Director of People

Director of People

About Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) is a social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998. Founded in Austin, Texas, the organization serves its homeless neighbors through three core programs: Truck Ministry, Community First! Village, and Community Works. Often referred to as the most talked about neighborhood in Austin, Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned development that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. We are now embarking on a new phase of community expansion, adding more than 1400 new neighbors over the next 5-10 years.

About the Role

At Mobile Loaves & Fishes, we know that people are our greatest resource-and that building community starts with a strong, supported team. As we continue to grow and welcome an increasing number of our formerly homeless neighbors to Community First! Village, the Director of People will play a pivotal role in shaping how we work together while effectively supporting the broader organization. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, and partnering deeply with the CEO, this position is responsible for guiding the building internal structures that empower Mobile Loaves & Fishes' staff, sustaining our growth and advancing our vision.

The Director of People is a senior leader focused on building a people-centered, values-aligned and Christ-driven organization. With deep expertise in this role oversees core HR functions and talent strategies that foster growth, engagement, and operational success. The Director of People also partners closely with the Organizational Empowerment Team-led by the Senior Director of Empowerment and inclusive of Learning & Development and Culture-to ensure alignment across the organization's culture-building and staff development initiatives, while also collaborating extensively with other senior leaders to develop and implement people strategies that uphold the organization's vision and values.

This is a full-time, exempt, on-site position. Due to the nature and requirements of the position, hours are flexible to fit need but typically include 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday. Some nights and weekends may be required. The Director of People will office at Community First! Village located at 9116 Hog Eye Road, Austin, TX 78724.

Duties & Responsibilities

People Operations & Team Leadership

• Provide oversight and strategic leadership for all core HR functions, including payroll, benefits administration, HRIS systems, employment policies, and workplace safety.
• Lead and support MLF's People Team in a collaborative and relational manner, working closely with People Team leaders to ensure alignment, employee support, and excellence across all people-related operations.
• Develop and manage the People department's annual budget, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and efficient use of resources.
• Ensure people-related policies and systems are fair, legally compliant, and reflect the organization's vision and core values.
• Continuously evaluate and improve HR systems and workflows to support efficiency, data integrity, and a positive employee experience.

Organizational Development & Leadership Collaboration

• Equip managers with practical tools and guidance to support their teams' development while empowering them to build strong, trust-based relationships.
• Collaborate with the Organizational Empowerment Team and cross-functional leaders to align HR practices with organizational development, employee growth, and engagement initiatives.
• Partner with Organizational Empowerment to support MLF's strategy for leadership development, management training, and coaching that strengthen capabilities across the organization-from frontline staff to senior leaders-supporting long-term growth and sustainability.
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders to co-create and implement strategies that drive organizational growth, scalability, and sustainability while fostering a healthy, high-performing, and values-driven culture.

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for MLF's hiring strategy to attract and retain high-impact, vision-aligned talent.
• Partner with the recruiting team and hiring managers to create clear job descriptions, interview processes, and evaluation tools that identify diverse candidates with the skills, compassion, and experience to thrive in a trauma-informed, human services-focused environment dedicated to supporting individuals who have experienced homelessness.
• Oversee a welcoming, values-based onboarding experience that sets new hires up for long-term success and connection to the organization.

Employee Relations & Stewardship

• Serve as a trusted advisor to staff and managers, ensuring fair, compassionate and legally-sound resolution of workplace concerns.
• Foster a workplace culture rooted in trust, transparency, and care, particularly in a trauma-informed context.
• In collaboration with the necessary MLF team members, provide guidance on and oversee implementation of internal communications to keep the entire staff appropriately informed on relevant news and other items impacting the organization.
• Develop and implement systems of support, recognition, and open communication that contribute to employee well-being and retention.

