Head of People

Our client, a multi-site mental health organization with approximately 200 employees, is seeking a Head of People to lead a meaningful evolution of the HR function.

This is not a maintenance role.

The incoming leader will be expected to assess the current state, strengthen the foundation, elevate the quality and consistency of HR practices, and build a function that is more proactive, disciplined and scalable. The role will lead and mentor a team of HR professionals while remaining close enough to the work to personally engage in complex issues when needed.

The scope spans the full HR ecosystem: employee relations, compliance, recruiting, retention, payroll, compensation and benefits, performance management, manager development, policies, systems and HR operations.

Success in the role will require more than technical HR expertise. The Head of People must bring sound judgment, credibility, strong interpersonal instincts and the ability to lead change constructively. This person will need to identify risk early, challenge practices that are no longer serving the organization, and coach managers in a way that creates accountability without becoming punitive or overly bureaucratic.

THE MANDATE

• Lead, mentor and further develop the HR team.
• Assess the current HR function and establish a clear roadmap for improvement.
• Strengthen compliance, with particular focus on California employment law, wage and hour, leaves, payroll practices and employee relations.
• Identify organizational and employment risk and develop practical interventions before issues escalate.
• Improve consistency, controls and accountability across HR policies, processes and practices.
• Lead change across a multi-site organization while building trust and maintaining momentum.
• Serve as a thought partner and advisor to the CEO and senior leadership.
• Coach managers through performance, employee relations and people-management challenges.
• Strengthen recruiting and retention practices.
• Oversee payroll, benefits, compensation and core HR operations.
• Evaluate systems, workflows and automation opportunities that improve efficiency and reduce administrative burden.
• Continue building an HR function that can effectively support the organization as it grows and evolves.

THE PROFILE

We are looking for an HR leader who has already operated in environments where there was real work to do - whether building infrastructure, correcting inconsistencies, strengthening compliance, or helping an organization move from reactive to more disciplined and strategic HR practices.

Relevant experience will include:

• Broad HR leadership experience across employee relations, compliance and operations.
• Strong knowledge of California employment law and wage and hour compliance.
• Experience building, rebuilding or materially upgrading an HR function.
• Demonstrated success leading change in an evolving organization.
• Experience leading and developing HR professionals.
• Strong judgment in complex employee relations and risk matters.
• The ability to recognize patterns, diagnose root causes and move from issue identification to practical action.
• Constructive coaching style with managers - clear, direct and development-oriented.
• The confidence to provide candid advice to senior leaders while maintaining strong working relationships.
• The ability to move comfortably between strategy and hands-on execution.
• Experience supporting clinical staff is strongly preferred.
• Experience in mental health, behavioral health, human services or another complex, service-driven environment is highly relevant.

WHY THIS ROLE

For the right HR leader, this is an opportunity to have visible impact.

The organization does not need someone to simply inherit the function and keep it moving. It needs someone who can understand the current environment, determine what should be strengthened or changed, bring others along through that change, and leave behind a more capable and effective HR organization.

Location: San Ramon, CA - Hybrid

Organization: Approximately 200 employees across multiple sites

Compensation: $140,000-$175,000 base salary