Director, People & Culture

New York, NY
Posted on  

Job Description

Position Overview:

The Director of People and Culture will play a pivotal role in shaping and nurturing the organizational culture at Sakhi. This role requires a strategic and empathetic leader to oversee all aspects of human resources and contribute to a supportive, inclusive, and dynamic work environment. The Director will collaborate closely with the other members of the leadership team to ensure alignment between organizational goals and human capital strategies.

This position will report to the Executive director and as a member of Sakhi’s Steering Committee, this senior level role will be responsible for critical decision making that will have implications for Sakhi’s evolution in the coming years.


Key Responsibilities:

  1. Organizational and Departmental Leadership:

    • Serve as a member of the steering committee, participating in organizational discussion na decision making

    • Facilitate managers meetings to strengthen relationships between LT and this group

    • Conduct manager trainings as needed

    • Liaise with external consultants on bi-annual team day.

    • Steward the culture of the organization through policies, communications, and supportive leadership; stay attuned to internal and external factors that impact the team, and keep a pulse on trends and shifts in workplace culture.

    • Lead equity, inclusion and dignity initiatives to create a welcoming workplace for all employees

    • Foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative organizational culture.

    • Develop and implement programs that enhance employee engagement, satisfaction, and well-being.

  2. Talent Acquisition, Growth and Management:

    • Oversee the recruitment and selection process to attract, hire, and retain top talent.

    • Manage employee onboarding, training, and development to enhance skills and career growth.

    • Conduct exit interviews, and with support from the Operations team, manage the overall employee off boarding process

    • Manage all aspects of the recruitment process (offer letters, background checks, fingerprinting, etc)

    • Design and implement performance management systems to drive employee accountability and productivity.

    • Provide coaching and support to managers and employees on performance-related matters.

    • Oversee the annual performance review process, including goal setting and feedback.

    • Develop and manage competitive compensation and benefits programs.

    • Conduct regular benchmarking to ensure the organization remains competitive in the job market.


  1. Employee Relations & Experience:

    • Build and maintain a trusted space for team members to engage in an open dialogue regarding their daily responsibilities, challenges, and reflections on organizational culture; collaborate with the Leadership Team to develop programs that are responsive to trends in employee retention, satisfaction and engagement

    • Work with the Leadership Team to develop innovative people programs with a focus on equity, inclusion and dignity and professional development

    • Establish best practices and procedures for addressing employee performance or behavioral challenges and counsel managers in order to resolve issues that may arise; serve as internal mediator for resolving conflict and develop policies for managing disputes and investigations.

    • Act as a trusted advisor and Ombudsman to employees and management on employee relations issues.

    • Mediate and resolve workplace conflicts and grievances in a fair and timely manner.

    • Ensure a safe and respectful workplace by addressing any instances of harassment or discrimination.

    • Conduct regular employee surveys and feedback sessions to assess and improve workplace culture.


  1. HR Administration & Compliance

    • Ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations, maintaining up-to-date HR policies and procedures.

    • Conduct annual training for all team members on Handbook policies

    • Develop and maintain the Employee Handbook adding in new policies as needed

    • Ensure that Sakhi complies with relevant employment regulations and apply this knowledge to communicate changes in policy, practices, and resources; ensure these policies and practices are efficient, equitable, timely, auditable, and responsive.

    • Oversee the implementation and improvement of all HR initiatives, design employee training and resources on these initiatives that are accessible and user friendly to promote compliance and understanding across the team.

    • Develop and administer personnel policies that are compliant with local and federal law and conduct employee training on policies and procedures.

    • Perform annual assessment of employee benefit plans and incentives and coordinate the plan renewal process to ensure quality, cost-effective plans are secured.

    • Support leave administration for team members.

    • Oversee administration and employee data management, with an eye towards data security and privacy.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.

  • Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in HR management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.

  • Proven experience in developing and implementing HR strategies and initiatives.

  • Strong knowledge of labor laws and HR best practices.

  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.

  • Demonstrated history of working with communities of color, immigrant populations and/or survivors of violence,

  • A commitment to professional values that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • Ability to build strong relationships and work collaboratively with diverse teams.

  • High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience working in a non-profit or community-based organization.

  • Familiarity with issues affecting the South Asian community and survivors of gender-based violence.

  • HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR).


Application Process:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume along with answers to the following questions:

  1. Why are you interested in working at Sakhi for South Asian Survivors?

  2. How has your personal and professional experience prepared you for this role?

  3. Explain your philosophy/approach to building a healthy and inclusive work culture.

All interested candidates in the position should attach a document containing responses to the above questions as part of their application.

This is a full-time role (35+ hours a week), with a salary range between $120k-$130k per year based on experience. Staff members have the flexibility to organize their 35 hours over a four day work week. Some evenings and weekends will be required. Sakhi offers a generous benefits package, including unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, health and dental insurance. Additionally, all full-time staff have access to clinical supervision.



Sakhi for South Asian Survivors is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.



This job description outlines the general nature and key responsibilities of the role but is not exhaustive. Additional duties may be assigned as needed to support the mission and objectives of Sakhi for South Asian Survivors.






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