Director of People Ops

Position: Director of People Ops

Location: Brooklyn, NY or Venice Beach, CA

Start Date: ASAP

Recently named one of WorkLife’s 50 Best Places to Work and one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Whalar is a leading global Creator Company.

Creators are at the heart of everything we do! We are a curious, diverse team of 300 individuals around the world who are passionate about the Creator Economy. Our proximity, understanding, and trust of creators evolved into a first-of-its-kind creator ecosystem. Under Whalar Group, there are six companies: Whalar, a global creator agency; Sixteenth, a global full-service, 360° creator and talent management company; Foam, a suite of AI tools, templates, and services; Moby Ventures, a creator-centric venture studio; Umi Games, a groundbreaking gaming studio; and The Lighthouse, an IRL campus for creators and their teams.

The Lighthouse is an innovative campus for creators and their teams, with locations in Venice, CA, and Brooklyn, NY. We are a creative playground designed for creators to Learn, Make, and Belong. Our mission is to assemble the creator collective, helping them grow and sustain their careers while provoking the next act of the creator economy. At The Lighthouse, creators flow seamlessly from ideation to production to publication, surrounded by peers in a collaborative and inspiring environment. 

About the role:

As the Senior Director of People, Diversity, and Inclusion for The Lighthouse, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing all aspects of HR for both the LA and NY properties. Your primary focus will be on fostering a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work environment. This includes managing teams, employee relations, talent acquisition, diversity initiatives, and ensuring compliance with relevant labor laws.

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

• Build People Ops (HR) function from the ground up in conjunction with the VP of Operations including onboarding, payroll, benefits management, etc., for both LA & NY properties.
• Manage a People Coordinator and foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
• Serve as a crucial point of contact between executive leadership and employees.
• Deliver outstanding customer service by providing best-in-class strategic and operational HR support.
• Maintain compliance with employment laws and regulations.
• Develop and manage HR-related budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness and financial sustainability.
• Facilitate and lead employee relations activities, including conducting internal audits and disciplinary meetings.
• Partner closely with the broader People team at the Whalar Group level to ensure cohesive and effective HR strategies.
• Bring new ideas to the table to enhance the overall People function at The Lighthouse.
• Develop, implement & challenge strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aspects of The Lighthouse.
• Create initiatives and programs that support a culture of belonging.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• MUST be a great human and team player, who cares about people(see if you fit in)!
•  5+  Years of proven experience in a People leadership role, preferably in a creative or collaborative environment.
• Strong knowledge of People functions, employee relations, operations, DEI, and hospitality.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage budgets and financial resources effectively.
• Experience in team leadership and fostering a collaborative work culture.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong understanding of California labor laws.

The salary range for this role is $130,000 - $140,000 and serves as a general guideline reflecting the potential compensation for the role. The final salary offer will be determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as the candidate's experience, expertise, alignment with the position's requirements, and ultimately budget approvals.

Our values:

At The Lighthouse, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) isn't just a statement, it's our collective strength. Our people are our superpower. We champion a culture of respect and empathy, fostering a sense of belonging that transcends demographics. We hire individuals of all backgrounds and empower them to thrive, challenge stereotypes, and actively break societal barriers. 

Whalar Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Equal opportunity extends to all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring, promotions, training, working conditions, compensation, and benefits.