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VP, People Business Partner

NY, US, CA, US, IL, US - Remote

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

The Role

We are looking for a VP, People Business Partner, Americas to serve as a senior strategic partner to DEPT®’s craft leadership across Creative, Media, Technology, Delivery, and Strategy.

This role sits at the intersection of business strategy, organizational effectiveness, and workforce transformation. The VP will partner with senior leaders to build the organizational structures, talent capabilities, and operating models needed to support business performance and future growth, while leading a high-performing People Business Partner team.

A critical component of this role is helping DEPT® become an AI-first organization. The VP will work alongside business and craft leaders to translate AI strategy into organizational action, enabling teams to adopt new technologies, rethink workflows and roles, build future-ready skills, and evolve how we work and deliver for clients. This leader will ensure our workforce, talent strategies, and organizational capabilities keep pace with the transformation of our business.

What You'll Do

Strategic People Partnership & Organizational Effectiveness

  • Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to senior craft leaders, connecting business priorities with organizational, workforce, and talent strategies.
  • Lead  organizational design, and talent strategies that improve organizational effectiveness, scalability, and business performance.
  • Coach and challenge leaders on performance, succession, leadership effectiveness, organizational health, and accountability.
  • Partner with Finance and business leaders to align workforce investments, organizational decisions, and financial objectives.
  • Leverage people analytics and dashboards to provide actionable insights into organizational health, staffing, performance, hiring, attrition, and talent movement.

AI-First Transformation & Workforce Enablement

  • Partner with business and craft leaders to accelerate DEPT®’s evolution into an AI-first organization, translating strategy into practical adoption across teams.
  • Enable leaders to rethink organizational structures, roles, workflows, and operating models to realize the opportunities created by AI and emerging technologies.
  • Identify future workforce and capability needs, partnering with Learning & Development and business leaders to build AI fluency and develop critical skills.
  • Identify opportunities to leverage AI and technology to improve productivity, simplify processes, and create more scalable ways of working.

Talent Strategy & Strategic Initiatives

  • Own and evolve scalable performance management, talent assessment, calibration, succession, and career frameworks across the Americas.
  • Establish consistent standards for talent development, promotion, and leadership accountability.
  • Lead high-priority regional People initiatives from strategy through implementation, adoption, and measurable impact.
  • Drive cross-functional initiatives that modernize People processes and align with broader business and global People priorities.

People Team Leadership

  • Lead and develop a team of approximately 3 to 4 direct reports and 2 to 3 indirect reports.
  • Establish clear priorities, accountability, and operating rhythms that position the team as proactive, commercially minded strategic business partners.
  • Build team capabilities across organizational design, talent strategy, performance, employee relations, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Partner with regional and global People leadership to drive alignment, consistency, and collaboration.

Strategic Projects

  • Own a portfolio of high-priority strategic People initiatives across the Americas.
  • Balance long-term program development with hands-on execution and delivery.
  • Build frameworks, processes, and tools that can scale across multiple crafts and markets.
  • Lead cross-functional initiatives from strategy and design through implementation and adoption.
  • Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and improve People processes across the organization.
  • Ensure strategic initiatives are aligned with broader DEPT® People priorities and business objectives.

What You Bring

Experience & Capabilities

  • Significant experience as a senior People Business Partner or HR leader, with demonstrated progression into senior leadership.
  • Proven ability to influence senior executives and navigate complex organizational, workforce, and talent decisions.
  • Deep expertise in organizational design, workforce planning, performance management, talent development, and succession.
  • Experience building and implementing scalable People frameworks, programs, and operating models.
  • Demonstrated ability to use people analytics to influence business decisions and connect People strategy to financial and operational outcomes.
  • Experience leading and developing high-performing People teams.
  • Experience driving organizational transformation, technology adoption, or workforce evolution, with an understanding of how AI impacts talent, skills, and organizational design.
  • Experience in an agency, creative, marketing, media, technology, or professional-services environment, ideally within an organization of 500+ employees.
  • Strong communication, influencing, coaching, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to operate strategically while maintaining hands-on ownership..

Key Relationships

  • Americas craft leadership across Creative, Media, Technology, Delivery, and Strategy.
  • Americas and global People leadership, including Learning & Development and Talent Acquisition.
  • People Business Partner team.
  • Finance and business planning partners.
  • Client Services, Media People leadership, and other regional and global functional leaders.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our  benefits package:

  • Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
  • 401k plan, plus matching
  • PTO
  • Paid Company Holidays
  • Parental Leave

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU: 

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step. 

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. 

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place. 

DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Coach, eBay, and OpenAI.

Learn more about DEPT®

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

#LI-Remote

The anticipated salary range for this position is listed below. Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, expertise, physical location, and organizational impact. This is based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we’re flexible.

US Remote Range

$200,000 - $240,000 USD

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