Director, People & Culture

Job description

Description

Pay range: To maintain internal equity, we have identified the starting range for this position at the Oakland Zoo as $111,970.71 - $122,908.72 annually . An offer within this range will be determined by the experience and qualifications of a candidate and will be our best and final compensation offer, in alignment with Oakland Zoo's compensation philosophy.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting October 7, 2026.

Application Process

Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter outlining their responses to the following prompts. Applications without a cover letter/responses will not be reviewed:

A strong command of California employment law is essential for this role. Please share your experience developing, implementing and enforcing compliant policies, especially with staff who have been accustomed to looser structure.

How would you describe your approach to people management?

Describe a time when you got buy in for a change even if people didn't agree with the direction. What was your approach to holding people accountable when they didn't report to you?

Position Summary

The People & Culture (P&C) Department’s main focus is to engage our team members and elevate the employee journey from the first moment of interest to the last day of employment and every step of growth along the way. The Director, People & Culture is integral in designing and implementing strong foundational compliance elements on which we deliver institutional goals of engagement, development and retention.

We are seeking a passionate, relational, hands‑on, and process‑oriented people manager who will manage and implement programs and policies including but not limited to compliance, employee relations, hiring/onboarding and workforce analytics to strengthen and develop both employees and the institution. This position is responsible for ensuring all elements of HR processes are accurate and in compliance with internal policy and external regulatory requirements. They will work to improve effectiveness and efficiencies through process design, leveraging technology and external vendors/other resources. This employee will partner with the Vice President, People and Culture and other necessary team members to manage, integrate and execute all HR projects, programs, and initiatives to ensure coherence and application of best practices.

Essential Job Duties

Compliance and Legal

Partner with the Vice President, People & Culture to develop and execute appropriate HR policies, programs, processes and systems to support our employee‑centric environment

Continually audit and update documents and protocols to maintain compliance with the most current local, state and federal laws

Provide advice and assistance in legal matters that pertain to human resources

Ensure workplace health and safety compliance, including workers compensation and appropriate OSHA training

Manage the development and submission of timely and accurate compliance reporting, actions and/or record administration to include, but not limited to timekeeping, I-9 records, Sexual Harassment Prevention Training etc.

Support P&C Specialists with review of questions related to Leaves of Absence, Worker’s Compensation, Hiring, and other compliance matters. Elevate escalated questions to Vice President, People & Culture.

Support P&C Specialists as point of contact for HR vendors, as well as external inquiries coming from governmental agencies and other entities (including Workers’ Compensation inquiries and requests for employee information/records)

Administrative Tasks, Analytics and Reporting

Oversees all personnel recordkeeping, both digital via our HRIS (Paylocity) and hard copies

Track and utilize data and key performance metrics to identify trends and recommend proactive solutions for employee performance, promotions, retention, turnover and transitions

Compile routine/initiative-driven reports to share out with the leadership team to grow in interdepartmental awareness and aid in decision‑making

Recommends new approaches, policies, and procedures to effect continual improvements in the efficiency of the department and services performed

Provide technical support to employees who need assistance with payroll, timekeeping, expenses, and benefits portals/systems

Employee Relations, Performance & Investigation

Oversees escalated investigations, including those involving senior level employees

Manages investigations involving a high level of organizational risk

Conduct thorough and impartial investigations into employee complaints, allegations, or policy violations collaborating with relevant stakeholders, legal counsel, and management

Partners with VP in developing and administering Performance Action Plans

Labor Relations:

In coordination with VP, People & Culture, participate in Labor Management Committee (LMC) to support Bargaining Unit (BU) and Management representatives in navigating questions related to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Participate in CBA contract negotiations.

Collaborate with P&C Specialist – Employee Relations in matters related to BU members and the CBA.

Join conversations between management and BU members in matters related to interpersonal or performance concerns as a neutral facilitator.

Recruitment and Hiring

Implement the strategy for the institution’s hiring processes including assisting P&C Specialist in job description creation, posting positions, screening candidates, and managing the interview process to ensure departmental hiring managers are set up for success

Review background check exceptions

Compensation & Benefits

Support VP, P&C in implementing compensation strategy

Support P&C Specialist to manage the Open Enrollment Process, contribute to the development of benefits related employee communications, and establish sound relationships with benefit brokers and service providers

Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

Hires, supervises, develops and oversees performance management of P&C Specialists and Coordinator.

Who You Are

Minimum of 9 years of progressive Human Resources experience. This must include a minimum of 5 years in a supervisory role.

Working knowledge of California and Federal Employment laws including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, SDI, PFL, ADA, ADEA and local ordinances

Strong understanding of At-will employment, California’s Sexual Harassment & Violence in the Workplace (SB1343) requirements, benefits administration, ACA, Workers’ Comp, FLSA, COBRA, OSHA and other common employment and safety regulations

Broad knowledge and experience in staff onboarding, performance management, compensation, employee engagement, and workforce analytics

Proven ability to compile and analyze large data sets and present actionable plans

Proficient with Microsoft Suite, and Zoom, including a strong knowledge of Excel, Teams and Google documents/sheet

Background in HRIS use and management

Technologically savvy and able to learn software quickly with experience in HR software platforms required

Willingness to work on some weekends and holidays as needed.

Bonus if You

PHR/SPHR certificate, or any other advanced education/ training in the HR field preferred

Have a Bachelor’s or Master's Degree in a related field

Have experience working in launch, growth, and/or transition phases of institutions

Have experience with Paylocity

Experience with Unionized staff and a demonstrated collaborative approach to Union-Employer relations and contract negotiations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities

May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

Analytical and Conceptual Aptitude - engages in and facilitates broad organizational strategic thinking/planning with awareness of equity, inclusion, accessibility, and cultural relevance.

Communication - communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing

Data Analysis - able to collect, interpret and detect patterns in clean data

Inclusive Culture - fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued.

Leadership - mentors, advises, and develops people across identities with consideration for cultural relevance and responsiveness, self-awareness around implicit bias and understanding of the power dynamics that exist in organizations.

Passion - wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times

Project management - effectively prioritizes commitments, driving forward multiple high-profile and complex projects simultaneously with flexibility, resourcefulness, and agility to adapt to shifting organizational needs

Self-reflection - demonstrates self-awareness, agility, and a willingness to learn from mistakes and acknowledge one's own biases

Sustainability - oriented toward the mission and values of Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department

Technological Aptitude - able to quickly understand, develop and maintain functional digital systems.

Wildlife Aware - understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at the Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife

Work Environment

Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

Primarily office-based with occasional Oakland Zoo grounds visits.

Standard business hours with some flexibility.

Limited remote work may be available after an evaluation period and is dependent on ongoing performance assessments.

Physical Considerations

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Sustained computer-based administrative and analytical work, using standard or assistive technology for extended periods of up to 8 hours every day.

Ability to communicate and exchange information effectively and to review, interpret, and work with digital or written materials, using verbal, written, or assistive methods as appropriate.

Ability to navigate Zoo grounds

Benefits

Oakland Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package, including Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Flexible spending account, Retirement plan, Paid time off, Employee Assistance Program, and Zoo Membership options.

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Worksite address

oakland, CA, 94616, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.