Keller Executive Search ยท 3 days ago
Vice President, People & Culture - Social Services
Godfrey, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$130K/yr - $150K/yr
10+ years expKeller Executive Search is representing a mission-driven nonprofit organization in Illinois seeking a Vice President to lead their People & Culture function. This role involves strategic leadership in HR, enhancing organizational culture, and ensuring compliance with employment laws while managing talent acquisition and employee relations.
Staffing & Recruiting
Responsibilities
Partner with the CEO and leadership team to develop and implement a three-year strategic HR plan supporting organizational goals
Serve as the lead architect for workplace culture initiatives, evolving the organization into an 'employer of choice'
Lead HR initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, employee performance, and organizational culture
Serve as primary liaison to the Board HR Committee, preparing presentations and strategic reports
Manage HR department budget and resources strategically
Act as facilitator and consensus-builder across the Senior Leadership Team, ensuring high buy-in for HR initiatives
Bridge communication gaps between shifts, departments, and leadership levels
Establish structured 'stay-interview' and culture audit programs to proactively identify and address employee needs
Design and implement employee recognition programs and engagement strategies
Foster a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and connected to the mission
Conduct comprehensive audit of all HR workflows to eliminate redundancies and improve service delivery speed and quality
Fully leverage Paycom HRIS to transition from manual tracking to data-driven decision-making
Provide leadership with real-time dashboards on workforce health and key metrics
Ensure standardization of personnel policy application across the organization for equitable treatment
Identify and implement technology solutions for HR process improvements
Partner with CEO and Controller to analyze labor data (overtime, agency usage, turnover) and hold department heads accountable for staffing efficiencies
Develop comprehensive reports on turnover, retention, compensation, and workforce planning
Create and maintain dashboards for ongoing monitoring of critical HR indicators
Drive measurable reduction in reliance on temporary agency labor
Use data analytics to measure effectiveness of HR programs and calculate ROI on technology investments
Develop multi-year recruitment and retention roadmap addressing unique challenges of Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce
Oversee full recruitment lifecycle from job posting through onboarding
Design competitive compensation and benefits programs
Create and implement succession planning for key positions
Establish metrics to evaluate recruitment effectiveness and retention outcomes
Serve as primary contact for union negotiations and contract administration in unionized environment
Manage grievance process and represent organization during arbitration proceedings
Manage organization's response to employment-related legal matters, working with external counsel when needed
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (IDPH, OSHA, HIPAA, DCFS requirements)
Train managers on contract interpretation, compliance, and conflict resolution
Transform performance management system from annual reviews to continuous feedback model
Tie individual and departmental goals directly to organizational strategic KPIs
Lead high-accountability performance culture while maintaining supportive employee environment
Collaborate with Training Director to align HR strategies with professional development initiatives
Ensure organizational succession planning and leadership development
Conduct investigations of employee concerns and complaints with confidentiality and sound judgment
Coach managers on employee relations issues and conflict resolution
Develop and implement programs supporting employee inclusion, wellness, and mental health
Lead proactive safety and Workers' Compensation strategy to reduce claim frequency and severity
Oversee compensation, benefits administration, payroll accuracy, and claims management
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
Minimum 10 years progressive HR experience with at least 5 years in a senior management role
Proven experience in healthcare, residential care, or similar 24/7 operating environments
Experience with unionized environments required
Demonstrated success as a change agent leading cultural transformation and organizational development
Strong process engineering and systems optimization capabilities
Advanced data analysis skills with ability to create dashboards and translate data into strategic insights
Exceptional communication skills with ability to influence and build consensus across all organizational levels
Proven ability to navigate complex power dynamics and stakeholder relationships
Strategic thinker with strong execution skills and ability to balance strategic planning with day-to-day operations
Experience managing diverse HR teams
Proficiency with HRIS systems (Paycom experience highly valued)
Demonstrated commitment to mission-driven work and organizational values
Ability to thrive under pressure in demanding, fast-paced environments
Strong ethical standards and emotional intelligence
Preferred
Juris Doctorate (J.D.) strongly preferred - Legal background highly valued for compliance and risk management
Master's degree in HR, Organizational Development, or MBA
SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification
Experience in nonprofit or mission-driven organizations
Background working with intellectual and developmental disabilities service sector or vulnerable populations
Familiarity with healthcare-specific compliance (OSHA, HIPAA, DCFS, IDPH)
Experience with multiple locations and 150+ employee organizations
Track record of long-term tenure (5+ years) in previous leadership roles
Experience reducing reliance on temporary/agency labor
Benefits
Comprehensive healthcare coverage
401(k) retirement plan
Paid time off and holidays
Professional development opportunities
Supportive, mission-driven work environment
Company
Keller Executive Search
Keller Executive Search is a boutique executive recruitment and advisory firm dedicated to connecting top-tier talent with leading organizations worldwide.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase