The Organization
The PopHealth Learning Center (“Learning Center”) is a California Social Purpose Corporation (SPC) committed to transforming how health care is delivered and experienced across California, with a focus on low-income communities. Established to prioritize social impact over profit, the organization is grounded in a mission to bring together health care teams, insurers, and policymakers to keep communities healthy through care that works for patients, inspires providers, and lasts.
The Learning Center serves as the Program Office for a statewide Medi-Cal focused practice initiative, the Equity and Practice Transformation (EPT) program, a $160 million-dollar investment in primary care transformation funded by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). The Learning Center also works with a diverse portfolio of funders and partners - including Managed Care Plans, purchasers such as Covered California, and foundations including the California Healthcare Foundation and Blue Shield Foundation of California- to build Population Health Management (PHM) capabilities, advance value-based care and improve health outcomes for Californians. We serve as a strategic partner to organizations and institutions committed to advancing health outcomes and equity. All our efforts are grounded in a shared goal: supporting a more coordinated and person-centered healthcare system that strengthens primary care and advances equitable access across California’s safety net.
As a growing organization, we believe our people and culture are among our most important strategic assets. We are committed to building a workplace where employees feel supported, connected, challenged, and empowered to do their best work in service of our mission.
The Position
The Learning Center is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Senior Director of People & Culture to serve as the organization's senior leader responsible for people strategy, organizational culture, employee experience, compliance, risk management, and workforce operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and serving as a key member of the leadership team, this individual will provide strategic leadership while maintaining hands-on ownership of critical people, culture, compliance, and operational initiatives that support the organization's continued growth and success.
This role extends well beyond traditional human resources management and will directly oversee the People Operations Manager. Together, they will lead the development and execution of strategies that strengthen organizational culture, employee engagement, leadership effectiveness, compliance, and workforce operations. The successful candidate will be a strategic and hands-on leader who can balance people, performance, and organizational priorities while serving as a trusted advisor to leadership and helping the Learning Center navigate growth, change, and evolving business needs.
Responsibilities include:
People Strategy & Human Resources Leadership
Lead and oversee all aspects of the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits administration, employee development, succession planning, and offboarding.
Develop and implement people strategies that align workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, and employee retention with the Learning Center's strategic priorities.
Partner with organizational leadership to develop talent strategies that strengthen leadership capabilities, foster employee development, support organizational growth, and cultivate a high-performing workforce.
Serve as the organization's senior advisor on employee relations, workplace practices, performance management, and personnel matters.
Partner with managers by providing coaching, guidance, and practical tools that strengthen leadership capabilities, support effective performance management, employee engagement, and professional growth.
Oversee HR systems, policies, employee records, and workforce reporting.
Lead compensation and benefits strategies that align with the Learning Center's compensation philosophy and support the attraction, retention, and development of top talent.
Develop and maintain policies and procedures that support organizational effectiveness and compliance.
Culture, Employee Experience & Organizational Development
Serve as the primary steward of the organization's culture and values.
Develop and implement strategies that strengthen employee engagement, collaboration, trust, communication, and organizational health across a growing organization with a primarily remote and hybrid workforce.
Partner with leadership to cultivate an inclusive, equitable, and high-performing workplace.
Design and lead employee engagement initiatives, leadership development programs, team-building activities, and culture-building efforts.
Facilitate organizational change management initiatives and support teams through periods of growth and transition.
Monitor organizational climate and proactively identify opportunities to improve employee experience and organizational effectiveness.
Coach leaders and managers on building strong teams and fostering positive workplace environments.
Help ensure organizational values are reflected in policies, practices, decision-making, and day-to-day operations.
Compliance, Risk Management & Governance
Lead organizational compliance efforts related to employment practices, workplace regulations, and human resources requirements.
Monitor and interpret federal, state, and local employment laws and ensure organizational compliance.
Oversee risk management activities related to personnel, workplace practices, insurance coverage, and organizational operations.
Lead workplace investigations and employee relations matters requiring elevated review.
Partner with legal counsel, insurance brokers, and external advisors to mitigate organizational risk.
Maintain and update employee handbooks, policies, and compliance-related documentation.
Support organizational governance and provide guidance to executive leadership on people and risk-related matters.
Operational Infrastructure & Vendor Oversight
Oversee key workforce-related operational systems and processes.
Serve as the primary organizational lead for outsourced HR and information technology vendors.
Evaluate and leverage emerging HR technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, to improve the employee experience, organizational effectiveness, and operational efficiency.
Manage vendor relationships and service agreements to ensure operational effectiveness and responsiveness.
Partner with vendors to support cybersecurity awareness, employee technology onboarding and offboarding, and workforce technology needs.
Identify opportunities to improve organizational systems, workflows, and operational effectiveness.
Leadership & Team Building
Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team on organizational effectiveness, workforce strategy, and culture.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing workplace culture that reflects the Learning Center's values of equity, transparency, accountability, and continuous learning.
Build strong partnerships across departments and strengthen cross-functional collaboration to support organizational goals.
Provide coaching, mentorship, and leadership development support to managers and staff across the organization.
Identify opportunities to enhance organizational systems, processes, and team capacity to improve effectiveness and employee experience.
Act as a cultural steward, helping ensure organizational values are reflected in leadership practices, decision-making, policies, and day-to-day operations.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications Including:
The ideal candidate will be a mission-driven, strategic and emotionally intelligent leader with significant experience leading people functions, shaping organizational culture, and supporting organizational growth.
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Public Administration, or related field.
Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in human resources, people operations, organizational development, compliance, or related leadership roles.
Minimum of 5 years in a senior-level HR, People, Culture, or Organizational Development leadership position.
Demonstrated experience leading the full spectrum of human resources functions.
Strong knowledge of California employment law and compliance requirements.
Significant experience managing employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, and organizational change.
Experience developing HR systems, policies, and organizational infrastructure.
Proven ability to influence leaders and build trusted relationships across all levels of an organization.
Exceptional communication, facilitation, coaching, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on in execution.
Preferred
Master's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent professional certification.
Experience working within healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropy, social impact, public sector, or mission-driven organizations.
Experience supporting remote and hybrid workforces.
Experience leading organizational culture and employee engagement initiatives in growing organizations.
Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis. California residents are strongly preferred. Candidates located in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, or elsewhere in the East Bay are strongly preferred and should be available to work in person 1-2 days per week based on organizational needs.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for this position is $210,000 - $245,000. The Learning Center offers a generous benefits package that reflects our commitment to team member health and wellness. Our benefits package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, life and disability insurances, a retirement plan, annual wellness days, and other resources designed to support the passion, commitment, and energy that is vital to our team members.
All new hires begin with a six-month evaluation period, which includes structured support and regular check-ins
The PopHealth Learning Center is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law. Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color, and LGBTQ+ people are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.
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