Vice President People and Culture

4500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44103, USA

Posted Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM

Shape Culture. Champion People. Transform Lives.

The Centers is seeking a visionary Vice President of People and Culture to join our executive leadership team and help us reimagine what's possible when we put people first.

For over a century, The Centers has been a cornerstone of Greater Cleveland, advancing our mission of healing, teaching, and inspiring. Serving over 20,000 individuals annually across 11 locations, we provide integrated health and wellness, early learning and family support, workforce development, and residential youth programs. We don't just provide services—we create healthier, more prosperous communities where every person has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Our work is guided by five core values:
Belonging, Purpose, Bravery, Gratitude & Growth, and We Can & We Will. These aren't just words on a wall— they're how we show up every day for the people we serve and each other.

This is more than an HR leadership role— it's a chance to be a culture architect and transformation catalyst for an organization that changes lives.

As VP of People and Culture, you'll lead a talented team across Learning & Development, Talent Acquisition, Employee Experience, Labor Relations, and Compensation & Benefits. You'll partner directly with our Chief Operating Officer and executive team to ensure every one of our team members is supported, developed, and empowered to do their best work.

This role balances strategic vision with hands‑on excellence— you'll shape organizational culture, champion employee experience, steward labor relations, drive innovation in people practices, and serve as a trusted advisor on our most complex people challenges.

• Shape and steward a human‑centered, purpose‑driven culture that prioritizes wellbeing, psychological safety, and innovation
• Partner with the COO and executive team to translate organizational objectives into integrated people strategies that advance our mission
• Drive organizational transformation, workforce agility, and change management with courage and care

• Inspire and develop a high‑impact People and Culture team aligned with our mission, vision, and values
• Advance leadership pipelines across the organization through succession planning and targeted development
• Champion belonging in all people practices, ensuring equity and inclusion are embedded throughout the employee lifecycle

• Optimize employee experiences from hire to retire, ensuring engagement, connection to mission, and pathways for growth
• Implement employee activation strategies that empower staff voices to influence organizational decisions
• Oversee wellbeing programs including EAP, resilience training, and critical incident support;
  Directly steward labor relations, building collaborative partnerships with bargaining unit representatives;
  Oversee compensation and benefits programs that ensure equity, competitiveness, and alignment with our values;
  Integrate AI and technology to strengthen governance, standardize processes, and embed world‑class business practices;
  Champion data‑driven decision‑making through metrics, dashboards, and accountability frameworks

Essential

Qualifications:

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree required;
  Master's in HR, Organizational Development, or related field highly preferred
• Experience:
  
  10–15 years of progressive HR leadership, with at least 5 years in senior executive roles
• Sector
  
  Experience:
  
  Healthcare, social services, or mission‑driven nonprofit strongly preferred
• Functional Expertise:
  Direct experience managing employee relations, benefits, compensation, and labor relations
• Track Record:
  Demonstrated success leading cultural transformation in complex, multi‑site organizations
• Human‑Centered Leadership:
  Authentic care for employee wellbeing and growth, balanced with accountability for results
• Cultural Intelligence:
  Proven ability to assess, shape, and transform organizational culture…