VP of People

First Place for Youth; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 165,830 - 186,560; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15 days of vacation

12 days of sick time

401(k) retirement savings plan

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

First Place for Youth in Oakland is seeking a Vice President of People to lead the people and culture function. This role involves developing strategies for talent acquisition, compensation, and effective employee experiences. Candidates should possess over 8 years of progressive HR experience and a strong understanding of California employment laws. The organization offers a supportive environment in non-profit work with comprehensive benefits including health coverage and retirement plans. Salary ranges from $165,830 to $186,560 annually.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of HR experience with 8+ years in a managerial role.
• Full expertise in talent acquisition and employee relations.
• Deep knowledge of federal and California employment law.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a people and culture strategy.
• Champion a culture of belonging and continuous learning.
• Lead organization-wide performance management systems.

Skills

Progressive HR experience

Strategic thinking

Data-driven decision making

Exceptional communication skills

People management skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MA or equivalent certification

Job description

First Place For Youth is a leading non‑profit organization dedicated to supporting foster youth in their transition to adulthood, with a focus on education, employment, and housing. We believe that all young people deserve the opportunity to thrive and lead successful, independent lives. Our comprehensive programs empower foster youth to overcome unique challenges and build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed.

Position Summary

The Vice President of People (VP of People) is a strategic, results‑oriented senior leader responsible for building and executing a comprehensive people and culture function across the organization. Reporting to the CEO, the VP of People serves as a trusted advisor to leadership and a champion for employees at all levels. This role owns the full people lifecycle — from talent acquisition and onboarding through compensation, performance management, and retention — while ensuring the organization remains compliant, competitive as an employer, and positioned to scale. The VP of People will bring a people‑centered, data‑informed mindset, sound judgment, and the operational rigor needed to build best‑in‑class people systems in a mission‑driven, multi‑site environment.

Core Responsibilities

Strategy and Organizational Leadership

Develop and execute a multi‑year people and culture strategy aligned with First Place’s mission, organizational goals, and growth plans.

Serve as a key member of the Leadership Team, providing strategic guidance on workforce planning, organizational design, people risk and wellbeing, and initiatives that strengthen our team and culture.

Use workforce data and people metrics to surface insights, spot trends, and continuously improve the employee experience and organizational outcomes.

Represent the organization’s people and culture function externally, helping position First Place as an employer of choice in the nonprofit sector.

Champion a culture of belonging, psychological safety, and continuous learning — modeling the values and behaviors that make First Place a place where people thrive.

Talent Acquisition and Onboarding

Own the strategy and standards for full‑cycle recruiting and hiring across all roles and locations, ensuring consistency, equity, and alignment with organizational values.

Develop structured screening and interview frameworks to ensure values‑aligned rigorous and equitable candidate evaluation.

Oversee a comprehensive onboarding program that builds genuine connection, cultural belonging, and early momentum for new hires.

Build and maintain talent pipelines and employer branding strategies to attract mission‑aligned, high‑quality candidates.

Ensure the candidate experience reflects First Place's values — treating every applicant with care and transparency regardless of outcome.

Compensation and Benefits

Design and manage a competitive total compensation philosophy including salary structures, incentive programs, and employee benefits that reflect our commitment to valuing our people.

Lead annual compensation review processes to ensure pay equity, market alignment, and fiscal responsibility.

Oversee benefits administration, vendor relationships, and open enrollment while ensuring compliance with federal and California regulations.

Advocate internally for compensation and benefits that reduce financial stress and enable staff to show up fully to their work.

Employee Experience, Belonging, and Culture

Design and lead a holistic employee experience strategy — from day one through career growth — informed by engagement surveys, stay conversations, and exit insights.

Partner with leaders and managers to foster a positive, high‑performing workplace culture rooted in First Place's core values and address employee relations matters with care and equity.

Identify systemic drivers of turnover and implement target solutions to improve wellbeing, connection, and retention.

Build programs and rituals that celebrate staff contributions, deepen team connection, and reinforce a sense of shared purpose across sites.

Performance Management and Talent Development

Lead organization‑wide performance management systems including goal‑setting, review cycles, and calibration processes designed to support growth, not just evaluation.

Partner with department leaders on professional development pathways, leadership development, and succession planning that invest meaningfully in staff at every level.

Provide coaching and guidance to managers on strengths‑based feedback, constructive accountability, and employee growth.

Create development opportunities that help staff build toward their aspirations, not just the needs of their current role.

People Operations, Compliance, and Risk Management

Set the organization’s compliance framework and risk management approach across all operating locations, with the Director of HR leading day‑to‑day implementation and monitoring.

Own the strategic direction for people policies and the employee handbook, delegating drafting, updating, and maintenance to the HR team while ensuring final approval and alignment.

Provide strategic oversight of people systems (HRIS) and ensure the HR team maintains accurate personnel records, confidentiality standards, and operational efficiency.

Establish standards for employee relations investigations and serve as an escalation point for complex or high‑risk matters, with the Director of HR managing investigations day‑to‑day.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration and Team Leadership

Partner with Finance on payroll coordination, headcount planning, and budgeting for people‑related expenses.

Collaborate with Operations on policies and compliance initiatives that impact staff, including workplace safety and regulatory programs such as the Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP).

Work closely with Program and Development teams to ensure people processes support the needs of diverse programs and funding structures.

Lead and develop the HR team through direct management of the Director of HR, setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and creating conditions for the team to do its best work.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive HR, people, or culture experience paired with 8+ years in a managerial role.

• Demonstrated expertise across the full people function including talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, employee relations, performance management, and people compliance.

• Experience in a multi‑site organization strongly preferred.

Bachelor’s degree required; MA, SHRM‑SCP, SPHR, or equivalent certification a plus.

• Strategic thinking, data‑driven decision making, cultural competency.

• Compensation design and market benchmarking knowledge; familiarity with California‑specific wage and hour law.

• Proven track record building and managing full‑cycle recruiting functions.

• Deep knowledge of federal and California employment law; experience managing employee relations matters.

• Exemplary people management skills with a track record of developing high‑performing teams; skilled at coaching managers and leaders at all levels.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Financial fluency; ability to manage people‑related budgets.

• Highest levels of personal and professional integrity.

• Professional, adaptable, and able to build relationships across a broad range of people and roles.

Availability for occasional evening and weekend work and willingness to travel periodically to other office locations as needed.

Participation in organization‑wide events, all‑staff meetings, and leadership convenings as a visible and engaged member of the leadership team.

Benefits

15 days of vacation time in the first year

12 days of sick time

2 floating holidays

15 paid holidays

Employee’s choice of Kaiser or UCH HMO/PPO with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place on certain plans

Principal dental and vision coverage with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place

Healthcare and Dependent care FSA plans

Principal basic life and voluntary life insurance coverage

Employee Assistance Program

401(k) retirement savings plan

Paid sabbatical (no relocation assistance; local candidates preferred)

Pay will be determined based on Education and Experience.

Compensation Details

165,830 – 186,560 Yearly Salary

Additional Information

We are unable to sponsor work visas. First Place will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and applicable law. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you.

To learn more about First Place For Youth and view our current job openings, please visit our website at www.firstplaceforyouth.org/careers.