Head of/ Vice President of People

Role Description

The Vice President of People is a critical member of the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for building and scaling a high-performance organization that can support rapid growth, operational excellence, and sustained market leadership. This role partners directly with the CEO and executive team to drive talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, and culture. The VP of People leads all aspects of HR, including:

• Talent acquisition
• Performance management
• Compensation
• Benefits
• Compliance
• Employee experience

Key Responsibilities

• Executive Leadership & Talent Strategy
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team on all people-related matters
  • Build and execute a comprehensive talent strategy aligned to company growth objectives
  • Drive organizational design, workforce planning, and leadership development across corporate and field teams
  • Partner with functional leaders (Sales, Marketing, Operations, Finance, IT) to ensure the organization is structured and resourced for scale
• Talent Acquisition & Employer Brand
  • Lead full-cycle recruiting strategy across corporate and manufacturing operations
  • Personally drive executive and critical hires (e.g., VP/Director-level roles across Brand, Sales, and Operations)
  • Develop scalable recruiting processes that reduce time-to-fill while maintaining a high talent bar
  • Strengthen employer brand through compelling job design, candidate experience, and PR alignment
• Performance Management & Culture
  • Own and evolve the company’s performance management framework, including OKRs, continuous feedback, and AI-driven Prism Summaries
  • Drive a high-performance, accountability-focused culture aligned to company values
  • Lead bi-annual performance review cycles, calibration sessions, and bonus eligibility processes
  • Establish clear expectations for employee and manager participation (e.g., structured feedback capture requirements)
• Compensation, Benefits & Rewards
  • Design and manage competitive compensation structures, including merit cycles and incentive programs
  • Oversee benefits strategy and vendor relationships, including medical, 401(k), and employee programs
  • Continuously optimize offerings to balance employee value and cost efficiency
  • Ensure compensation practices are aligned with market benchmarks and internal equity
• HR Operations, Systems & Process Excellence
  • Oversee HRIS/payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and audit readiness
  • Build and implement scalable SOPs across payroll, onboarding, offboarding, and employee lifecycle management
  • Lead implementation and optimization of key systems (OnLoop, Organimi, Aidora, Ashby etc.)
  • Drive process discipline across HR workflows, approvals, and documentation
• Compliance, Risk & Employee Relations
  • Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws, including California-specific regulations
  • Develop, implement, and enforce company policies (e.g., Workplace Violence Prevention, Code of Conduct, Expense Policy)
  • Lead employee relations matters, including investigations, disciplinary actions, and terminations
  • Partner with outside counsel on complex legal and compliance issues
• Manufacturing Support
  • Partner closely with Operations leadership to support our manufacturing environments
  • Drive HR programs that support safety, productivity, and retention in a production setting
• Organizational Development & Special Projects
  • Lead key strategic initiatives, including:
    • Immigration and relocation programs (e.g., L-1A visa execution)
    • Organizational scaling and restructuring
    • Culture-building and employee engagement programs
  • Build tools and resources that improve transparency and alignment (e.g., interactive org charts, intranet development)
  • Continuously identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, and employee experience

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including executive-level responsibility
• Experience in high-growth, fast-paced environments (CPG, manufacturing, or distributed sales models preferred)
• Proven ability to operate both strategically and tactically (“roll up your sleeves” mindset)
• Deep expertise in talent acquisition, performance management, and organizational design
• Strong knowledge of employment law and compliance, particularly in California
• Experience working with PEO environments and scaling HR infrastructure
• Exceptional communication, judgment, and leadership skills

What Success Looks Like

• A high-performing, accountable organization aligned to clear goals and expectations
• Strong bench of leadership talent across all functions
• Scalable people processes that support rapid growth without breaking
• High employee engagement and retention in both corporate and operations environments
• A reputation as a company that attracts and develops top-tier talent

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
• 401k Match
• Family Leave
• PTO & Paid Holiday Schedule