Director, People Operations and Culture

Kiva Confections ( is a world-class cannabis-infused edibles company in California, the largest cannabis market in the world. Kiva's line includes Kiva Chocolate Bars, Terra Bites, Petra Mints, Lost Farms Gummies & Chews, and Camino Gummies. Our products are crafted from premium ingredients and thoughtfully combined with California cannabis. Since our beginning in 2010, our goal has been to create confections that redefine what a cannabis confection ought to be. By applying art and science, we ensure a deliciously consistent experience.

We have high-reaching growth plans as the legal market and consumer adoption expand. Key growth initiatives include ambitious platform innovation, outstanding marketing, geographic expansion, strategic partnerships, and more. We are resourced for this spectacular growth and looking for great people to help take us to the next level.

Job Summary

The Director of People Operations & Culture serves as the head of HR for all Kiva companies, setting the strategic direction and operational foundation for how we attract, develop, support, and retain our people. This role leads the full People Operations function: Talent Acquisition, HR Operations, Employee Relations, Performance Management, Total Rewards, Payroll & Benefits, Workers’ Compensation, Compliance, and Culture. Their work includes ensuring scalable systems, clear expectations, strong managerial accountability, and a consistent employee experience across the organization. This role partners closely with all internal functional teams and executive leadership to align people strategy with business priorities while maintaining a people‑forward, compliant, and high‑trust workplace.

MUST reside near the Bay area!

• You believe great companies are built through clarity, consistency, and care for people at every stage of their journey.
• You enjoy operating at both the strategic and hands‑on levels, setting direction while ensuring the fundamentals are executed exceptionally well.
• You are energized by building systems, teams, and processes that scale with growth and complexity.
• You are a trusted advisor to leaders and a steady, credible presence for employees.
• You take pride in creating structure without bureaucracy and culture without performative gestures.
• You are comfortable navigating gray areas, complex people issues, and fast‑moving business needs with sound judgment.
• You are comfortable leading a lean, hardworking team where the leader stays close to the work, and you build capacity deliberately as the business grows

Lead People Operations Strategy & Execution

• Set and execute the enterprise-wide People Operations strategy aligned with Kiva's business goals and growth plans.
• Build scalable people processes that support a multi-entity, multi-state organization operating in a highly regulated industry.
• Lead the people workstream in acquisitions, integrations, and organizational restructuring, including diligence, transition planning, and post-close harmonization of pay, benefits, and policy.
• Serve as the senior People Operations leader across all Kiva companies, ensuring alignment and consistency.

Lead the People Team

• Lead, develop, and mentor the People Operations team, setting clear expectations, priorities, and standards of excellence.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration between People Operations, Finance, Legal, Operations, and business leaders.
• Establish operating rhythms, metrics, and reporting that provide visibility into people performance and risks.

Talent Acquisition, Onboarding & Workforce Planning

• Own the full-cycle talent acquisition function, including sourcing strategy, hiring process, candidate experience, and accountability for time-to-fill and quality of hire.
• Lead workforce planning in partnership with Finance and business leaders, including headcount forecasting and requisition governance.
• Own the onboarding experience end to end, including I-9 compliance, new hire documentation, and first-year integration.

Performance Management, Engagement & Development

• Own the design and continuous improvement of the performance management program, including goal setting, review cycles, and calibration.
• Own the engagement listening strategy, including survey design, results analysis, and manager-level action planning.
• Lead talent review and succession planning for critical roles, and build development and internal mobility pathways.
• Strengthen manager capability through clear guidance, tools, and training.

Employee Relations & Investigations

• Provide strategic oversight of employee relations, investigations, and conflict resolution processes.
• Oversee workplace investigations, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and workplace violence matters, with appropriate escalation to Legal.
• Identify recurring themes and systemic issues, and drive proactive solutions.
• Oversee separations and reduction-in-force execution in partnership with Legal.

Total Rewards: Compensation, Payroll & Benefits

• Own compensation strategy and job architecture, including leveling, salary structures, and market benchmarking.
• Maintain pay equity review practices and ensure compliance with pay transparency requirements in every state where Kiva posts or hires.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across all entities and states.
• Oversee benefits strategy and administration, including Open Enrollment, plan design, and vendor management.

Workers' Compensation, Leave & Accommodation

• Own workers' compensation carrier and broker relationships, policy placement, and program cost management across all entities and states.
• Own the interactive process and reasonable accommodation determinations under the ADA and FEHA.
• Oversee administration of all leave programs, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, SDI, PFL, and paid sick leave in all applicable states.
• Partner with Environmental Health & Safety on claim strategy, return-to-work placements, and prevention.

Compliance & Risk Oversight

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws in every state where Kiva operates.
• Own annual regulatory filings and reporting obligations, including California pay data reporting and EEO-1.
• Maintain state employment registrations and compliant employment infrastructure as Kiva enters new jurisdictions.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and proactively address people-related risks before they escalate.

HR Operations, Systems & Data

• Ensure HRIS data integrity, audit readiness, and system optimization across all entities.
• Drive operational efficiency, automation, and continuous improvement across People Operations workflows.
• Own People reporting and analytics - turnover, retention, headcount, and cost of workforce — translated into recommendations for executive leadership.

Culture Stewardship & Change

• Serve as a steward of Kiva's culture by reinforcing clear expectations, consistent communication, and shared standards.
• Guide change management and communication during periods of growth, transition, or organizational change.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; SHRM-SCP or SPHR strongly preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in Human Resources or People Operations, including team leadership.
• Demonstrated experience leading People Operations in a multi‑entity organization supporting a distributed, multi‑state workforce, including entry into new states and management of registrations and jurisdiction‑specific requirements.
• Strong background in employee relations, compliance, total rewards, and HR operations.
• Experience owning a talent acquisition function and building compensation structures.
• Experience partnering closely with executive leadership.
• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, or integrations, including workforce transitions, is strongly preferred.
• Cannabis, food & beverage, CPG, or other regulated manufacturing experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading People Operations in a multi‑entity organization supporting a distributed, multi‑state workforce, including entry into new states and management of registrations and jurisdiction‑specific requirements.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills at all levels of the organization.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

$170,000 - $183,000 a year

Please note, we consider a number of factors such as internal pay parity, relevant experience/skills, geographic location, etc.

Work Environment

• Regular collaboration with executives, leaders, and employees across multiple locations.
• Work involves access to highly confidential employee and company information requiring strict discretion.
• Travel to Kiva locations and to states where Kiva employs staff is required on a periodic basis.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Ability to communicate clearly via phone, video, and in person.
• Regularly required to use hands to handle, type, or feel; reach with hands and arms.
• May require occasional standing, bending, or walking to file or retrieve materials.

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