Head of People

Here’s where you come in:  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.

Please note that Turning Tide Strategies is managing this search.  To apply for this position, please email:[email protected]  with a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in Playworks and how your experience prepares you for this role.

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.

• 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 recognize

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

• 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
• 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

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 Skills & Experience

• 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

Playworks offers the full package - great benefits, a fun place to work and an opportunity to grow professionally.

• At Playworks, our compensation takes into consideration internal pay equity, geographic pay differential and robust external market data. We highly value transparency and equity within compensation and therefore are committed to adhering to established compensation pay points. The salary for this position is: $163,300 (SF Bay Area and New York City) or $155,200 (all other locations)
• A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k) with 1% employer match, employee funded pre-tax health and child care spending accounts
• Generous Flex PTO policy with paid sick and holiday leave

How to Apply

If working hard while making room for play sounds like your kind of workplace, we encourage you to apply.   Please note that Turning Tide Strategies is managing this search.  All applications sent directly to Playworks will be forwarded to them for review.   

To apply for this position, please email: [email protected] with a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in Playworks and how your experience prepares you for this role. References will be requested later in the process.

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.

As an equal opportunity program, Playworks encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, gender identity/expression, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, faith, marital status, physical ability, or any other legally protected basis. Playworks evaluates all candidates for employment, volunteering opportunities, or board service on a merit basis.