Vice President of People & Culture

Who We Are

We believe it is self‑evident that all people are created equal, with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – and that government secures these rights with the consent of the governed. We call this the American Promise.

To achieve the American Promise requires effective government, fair markets, personal freedom, and representative democracy – and it starts, as the Declaration of Independence itself did, with the states.

Future Now is an effort to achieve the American Promise in states with high impact interventions. The Future Now family includes initiatives such as The States Project and The States Forum.

The States Project builds power for state lawmakers – the most important policymakers in the country – to improve lives. Everything we care about starts in state legislatures, including abortion access, good schools, affordable healthcare, and clean air and water.

The States Forum is building a network of thinkers and practitioners from across the country who are working on solutions to today’s most pressing issues. Our goal is to foster, develop, and refine innovative policy solutions in the states.

The Opportunity

The Vice President of People & Culture will have the opportunity to act as a key leader for Future Now and its initiatives by developing and overseeing comprehensive people and culture strategies and implementation to support Future Now’s mission and achieve the ambitious goals outlined in our American Promise at Work.

The role will ensure that compensation, benefits, professional development, recruiting, culture, and employee relations and engagement strategies are aligned to the American Promise at Work and support the leadership and staff at Future Now and its initiatives.

The Vice President of People & Culture will partner with leaders to set and foster a positive, high‑performing internal culture that supports people from different experiences and backgrounds to significantly contribute to our mission. The role will also be responsible for ensuring human resources systems are effective, efficient, and compliant including by appropriately leveraging technology.

This position will manage a small team and report directly to the General Counsel, the C‑level leader of Future Now’s Operations work. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in building and maintaining high-performing teams and designing and overseeing strategic people and culture initiatives to support leaders at all levels. This is a hands‑on role: the successful Vice‑President of People & Culture will set high level strategy and also roll up their sleeves to get the work done.

Position Details

This is a full‑time, exempt, at‑will position that will work across Future Now and affiliated initiatives. The team currently operates remotely, with occasional in‑person team retreats, etc. Some travel will be required. Additional evening and weekend hours are occasionally required to fulfill the duties of this position.

What You Will Do

Principal activities will include but not be limited to:

People Strategy

• Ensure full alignment between people strategy, talent architecture, and organizational priorities
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the General Counsel and other C‑level leaders, influencing decision making on talent, prioritization, and planning from a people and culture lens
• Ensure people systems are flexible enough to serve project teams with distinct cultures and impact goals, while ensuring consistent compliance and quality of employee experience

Strategic System Design

• Perform continuous review and improvement of systems across compensation, benefits, professional development, performance management, recruiting, employee relations, and engagement to best support Future Now and its initiatives
• Design and implement systems to provide regular and ongoing opportunities for staff professional development, training, learning, and effective recruitment and retention

Culture Leadership

• Ensure effective culture strategies to support The American Promise at Work vision, including through cultivation and partnership with culture leaders across the effort
• Foster team and culture building built on our mission to support high-performing teams where people from different backgrounds and experiences can thrive
• Plan and oversee the people strategy and training aspects of FN’s annual in‑person and virtual events
• Ensure internal communications build and promote organizational culture

Human Resources Oversight and System Optimization

• Stay current on leading industry best practices and implement technology and automations that optimize HR systems to support our mission and values
• Facilitate ongoing trainings for the People and Culture Team and other staff and consultants to best use Future Now’s resources and tools
• Ensure HR systems and people operations adhere to all compliance requirements and can efficiently adapt to varying teams and project needs

What You Will Bring

Mission & Values Alignment

• You are inspired by Future Now’s mission and about advancing the American Promise at Work
• You are committed to building a workplace focused on innovation, excellence, and high‑performing teams

People & Operations Experience and Skills

• You have prior experience at a multi‑entity organization, PEO, or similar multi‑client HR environment
• You demonstrate deep knowledge of and experience with leading all aspects of the people and culture and employee relations functions in complex organizations
• You have demonstrated experience developing effective systems and practices that support all stages of an employee’s lifecycle, from candidate recruitment to employee offboarding
• You have helped build and maintain a positive, high‑performing organizational culture in a dynamic, high‑stakes environment
• You coach and mentor not only your direct reports, but also peers and senior leaders and develop and implement effective learning and professional development programs and interventions

Strategic Thinking & Judgment

• You have experience working effectively in fast‑paced, highly dynamic environments and exercise exceptional discernment and judgment
• You are a strategic and analytical thinker who improves organizational systems and processes

Project Management & Organizational Skills

• You are a systems thinker who creates effective and efficient processes
• You effectively translate concepts into actionable plans and clearly communicate goals, expectations, responsibilities, and deadlines
• You roll up your sleeves and do the work alongside your team
• You have a track record of anticipating roadblocks and using thoughtful action to keep projects on target and moving toward completion

Communication & Relationship Building

• You have a demonstrated track record of building strong relationships
• You are a go-to person for staff at all levels in your workplaces
• You have experience designing and facilitating impactful staff engagements
• You have exceptional emotional intelligence and bring maturity and skill to navigate complex and difficult dynamics and relationships

Location

Remote, with 25% of expected travel for in‑person team meetings and events

Benefits

The position offers a competitive and generous benefits package. Benefits currently offered include unlimited paid time off, 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave at full pay, 75% paid coverage of medical, dental, and vision for individuals and dependents, basic life insurance, an employee assistance program, 401(k) matching, annual professional development, wellness, and work‑from‑home stipends.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $217,518 - 228,394 per year.* Salary offers are made based on the market rate and the candidate's demonstrated level of proficiency, experience, and credentials.

*The pay rate or range noted for this position is in compliance with the District of Columbia Wage Transparency Omnibus Amendment Act of 2023, NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, and other state and local laws.

Future Now does not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Future Now values diversity and strongly encourages women, individuals with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, religious beliefs, and military backgrounds to apply.

Future Now complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Any application materials received via email will not be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in Human Resources and/or Operations, including at least 2 years in management and serving in a senior leadership role
• Excellent judgment, discernment, and trustworthiness in high‑level and confidential employee matters
• Prior experience partnering with and supporting executives
• Self-starter with a drive to make things happen and a no job too small mindset
• Proven track record of management excellence and high standards for success, with the ability to manage up, down, and across an organization
• Results‑oriented leader with a proven ability to perform well under pressure
• Deep commitment to the ideals of the American Promise at Work
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to develop and maintain trusting relationships with a variety of stakeholders
• Experience managing teams, including consultants
  

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in a complex organization, especially political and advocacy organizations, is a plus