Scion Executive Search (www.scionexecutivesearch.com) has been retained to conduct the search for a Director of People and Culture for WildEarth Guardians. For the past 32 years, WildEarth Guardians has created a lasting legacy of climate, public lands, waters, and wildlife protection across western states. In addition to this unwavering dedication to the preservation and conservation of the planet, WildEarth Guardians is making a conscious effort to integrate Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) into the fabric of their organization.

The Director of People and Culture position is the first of its kind within the organization, with its top responsibilities landing in Human Resources (HR), JEDI, and organizational development. This opening serves as one of many organizational development initiatives brought to life by the JEDI Committee and organizational leadership, and the ideal candidate will have a true and deep passion for JEDI principles, values, and work. This position reports to the Executive Director and is a member of the executive leadership team.

This role will be based in a WildEarth Guardians’ office; key to success in this role will be in person team and leadership engagement. This role can work out of either the organization's headquarters in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or out of its office in Denver, Colorado. 

ABOUT WILDEARTH GUARDIANS

WildEarth Guardians is a well-established and respected nonprofit environmental advocacy organization headquartered in Santa Fe, NM with offices in Denver, CO; Missoula, MT; Boise, ID; Seattle, WA; and Tucson, AZ. The organization is composed of passionate lawyers, campaigners, and organizers who diligently work to protect public lands, reverse climate change, and fight the exploitation of people and the planet.

In 2021 alone, WildEarth Guardians and allies placed a ban on wildlife trapping on public land in New Mexico, halted the deforestation of 4,600 acres in the Custer-Gallatin National Forest, and won a major lawsuit against fossil fuel extraction in Bryce Canyon National Park. This is a small representation of WildEarth Guardians’ incredible accomplishments, which immeasurably contribute to the protection and preservation of hundreds of species and the environment.

To learn more about the WildEarth Guardians and their impact please visit https://wildearthguardians.org/.

POSITION OVERVIEW

WildEarth Guardians’ Director of People and Culture will work in partnership with staff and department leaders to develop Human Resource (HR) strategies and implement HR best practices in the areas of Organizational Effectiveness; Talent Management; Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI); and Employee Relations. The Director of People and Culture must be both a systems thinker and an implementer, as well as one who is prepared to navigate difficult conversations and conflict with a high level of emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

The Director of People and Culture will primarily be responsible for strong organizational HR systems, including assessing, centralizing, and standardizing HR policies and practices while discovering existing areas of opportunity. This role will also, in partnership with staff and executive leadership, help bring the organization’s JEDI work plan to life as it relates to internal talent strategies to include talent acquisition, onboarding, learning and development, pay equity, performance reviews, staff engagement and ongoing staff retention. This individual will play a key role in building out accountability, trust, and collaboration across the organization with regards to HR and talent management and support the organizational goal of having an equitable and inclusive culture.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities of this position include:

• Organizational Leadership and Strategy;
• Internal attention to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) and shifting the organization’s internal culture;
• Talent Management/Human Resources and Employee Relations.

A detailed breakdown of these responsibilities reads as follows.

Organizational Leadership and Strategy

• Advise organizational leadership on the implications and potential risks related to key HR practices and strategic decisions to ensure alignment with overall mission, vision, business strategy, and JEDI goals.
• Partner with executive leadership in constructing and implementing systems and structures to support long-term team sustainability at both the individual and organizational levels.
• Create and cultivate a safe space where employees and managers alike can address concerns and receive support navigating difficult situations.
• Apply a focus on employee engagement and organizational culture to increase staff retention and enhance staff members’ sense of belonging and feeling of being valued.
• Construct an organizational calendar outlining when self-evaluations are due, when new budget planning begins, when open enrollment starts, etc.
• Partner with executive leadership to exemplify WildEarth Guardians’ values and model the vision for the organization’s culture.