Compensation & Benefits Strategy

• Lead the development and ongoing management of MLF's compensation philosophy and structure to ensure pay equity, market alignment, and internal consistency across roles.
• Oversee the design and execution of comprehensive benefit offerings, including health, retirement plans, and additional employee programs.
• Partner with senior leadership to ensure compensation planning is sustainable and supports long-term organizational goals.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Principles

• MLF is a faith-based organization whose ideals and philosophy come directly from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As an organization, we strive to reflect this precept in our communications, both internally and externally.
• Commitment to serving those who have experienced homelessness and personal alignment with MLF's vision, mission, core values, and goals.
• Emotional Intelligence: Ability to remain calm and composed under pressure, offering thoughtful guidance and maintaining emotional balance in challenging situations.
• Trauma-Informed Leadership: Deep understanding of the impact of trauma on individuals and teams, with the ability to lead with empathy, sensitivity, and support in a trauma-aware work environment.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: Skilled in adjusting to changing circumstances and responding to the evolving needs of the team and organization with agility and thoughtfulness.
• Conflict Resolution: Expertise in managing and resolving conflicts with a calm, solution-oriented approach, ensuring the well-being of all parties involved and fostering a supportive work atmosphere.
• Wise Decision-Making: Proven ability to make sound, well-considered decisions, especially in complex or emotionally charged situations, balancing both immediate needs and long-term goals.
• Supportive Communication: Strong listening skills and the ability to communicate thoughtfully and respectfully, creating an environment of trust, openness, and psychological safety.
• Team-Centered Collaboration: Skilled in fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment where all team members' perspectives are heard, and collective wisdom is prioritized to promote learning and joint problem-solving.

Education & Work Experience

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Psychology, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in Organizational Leadership, Human Resources Management, or a related discipline, or a demonstrated history of relevant leadership experience is preferred.
• Certifications such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or relevant coaching/facilitation credentials are a plus.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in human resources, people operations, or organizational development.
• At least 7 years in a senior leadership role with strategic responsibility for HR, organizational effectiveness, or related people functions.
• Proven track record of leading people initiatives in for-profit, mission-driven and/or non-profit environments.
• Experience working in trauma-informed, growing workplaces and leading with a people-first approach.
• Strong background in partnering with executive teams and cross-functional groups to build and sustain healthy organizational culture.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Ability to move about all phases of Community First! Villages properties
• Ability to sit or stand for a prolonged period

Benefits

• Day one 100% Employer paid, Health, Dental, Vision, Life, STD & LTD Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay
• Matching 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Corporate Discount Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Partnership Benefits

MLF VISION

We empower communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless.

MLF MISSION

We provide food and clothing, cultivate community, and promote dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need.

GOALS

• Transform the way people view the stereotype of those who find themselves homeless
• Reconnect the homeless to self, family and community
• Help the chronically homeless rediscover and utilize their God-given talents to do purposeful work
• Connect human to human, heart to heart through the fellowship of food and hospitality
• Inspire people into a lifestyle of abundance by giving their best first

BELIEF STATEMENTS

The vision is supported by belief statements centered on our belief that homelessness is the result of a profound, catastrophic loss of family:

• God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life
• By virtue of being created by God in His image, we are all called to live in community and relationship with Him through each other
• The family is the original cell of social life
• You shall love your neighbor as yourself
• All members of the human family are equal in dignity
• The Lord God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it. Gen 2:15

CORE VALUES

MLF is committed to fostering a culture that prioritizes relational connection. We believe there is opportunity in every aspect of our work to be relational in a highly transactional world. In this culture, transactions are means to relational ends, not the other way around.​

​​This begins with the countercultural love poured out by Jesus Christ and grows as imperfect individuals strive to show this love to each other human-to-human, heart-to-heart.​

​​Each individual's openness to the journey of their own personal growth is essential in building our relational culture, and we believe this culture flourishes as we each continuously strive to more fully embody these four core values:

• Faith : We define Faith as the foundational belief that our world and all our work belong to God. This allows us to engage our work with joy and lightheartedness, knowing that we are not ultimately in control.
• Humility : We define Humility as rightly viewing oneself as a single piece of a grander story. This humility leads to a view of oneself that is neither too high nor too low.
• Generous Spirit : We define a Generous Spirit as a readiness to give more grace, mercy, and hospitality than is necessary or expected. This posture allows us to see others for who they are, not what they do.
• Integrity : We define Integrity as a wholehearted commitment to doing right by God, ourselves, and others. This wholeheartedness shows itself in consistently choosing honesty, responsibility and ownership in all actions and decisions.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MLF is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen based on ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in accordance with federal and state law.