Travel may be required up to 50% during the first 60 days of Onboarding to build relationships and gain an understanding of Lakefield's hospitals, operations, culture, and the veterinary industry. Ongoing travel is expected to be approximately 25%.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is between 170,000-190,000 annually.

Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, qualifications, geographic location, and internal equity. This position may also be eligible to participate in Lakefield’s annual incentive bonus program, subject to eligibility and plan terms.

Lakefield Veterinary Group offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with company match; paid time off; paid holidays; and additional wellness and development benefits.

Lakefield Veterinary Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members and applicants. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.