VP, People & Culture

JDS Sports; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

San Diego Wave Fútbol Club is seeking a Vice President, People & Culture to lead the People & Culture function for a growing professional sports organization in San Diego. You will shape strategy, culture, and organizational effectiveness while partnering with executive leadership to drive performance and engagement.

This role oversees talent management, compensation philosophy, learning, inclusion, and compliance, including Player Safety alignment with league requirements and club values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field.
• Master's degree or advanced HR certification preferred.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent senior-level HR certification preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including leading a comprehensive function.
• Deep knowledge of California employment law and federal regulations.
• Ability to influence and partner with executive leadership; strong business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor on people, design organization and culture initiatives.
• Develop and execute multi-year People & Culture strategy aligned with vision.
• Lead compensation, benefits, and total rewards; oversee budgeting with Finance.
• Oversee talent acquisition, learning, retention, and employee experience.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws, policies, and safeguarding requirements.
• Partner with leadership on Player Safety alignment and league expectations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Talent strategy

People analytics

Employee engagement

Executive communication

Change management

Coaching & development

Education

Bachelor's in HR/BA/OD

Master's degree preferred

SHRM-SCP/SPHR preferred

Job description

## VP, People & CultureThe GISTPeople & HR · Full-timeUSD 170k-190k / yearPosted on Nov 7, 2026Apply nowSan Diego Wave Fútbol Club is on a mission to build a world class home for players and fans. We are seeking a Vice President, People & Culture who serves as the senior human resources leader for the Club, responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive people strategy that enables organizational performance, strengthens culture, and supports long-term business objectives. As a trusted advisor to the executive team, this leader will drive talent, organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, performance management, compensation philosophy, leadership development, employee engagement, and compliance.This position oversees the People & Culture function and is responsible for creating a high-performance environment where employees are empowered to grow, contribute, and achieve exceptional results. The Vice President will champion an inclusive, values-driven culture while ensuring HR programs, policies, and practices align with the Club's mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to employee well-being.The role will also partner with Club leadership and the General Manager to provide oversight and support for Player Safety initiatives, ensuring alignment with league requirements, safeguarding standards, and Club values.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:Strategic Leadership & Organizational EffectivenessServe as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on all people-related matters, including organizational design, workforce planning, talent strategy, leadership effectiveness, and culture.Develop and execute a multi-year People & Culture strategy aligned with the Club's vision, values, and business objectives.Lead organizational planning initiatives that support scalability, accountability, and high performance across all departments.Utilize workforce and organizational analytics to inform decision-making, identify trends, and drive continuous improvement.Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusion, and professional growth.Talent Management & PerformanceDesign and lead the Club's performance management philosophy and processes, including cascading goals, performance evaluations, talent calibration, feedback mechanisms, and development planning.Facilitate talent review and succession planning processes, including talent assessments and leadership pipeline development.Partner with department leaders to identify critical talent needs and support workforce planning efforts.Develop and oversee employee learning, leadership development, coaching, and career progression programs.Create and execute retention strategies that strengthen employee engagement and reduce unwanted turnover.Compensation, Benefits & Total RewardsLead the Club's compensation philosophy and total rewards strategy to ensure competitiveness, equity, and alignment with organizational objectives.Oversee annual compensation planning, market benchmarking, merit increases, incentive programs, and salary administration.Manage employee benefits, retirement plans, wellness programs, and leave administration.Partner with Finance on workforce budgeting, headcount planning, and people-related financial forecasting.Talent Acquisition & Employee ExperienceOversee recruitment and talent acquisition strategies designed to attract, hire, and retain exceptional talent.Ensure a best-in-class employee experience throughout the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, development, engagement, recognition, and offboarding.Continuously evaluate and improve HR processes, systems, and programs to drive efficiency and employee satisfaction.Lead employee engagement initiatives, team-building programs, and culture-building activities.Employee Relations & ComplianceProvide leadership and guidance on employee relations matters, investigations, conflict resolution, and workplace concerns.Ensure consistent application of policies, practices, and employment decisions across the organization.Maintain compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, with particular expertise in California employment law.Oversee policy development, legal compliance, risk mitigation, and HR governance practices.Serve as a trusted resource for employees and leaders while promoting transparency, fairness, and accountability.Player Safety & SafeguardingPartner with Club leadership and the General Manager to oversee the Club's Player Safety and safeguarding responsibilities.Ensure compliance with NWSL safeguarding standards, policies, education requirements, and reporting obligations.Serve as a point of escalation for player concerns and support appropriate response, investigation, and resolution processes.Foster a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all players and Club participants.Maintain strong working relationships with NWSL, NWSLPA, and league Player Safety representatives to support ongoing compliance and best practices.QUALIFICATIONSBachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field required.Master's degree or advanced HR certification preferred.SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent senior-level HR certification preferred.10+ years of progressive human resources leadership experience, including significant experience leading a comprehensive HR function.Proven success developing talent strategies, organizational effectiveness initiatives, performance management programs, and compensation frameworks.Deep knowledge of California employment law and federal employment regulations.Demonstrated ability to influence and partner effectively with executive leadership teams.Strong business acumen with experience in workforce planning, budgeting, and people analytics.Exceptional communication, relationship-building, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.Ability to navigate sensitive and confidential matters with sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and discretion.Experience leading change, scaling organizations, and building high-performing teams.Passion for fostering an inclusive, engaged, and performance-driven cultureAvailable to work game day and other events often outside of traditional business hours as needed.This role is a full-time, exempt position with an annual base compensation ranging from $170,000-190,000.APPLY TODAYIf you meet the above qualifications and are ready to take on the challenge of leading our professional soccer club to success, we want to hear from you. Please submit your resume and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for the position. Our people are our club. We believe different backgrounds and experiences bring new ideas and perspectives. We encourage talented candidates from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds to apply. We’re excited to welcome new members of our team who share our passion. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.Apply now