Description
Head of People/HR Executive
Location: Remote (Continental U.S.)
Travel: Periodic travel to Oakland, CA headquarters
Reports To: Chief Finance Officer (with dotted line to CEO)
About Playworks
Playworks helps kids stay active and build valuable life skills through play. We partner with schools and communities across the country to create safe, inclusive environments where every child can thrive.
We believe play is essential — not just for kids, but for building strong, connected communities. Our people strategy reflects that belief: human-centered, equity-driven, and rooted in growth, belonging, and impact.
The Opportunity
The Head of People is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and serves as the strategic and operational leader of Playworks’ people strategy, programs, and systems.
This role serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and is responsible for shaping culture, strengthening employee experience, and ensuring operational excellence across the full employee lifecycle. The Head of People balances big-picture strategy with hands-on execution and serves as a true partner to both regional teams and headquarters.
Requirements
Who You Are
You are a strategic, values-driven people leader who combines vision with execution. You are comfortable navigating complexity, leading through change, and building trust at every level of the organization.
You are:
A Connector – You break down silos and build relationships across teams, regions, and leadership levels
A Trusted Confidant – You handle sensitive matters with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment
Mission-Driven – You understand success in a nonprofit is measured by community impact and organizational health
Human-Centered Leader – You lead with empathy, humility, and clarity — even during times of change
Employee Experience Champion – You care deeply about how employees are supported, developed, and recognized
Key Responsibilities:
People Strategy & Culture
Partner with CEO and executive leaders to integrate people strategy into organizational strategy
- Develop and execute a People strategy aligned with organizational priorities and equity commitments
- Lead strategic workforce planning and talent attraction strategies
- Support organizational effectiveness across field and administrative teams
- Champion equity, inclusion, and belonging across systems, policies, and practices
- Lead change management initiatives that strengthen engagement and trust
- Use people data and metrics to tell meaningful stories, guide decisions, and drive action
People Team Leadership & HR Operations
- Lead, mentor, and develop the People Team across all areas of the employee lifecycle
- Oversee core HR functions including:
- Talent acquisition & onboarding
- Employee relations
- Performance management
- Learning & development
- Compensation & benefits
- Policy development & compliance
- Ensure accuracy and quality across HR administration, documentation, and systems
- Optimize HRIS and people systems for reporting, insights, and decision-making
- Manage People Team budget and support organization-wide workforce planning
- Partner with legal and executive leadership on people-related risk management
- Serve as HR Business Partner for Headquarters and Executive Leadership
- Employee Experience & Performance
- Lead onboarding, orientation, engagement, and transition programs across the organization
- Partner with Learning & Development staff to expand leadership and professional growth pathways
- Coach senior leaders on performance, talent development, and organizational effectiveness
- Lead complex employee relations matters with professionalism and care
- Oversee compensation and benefits strategy aligned with equity and market competitiveness
Required Experience & Qualifications
- 10+ years progressive HR experience
- 7+ years in senior HR leadership roles
- Nonprofit experience required
- Experience serving as a strategic HR leader reporting to CEO, President, or Executive Team
- Experience supporting or presenting to a Board of Directors preferred
- Demonstrated success building and leading HR and Talent teams
- Experience supporting multi-state, distributed workforces
- Strong HRIS and people analytics experience
- Experience implementing or optimizing HR systems, tools, and processes
- Experience integrating equity and inclusion strategies into HR planning
- Exceptional written, verbal, and public communication skills
- Proven ability to operate in complex, resource-conscious environments
