Vice President People and Culture

Vice President of People and Culture

The Centers | Greater Cleveland, OH

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.

About The Centers

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.

The Opportunity

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.

What You'll Do

Lead with Strategic Vision

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

Build High-Performing Teams

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

Design Exceptional Employee Experiences

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

Drive Operational Excellence

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

What You Bring

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

Leadership

Competencies:

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 while honoring mission

Change Agility:
Exceptional ability to lead through ambiguity, foster innovation, and navigate transformation

Strategic Acumen:
Understanding of healthcare/social services operations, financial sustainability, and regulatory compliance

Communication Excellence:
Outstanding listening, speaking, and writing skills-transparent, empathetic, and inspiring

Your Superpowers:

High emotional intelligence and capacity for vulnerability
Courage to stand up for what's right, even when unpopular
Data-informed decision-making balanced with human-centered values
Political savvy to navigate complex landscapes while building strategic alliances
Deep commitment to diversity, inclusion, and person-centered, trauma-informed approaches

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're a strategic, compassionate leader who believes in the power of people to transform…