Director, People Operations and Culture

Kiva Brands, Inc.; California; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Kiva Brands, Inc. is seeking a Director of People Operations & Culture to lead HR across all entities. This role owns Talent Acquisition, HR Operations, Employee Relations, Total Rewards, Payroll & Benefits, Workers' Compensation, Compliance, and Culture.

You will shape scalable systems and an exceptional employee experience as the company grows. The position requires strong strategic and hands-on leadership, with deep California employment law knowledge and multi-state experience.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience, including team leadership.
• Proven experience leading People Operations in a multi-entity, multi-state organization.
• Experience owning a talent acquisition function; M&A/integration experience strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of California employment law and working knowledge of multi-state requirements.
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute enterprise-wide People Operations strategy, including integrations or restructuring during growth.
• Own full-cycle talent acquisition, onboarding, and workforce planning.
• Lead performance management, engagement, and succession planning.
• Provide strategic oversight of employee relations and workplace investigations.
• Own compensation strategy, payroll, and benefits across entities and states.
• Ensure compliance with employment law in every state where Kiva operates.
• Steward culture through onboarding, recognition, and change management.

Skills

Strategic HR leadership

People Operations

Multi-entity experience

California employment law

Talent acquisition leadership

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification

Job description

Kiva is looking for a Director of People Operations & Culture to serve as the head of HR across all Kiva companies. This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role, owning Talent Acquisition, HR Operations, Employee Relations, Total Rewards, Payroll & Benefits, Workers' Compensation, Compliance, and Culture. You'll set the direction for how we attract, develop, support, and retain our people — building scalable systems and a consistent employee experience as we grow.

This job is for you if...

• You believe great companies are built through clarity, consistency, and genuine care for people.
• You operate equally well at the strategic level and in the weeds.
• You're a trusted advisor to leaders and a steady, credible presence for employees.
• You build structure without bureaucracy, and culture without performative gestures.
• You're ready to lead a lean, hardworking team, staying close to the work as the business grows.

As Kiva's Director, People Operations and Culture...

• Set and execute Kiva's enterprise-wide People Operations strategy, including leading the people side of any M&A, integrations, or restructuring.
• Own full-cycle talent acquisition, onboarding, and workforce planning.
• Lead performance management, engagement, and succession planning.
• Provide strategic oversight of employee relations and workplace investigations.
• Own compensation strategy, payroll, and benefits across all entities and states.
• Ensure compliance with employment law in every state where Kiva operates.
• Steward Kiva's culture through onboarding, recognition, and change management.

What we're looking for:

• 8+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience, including team leadership.
• Proven experience leading People Operations in a multi-entity, multi-state organization.
• Experience owning a talent acquisition function; M&A/integration experience strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of California employment law and working knowledge of multi-state requirements.
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Full job description with complete responsibilities available on our careers page: