People & Culture Manager

For 50 years, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op has existed to serve our community through healthy food, support for local producers, environmentally sustainable practices, and cooperative ownership. Today, over 7,000 member-owner households and a growing community of shoppers rely on our Co-op each week. In the last year alone, we directed over $7 million toward Vermont producers and contributed more than $100,000 through food access discounts, food shelf donations, and community giving initiatives. We are looking for a thoughtful, experienced, and emotionally intelligent People & Culture Manager to help lead and support the people who make this work possible. This is an opportunity to help shape workplace culture, leadership development, communication systems, employee support structures, and organizational health inside a mission-driven business that serves both people and purpose. The People and Culture Manager reports directly to the General Manager and works closely with department leaders across the organization. You will support a staff of more than 100 employees in a fast-paced retail environment that is collaborative, dynamic, and continuously evolving. You will lead and support: Recruitment and Hiring Employee relations Performance management and coaching Compensation and benefits administration Leadership Support and development Training and onboarding systems HR compliance and policy administration Workplace culture and engagement Organizational communication and change management You will serve as both a strategic partner and a trusted day-to-day resource for managers and staff alike. The ideal candidate understands that strong workplace culture is built through consistency, accountability, compassion, clarity, and trust. Who You Are You are someone who can navigate complexity with steadiness and professionalism You are a strong listener, a clear communicator, and someone who can balance empathy with accountability. You know how to support leaders while also advocating for healthy systems and sustainable workplace practices. You are comfortable navigating difficult conversations, organizational change, and competing priorities while maintaining confidentiality, emotional intelligence, and sound judgment. Preferred Qualifications We are looking for candidates with: At least 5 years of HR leadership experience across multiple HR disciplines including recruitment, employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits, and organizational development Experience supporting organizations with 100+ employees Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills Experience in retail, grocery, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, or another fast-paced operational environment Knowledge of employment law and HR best practices Experience with HRIS/payroll systems (Paylocity experience is a plus) Degree in Human Resources management or related field PHR, SPHR or SHRM certification Compensation & Benefits Starting salary: $92,000 - $100,000 , depending on experience Additional benefits include: Group health insurance Optional dental and vision insurance Flexible spending account (FSA) 3+ weeks paid time off Paid Holidays 401(k) Profit-sharing bonus program Paid parental leave Life insurance Employee Assistance Program Co-op Membership Staff discount $500 hiring bonus after 6 months employment To learn more about our amazing community, you may want to explore this link: #J-18808-Ljbffr