Director, People & Culture

ABOUT US: 

The JPB Foundation is now the Freedom Together Foundation.  Freedom Together Foundation’s (FTF) mission is to support people who have been denied power to build it, so they can change unjust systems and create a more democratic, inclusive, and sustainable society. We are dedicated to long-lasting, systemic change. That means we commit to our partners for the long haul, trusting in the strength and vision of the organizations we support to address some of our country’s most entrenched problems. Over the last 10 years, FTF has grown to be one of the largest US foundations, awarding over $300 million in grants each year.

THE POSITION

The Director of People and Culture is a critical addition to our newly developing People & Culture (“P&C”) domain, which serves to build a mission-aligned organizational culture that fosters our values of strategic rigor, high performance, equity, creativity and learning, collaboration, compassion and humility, and joy. As a vital member of the P&C team and thought partner to the VP of People & Culture, the Director will be part of the creation and implementation of robust strategies that attract, develop, and retain top talent while cultivating an equitable and thriving work environment. This position will be primarily responsible for managing our talent acquisition and development systems, providing oversight for all HR functions (working closely with the Senior HR Generalist), and helping develop and lead initiatives related to performance management and employee engagement.

Reporting to the VP of People & Culture, this position supervises the Senior HR Generalist and manages consultants as needed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversight of HR Policies and Systems

● Ensure that all HR policies are up-to-date, meet legal requirements, and

reflect our organizational values.

● Oversee the implementation and ongoing improvement of our HR

information systems, ensuring they’re accurate, easy to use, and

support data-driven decision-making.

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

● Lead and implement recruitment strategies that attract and retain

talented individuals who align with the foundation’s mission and values.

● Design and implement an effective onboarding experience, ensuring

that new employees are welcomed and integrated into the

organization’s culture, goals, and practices.

Project Management

Working closely with the VP of People & Culture, help shape new initiatives,

improve existing ones, and manage their implementation, including in areas

like:

Staff Development & Growth

● Activities that support continuous learning and skill

enhancement across the organization, including leadership

development

● Professional development program

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

● Initiatives that promote a workplace where individuals from all

backgrounds can thrive

● Assessment and refinement of practices, ensuring that equity and

inclusion are deeply embedded in the organization’s culture,

policies, and practices

Cultural Stewardship & Employee Engagement

● Initiatives that shape, communicate, and reinforce a strong

organizational culture that aligns with the foundation’s mission,

vision, and values

● Initiatives that build a positive, engaging workplace, including

organizing employee engagement activities and conducting

regular feedback loops

Performance Management & Employee Relations

● Performance management processes, ensuring they are

structured to encourage accountability, provide actionable

feedback, and support professional growth

● Support of managers to address employee relations issues and

foster a respectful, collaborative environment that aligns with the

foundation’s values

Compensation & Benefits Management

● Design and administration of competitive compensation and

benefits packages that align with organizational priorities and

budget constraints.

Qualifications

With a preference for experience in a social justice context, we are open to

candidates from a variety of backgrounds who are passionate about building

inclusive, equitable, and high-performing organizations. Above all, we seek a

highly-competent, mission-driven generalist with a deep understanding of

and enthusiasm for supporting organizational culture and fostering building

an organization that can deliver on a mission as ambitious as ours. Substantial

familiarity with HR policies and systems is important, whether through prior

direct work in HR or oversight of an HR function, as is prior management

experience. We are open to leaders who bring demonstrated expertise in

related fields, along with a commitment to equity, inclusion, and

organizational excellence.

● Commitment to FTF’s mission

● Minimum 8-10 years experience in HR, or a related function, ideally

within a social justice nonprofit or mission-driven environments

● Minimum 3 years managing a team, and supervisory experience of at

least one full-time employee for 2 consecutive years

● Ability to develop and implement strategies for talent acquisition,

performance management, and employee engagement

● Sharp instincts and judgment, grounded in experience, about how to

prioritize among competing talent-related initiatives and when to

pursue alternative tactics over “textbook” practices

● High level of emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal skills, with

the ability to build trusting relationships, manage complex issues, and

support an inclusive workplace culture

● Excellent communication, project management, and problem-solving

abilities

● Excellent skills with ‘managing up’ and coordination of multiple

stakeholders

● Adaptable and resilient in a dynamic and fast-paced environment

● Demonstrated success in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion

within an organization

● Great sense of humor

SALARY & BENEFITS

This is a full time, exempt position. FTF deeply values fair and equitable wages

that enables people to thrive. The salary range for this position is

$220,000-$240,000. FTF offers an extensive and generous benefits package

including health insurance (with 100% of the premiums paid for employees,

spouses, domestic partners, and qualified family members), paid time off

(including the last week of the year), 401(k) retirement plan with 12% employer

contribution, and access to an inclusive family building reimbursement plan.

FTF provides up to $5,000 annually for professional development and the

ability to recommend an annual grant to the nonprofit of your choice.

WORKING WITH FTF

We believe that diversity is critical to our mission, and we value an inclusive

culture. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived

experiences related to our programs and applications from people of color,

persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The FT

Foundation is an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate in

employment based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical

disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender or

gender identity, age or sexual orientation.

The FT Foundation is based in Manhattan, NY and operates on a hybrid

schedule. Staff work from the office 3 days weekly, with the flexibility to work

remotely two days weekly.

Application Instructions

To apply for the Director of People and Culture position, please complete your

application using this LINK.

Required Application Materials:

1. Resume detailing your relevant experience and accomplishments.

2. Cover Letter explaining your interest in this role, alignment with The

FT Foundation’s mission, and how your background makes you a

strong candidate for this position.

For questions regarding the position or application process, please get in

touch with Jamal Sekou at jamal@thejobplugs.com.

Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until

the position is filled, so early submissions are encouraged.

Thank you for your interest in joining FTF’s efforts to create a

more equitable and inclusive society. We look forward to reviewing your

application.