Equity, People, Inclusion, and Culture Director

Leadership & People Strategy

• Leads the strategy for building a fair, supportive, and high-performing workplace.

• Ensure evaluations and the progressive discipline policy are utilized effectively to improve performance.

• Monitor staff morale and organizational culture, identifying strengths to build on and areas where additional coaching and support are needed to strengthen teams and leadership.

• Implement systems to bring visibility in supervision chains of onboarding, probationary periods, performance improvement plans, and grievances.

• Implement practices that strengthen an impactful, collaborative, and values-driven workplace.

• Ensure policies, systems, and day-to-day practices are aligned, and proactively anticipate when changes are needed.

• Ensure equity and inclusion are built into systems, policies, and everyday practices.

• Build strong, trusting, and collaborative relationships with Division Directors and Department Directors and EpicWorks partners.

• Advise Division Directors and Department Directors on people strategy, organizational design, and culture to support impact.

Management & Culture Support

• Oversee staff development across the full lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, six month probationary period, growth, and retention.

• Lead and support the full hiring process, including managing the Lever applicant tracking system, advising hiring managers, strengthening recruitment strategies, and supporting priority searches as needed.

• Serve on the salary committee and coordinate offers for new hires and current staff role reviews.

• Lead performance management systems, including role description updates, annual work planning and evaluations through Small Improvements, a culture of regular feedback, and the progressive discipline policy.

• Set and uphold clear management and leadership standards, including leading the 360 evaluation process for managers, and lead the development of a new managers handbook.

• Lead consistent communication and engagement rhythms for managers.

• Lead regular Department Director and Manager meetings, manager onboarding, and annual training programs.

• Lead cross-organization sabbatical planning in partnership with department leaders.

Staff Communication & Alignment

• Lead the onboarding experience for new staff to ensure a strong and clear start.

• Lead monthly all-staff calls and biannual in-person gatherings, including facilitating agenda-setting, content development, and coordination with key stakeholders.

• Collaborate with the Executive Projects Manager on all-staff communication and engagement rhythms so staff understand priorities, progress, and how their work connects to larger goals.

• Partner with the Executive Office Director on staff-facing communications from the National Director.

• Lead the annual engagement survey and use staff feedback, including interviews and exit data, to improve the staff experience.

• Track and share key staff data, including demographics, compensation, retention, and development.

• Own the updating of the Employee Handbook and oversee other systems that help staff navigate the organization, access resources, and understand and do their jobs effectively.

• Supervise tools and platforms such as the internal resource “Library” and “Wolfgang Botzart” chatbot to ensure information is clear and accessible.

• Partner with EpicWorks teams to ensure staff can easily access HR, finance, and operations support.

Employee & Labor Relations

• Serve as a key point of contact for staff on HR-related questions and concerns, in partnership with the EpicWorks People Team.

• Support managers through employee relations processes, including coaching and documentation.

• Oversee investigations, performance improvement plans, corrective actions, and terminations as needed.

• Maintain a strong, respectful relationship with the Workers United Working Families Party Staff Union.

• Serve on the Joint Labor Management Committee with the Senior Advisor and EpicWorks Counsel and collaborate with union representatives.

• Oversee implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and ensure compliance.

• Partner with EpicWorks Counsel to ensure alignment with labor and employment policies and laws.

• At least 10 years of work experience, including 5 years in leadership roles within nonprofit or political organizations.

• Extensive experience within human resources operations including compliance management, employee relations, and labor law.

• Proven track record in adult learning theory, leadership development, organization development, and/or organizational psychology.

• A strong commitment to economic, racial, and gender justice.

• Demonstrated experience managing staff, including supervising performance, providing feedback, and supporting team development.

• Strong expertise in creating and implementing equitable and inclusive policy, with demonstrated success in driving organizational change and holding leaders accountable.

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to mediate conflicts and build consensus.

• Expert group facilitation skills and an ability to lead engaging, effective meetings virtually and in person.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment,

• Demonstrates exceptional self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal acumen

• Ability to build trust across diverse teams, navigate complex dynamics with empathy and clarity, and give and receive feedback in ways that strengthen relationships and organizational culture.

• Preferably brings experience leveraging data, analysis, and strategic insight to set priorities, inform decision-making, and continuously improve people and culture initiatives

• Preferably brings experience representing management in a unionized workplace