Managing Director, People and Culture

FLSA: Exempt/Overtime Ineligible

Benefits: Eligible

Hours Per Week: 40/Full-time

Met Council is America's largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and by treating each client with compassion, integrity, and respect. Our programs are staffed by experts who help over 325,000 clients each year and advocate on behalf of all needy New Yorkers. Our services include 100% affordable housing at 21 locations, family violence services, Holocaust survivor assistance, geriatric social work, crisis intervention and the largest free kosher food distribution program in the world. Our network of 120 food pantries, affordable housing sites, and JCCs provide services directly in neighborhoods across New York City.

Position Summary:

Met Council seeks a mission-driven, people-centered HR leader to guide transformative digital growth and culture change. The Managing Director, People and Culture will run core HR operations while building organization-wide frameworks for assessments, performance management, and professional development-and will lead change management as we adopt AI and digital tools that free staff for more mission-critical work.

Reporting to the CEO (dotted line to the COO), the Managing Director will lead the HR team; align HR strategy with organizational goals; communicate priorities across levels; and steward culture and AI adoption.

This leader will design and deliver change-management, user-adoption, and digital-experience strategies for HR and organization-wide AI initiatives; embed UX and change principles into major projects; drive training, communications, and engagement; and use feedback, analytics, and KPIs for continuous improvement. The focus is guiding people through change-showing how AI can enhance decision-making, improve employee experience, and unlock capacity.

Candidate Profile:

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Strategic Human Resources Leadership

• Lead recruitment, retention, performance, and succession planning; align HR with organization goals and workforce trends; use data to inform decisions.

Digital Change & Responsible AI

• Evaluate and integrate tools (automation, chatbots, predictive analytics); communicate AI clearly to non-technical staff; anticipate privacy, bias, and compliance risks; build digital adaptability.

Operational Excellence & Team Development

• Oversee HR operations, process improvements, and policy implementation; mentor the HR team; streamline with technology; handle complex issues with fairness.

Engagement & Culture

• Foster a positive, inclusive, collaborative environment; guide managers through change; design programs for growth and career development; encourage open feedback.

Compensation, Benefits & Compliance

• Administer competitive comp/benefits; ensure compliance; run policy/process audits; train managers and HR staff.

In addition, strong candidates will offer:

• Collaborative, mission-driven leader with excellent relationship-building and discretion.
• 10+ years in HR (5+ executive). BS/BA required; MBA/MA/MS and SPHR/SHRM-SCP preferred.
• Proven change-leadership; familiarity with ADP Workforce Now, ClearCompany, and payroll a plus.

Compensation: $185,000 to $200,000 per year

Benefits: Major medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; pre-tax commuter benefits; FSA; 403(b) with employer contribution; plus generous vacation, sick leave, and holidays.