Director of People

Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) is a social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998. Founded in Austin, Texas, the organization serves its homeless neighbors through three core programs:
Truck Ministry, Community First! Village, and Community Works. Often referred to as the most talked about neighborhood in Austin, Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned development that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. We are now embarking on a new phase of community expansion, adding more than 1400 new neighbors over the next 5-10 years.

At Mobile Loaves & Fishes, we know that people are our greatest resource—and that building community starts with a strong, supported team. As we continue to grow and welcome an increasing number of our formerly homeless neighbors to Community First! Village, the Director of People will play a pivotal role in shaping how we work together while effectively supporting the broader organization.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, and partnering deeply with the CEO, this position is responsible for guiding the building internal structures that empower Mobile Loaves & Fishes' staff, sustaining our growth and advancing our vision.

The Director of People is a senior leader focused on building a people-centered, values-aligned and Christ-driven organization. With deep expertise in this role oversees core HR functions and talent strategies that foster growth, engagement, and operational success. The Director of People also partners closely with the Organizational Empowerment Team-led by the Senior Director of Empowerment and inclusive of Learning & Development and Culture—to ensure alignment across the organization's culture-building and staff development initiatives, while also collaborating extensively with other senior leaders to develop and implement people strategies that uphold the organization's vision and values.

• Provide oversight and strategic leadership for all core HR functions, including payroll, benefits administration, HRIS systems, employment policies, and workplace safety.
• Lead and support MLF's People Team in a collaborative and relational manner, working closely with People Team leaders to ensure alignment, employee support, and excellence across all people-related operations.
• Develop and manage the People department's annual budget, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and efficient use of resources.
• Ensure people-related policies and systems are fair, legally compliant, and reflect the organization's vision and core values.
• Continuously evaluate and improve HR systems and workflows to support efficiency, data integrity, and a positive employee experience.

• Equip managers with practical tools and guidance to support their teams' development while empowering them to build strong, trust-based relationships.
• Collaborate with the Organizational Empowerment Team and cross-functional leaders to align HR practices with organizational development, employee growth, and engagement initiatives.
• Partner with Organizational Empowerment to support MLF's strategy for leadership development, management training, and coaching that strengthen capabilities across the organization—from frontline staff to senior leaders—supporting long‑term growth and sustainability.
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders to co-create and implement strategies that drive organizational growth, scalability, and sustainability while fostering a healthy, high‑performing, and values‑driven culture.

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for MLF's hiring strategy to attract and retain high‑impact, vision‑aligned talent.
• Partner with the recruiting team and hiring managers to create clear job descriptions, interview processes, and evaluation tools that identify diverse candidates with the skills, compassion, and experience to thrive in a trauma‑informed, human…