Opportunity Details
About Vermont Public Vermont Public is an independent, community-supported media organization serving Vermont with trusted, relevant, and essential information. Producing independent, local, award-winning news, music, and programming, Vermont Public connects our audiences with issues, ideas, and each other. We provide access to trusted content from NPR, PBS, and other national producers and offer educational programs and resources for educators and families. With a vision to ensure a Vermont public informed, engaged, and inspired to create our future, Vermont Public was created in 2021 when Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS merged into a unified public media organization. An independent, locally owned and operated community licensee, Vermont Public has 118 employees and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Our mission is to broaden and diversify our audience through relevant, trusted information and stories that bring people and communities together. To learn more about Vermont Public, please visit our website at https://www.vermontpublic.org/. The Opportunity The Senior Vice President of People & Culture is a critical role supporting the strategic direction for Vermont Public and the team that makes everything possible - from the newsroom to television. Reporting to the CEO and managing a team of four, the SVP will oversee all workplace practices, organizational development, and human resource functions. They will cultivate inclusive and equitable working relationships with colleagues and audiences, and support and strengthen a culture of belonging. They will maintain a caring and sustainable work environment, foster learning and continuous improvement, and cultivate high performing teams. The SVP of People & Culture will lead the recruitment, training, and development of all employees to do the best work of their careers. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Vermont Public Against a backdrop of the global pandemic and national racial reckoning, Vermont Public has worked tirelessly to elevate "stories from every corner," and lift up voices and experiences of people across social, economic, and racial differences. Their ability to do this critical work externally is grounded in an internal commitment to embodying values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Vermont Public believes in the inherent worth and dignity of all people and seeks to dismantle the systems of oppression that prevent us from becoming a more equitable society. 10% of Vermont Public staff identify as BIPOC, as does 7% of the Board, as compared to 8% of the state of Vermont. In order to realize their vision of an informed, engaged, and inspired audience, they seek to build a culture of belonging that is highly productive, meaningful, inclusive, and enjoyable for all people who work at Vermont Public. The Senior Vice President of People & Culture will partner closely with Vermont Public's DEI Advisor and DEI Committee to set direction and priorities around this body of work, while fostering a culture of trust and collaboration. Serving on the leadership team, they will build, strengthen, and expand the internal priorities, systems, and policies that enable all employees to thrive. With a deep social justice orientation, they will center employee experience in all decision-making and create a highly effective internal culture in service of the broader Vermont community. Key responsibilities include: Strategic HR Leadership Work closely with the CEO, leadership, and management team members to align organizational structure, roles, and responsibilities to achieve organizational goals. Lead and inspire an employee-focused culture that celebrates Vermont Public and is grounded in values of integrity, innovation, inclusion, trust, communication, and empowerment. Demonstrate a commitment to equity, excellence and high expectations for all staff and volunteers by creating organizational policies and structures that remove barriers and foster inclusion for all. Ensure the organization develops and maintains a high-performing, mission-driven culture by strategically evaluating the employee experience, addressing organizational issues while providing HR solutions, and increasing organizational effectiveness. Employee Experience Develop and sustain engaging employee training and development opportunities for personal and professional growth. Develop strategies and programs that drive continuous improvement and serve organizational needs. Represent employee interests and nurture creative, people-centered ideas. Build robust, recurring ways for connection between and across employee groups to foster a culture of belonging. People Operations Lead core People & Culture team of 4 that supports daily needs of employees and critical functions across the employee lifecycle. Lead Vermont Publics commitment to inclusive hiring, developing competitive approaches to bring in talent and ensure fair, equitable, and effective processes. Develop and manage programs to ensure equitable, competitive compensation for all. Oversee benefits enrollment, administration, and data management through HRIS; drive integration into organizational systems and continuous improvement. Ensure compliance with all relevant labor and benefit laws; guide team, partner with vendors, and leverage best practices, including oversight of related federal and state unemployment, workers compensation, and OSHA laws. Candidate Profile While we are open to considering many different professional backgrounds and recognize that no one individual will possess every qualification outlined, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes to this role: 12+ years of progressively senior management experience with a broad base of technical knowledge and skills related to human capital, people strategy, talent management, and employee engagement. Proven success in guiding an organization or department through significant change, growth, or transition, with particular sensitivity to leadership transitions, mergers, or other complex organizational dynamics. Demonstrated experience in tactical HR administration i.e. benefits, compensation, training and development, employee relations, and performance management. Experience centering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into organizational practices and a commitment to ongoing reflection and learning in this area. Sensitivity to issues of privilege, class, and race, and dedication to incorporating principles of social justice into decision-making and strategic initiatives. Strong interpersonal and communication (written and verbal) skills with highly developed public speaking, presentation, negotiation, and coaching abilities. Proven ability to influence, develop, manage, support, and empower employees to achieve objectives, facilitate difficult conversations, and resolve conflict. Strong organizational, administrative, and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail. Ability to conceptualize, plan, and manage major complex projects and multiple initiatives simultaneously. Ability to navigate in a changing environment, drive continuous improvement, and foster innovation. A successful track record of building, motivating, and mentoring high-performing teams. Deep passion for and commitment to the mission and management philosophy of public media. Compensation & Benefits The salary range for this role is $127,826 - $150,384 with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental and vision insurance, family/parental leave, 11 holidays, 28 PTO days (increasing after 5 years), 401k match, FSA, EAP, and a free corporate gym membership. Out of state candidates will also be eligible for relocation assistance. The Senior Vice President of People & Culture will be based in the Vermont Public offices in Colchester, Vermont, with some flexibility for occasional work from home. Vermont Public is a proud equal-opportunity employer. We work diligently to recruit a broad pool of candidates and to hire and promote qualified individuals whose personal experiences, characteristics, and talents reasonably reflect the diversity of the communities served by Vermont Public. Our equal employment opportunities apply to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. We encourage applications from women, minority groups, veterans, and people with disabilities.