Internal Attention to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) and Shifting the Organization’s Internal Culture

• Ensure JEDI principles and vision are integrated into WildEarth Guardians’ internal systems, policies and processes, and help to implement the JEDI work plan. Hold a leadership seat on the JEDI committee.
• Recruit JEDI facilitators and assemble resources for on-going all-staff and Board of Directors JEDI trainings.
• Lead a bi-annual culture audit analysis and advise the executive team accordingly.

Talent Management/Human Resources and Employee Relations

• Serve as an HR guide and resource to all levels of management to ensure they can successfully and responsibly implement HR and management policies and procedures.
• Monitor the organization’s compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations; propose any necessary modifications to maintain compliance; and assist executive leadership in addressing salary equity issues.
• Partner with executive leadership and the Conservation Team to help build a strong and cohesive management culture, including identifying training for managers in talent-related compliance and safety.
• Establish, standardize, and oversee cohesive practices for recruiting, hiring, developing and updating job descriptions, performance evaluations, and dismissal procedures; provide tools and support for hiring managers; and guide team leaders through these processes and into utilization of available tools and supports.
• Lead efforts to recruit, engage, and retain talent from diverse backgrounds.
• Manage and improve current anti-harassment practices.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Operations to manage benefits and benefits strategy.
• Review, edit, and maintain employee resources, including annual review of Employee Handbook and employee orientation document.
• Participate in special assignments or projects as a representative of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this role is an experienced leader and talent management and/or organizational development expert with the capacity to coach, lead and manage change, and implement inclusive and transparent HR policies that enhance the employee experience. This person will regularly interact with staff across the organization and must also be willing to perform day-to-day HR operations. A candidate with high energy, enthusiasm, and passion for the progression of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in the workplace will absolutely thrive in this role.

The ideal candidate for this position will possess:

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years of Human Resource (HR) expertise.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in an HR role.
• A passion for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within the workplace.
• Minimum of two years of experience implementing JEDI processes and practices from a JEDI or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategic plan.    

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to maintain a positive, professional, and service-oriented demeanor toward a variety of stakeholders, even when they are working from various geographical locations.
• An ability to link business strategies to talent needs, and vice versa.
• A deep grounding in all aspects of contemporary HR principles and practices; current knowledge of employment law; excellent employee relations and management skills; and a commitment to objectivity.
• A high emotional intelligence with the ability to bring the “people perspective” into the conversation while holding organizational values for management and employees to consider.
• A collaborative mindset and willingness to advise, coach, and counsel across all levels of leadership.
• A deeply curious nature, approaching this role as an inquiry: How are things now? What is working well? Where can we make improvements?
• A high comfort level and sense of ease managing conflict and guiding distinctly different personalities to resolution.
• An empathetic, creative, and flexible approach to negotiation and problem-solving.
• Sensitivity and discretion when addressing personnel matters.
• Confidence in their skillset, knowledge base, and expertise gleaned from prior professional experience.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Compensation includes a salary of $100,000 plus a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, 120 hours paid time off in first year (amounts increase over time based on length of service), paid sick leave,  10 paid holidays plus paid birthday holiday, paid sabbatical after achieving 5.5 consecutive years with the organization, and more!

This is an opportunity, position, and mission that will inspire you daily!

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

WildEarth Guardians has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organization recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter via: https://www.scionstaffing.com/job/8294

Please address questions about this opportunity to:

Scion Executive Search

Attn: Rebecca Lerol

Executive Search Principal

(888) 487-8850 x126

Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.

ABOUT OUR FIRM:

Scion Executive Search (www.scionexecutivesearch.com) is a national award-winning executive search firm. Since 2006, we have had the pleasure of successfully placing hundreds of exceptional leaders to organizations with incredible missions and programs. Through our innovative team-building and recruitment solutions, we seamlessly bridge the gap in interim and executive searches. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the nation.

We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Executive Search Firms and the Best Recruitment Firms in America. Additionally, we have been recognized as a recruitment leader by ClearlyRated, as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times for over ten years running. More information about Scion Executive Search can be found at www.scionexecutivesearch.com.

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