Job Details

Position Title

Vice President of Human Resources

Organization

Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Human Resources

Position Type

Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Exempt

Work Setting: Fully Onsite

Reports To: Chief Strategy Officer

Pay Range: $130,000- $140,000/year

Total Compensation

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Paid vacation time and sick leave
• 15 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees' mental wellness

Position Overview:

The Vice President of Human Resources supports, develops, and champions the 400+ people who power our work. At its core, this leadership role ensures that our organization continues to be an outstanding place to build a career in the nonprofit sector—one where people feel respected, supported, and set up to thrive.

The VP of Human Resources oversees all core HR functions, including talent management, compliance and risk management, payroll and employee lifecycle support. The role is responsible for building strong, values-aligned systems and practices that promote fairness, accountability, and positive employee experience across the organization.

As a member of JFS's senior leadership team, the VP contributes to strategic discussions and helps ensure that HR operations reflect and reinforce the organization's mission, goals, and commitment to its people. This is a high-impact role with direct influence on the policies, practices, and day-to-day experiences that support a people-centered, mission-driven workplace.

Responsibilities

In the first six months, the VP of Human Resources will focus on strengthening core HR operations and aligning them with organizational needs and growth. This includes assessing and enhancing processes related to recruitment and hiring, employee relations, payroll, and benefits—ensuring they are clear, consistent, and responsive to the needs of staff across the organization. The VP will also help clarify roles, workflows, and expectations within the HR function to support strong and efficient internal coordination and service delivery.

Talent Strategy and Workforce Planning

• Develop and implement strategies for attracting, assessing, selecting, and retaining a high-performing, diverse workforce—including both staff and interns
• Partner with senior leaders (e.g., CEO, CSO, CPIO) to shape workforce planning initiatives that align talent with organizational goals
• Introduce new methodologies and tools to strengthen hiring practices and improve overall talent outcomes

Staff Experience and Career Development

• Create and refine employee career pathways that support growth, mobility, and long-term retention
• Develop compensation and recognition programs that reinforce a performance-based, equitable culture
• Serve as an advocate for staff at the leadership level, ensuring employee perspectives inform decision-making and align with organizational values

HR Systems, Service Delivery, and Internal Accountability

• Strengthen the internal operations of the HR function, building clear roles, effective workflows, and shared standards that support responsiveness and accountability
• Ensure HR services—including recruitment, benefits, employee relations, and compliance—are delivered consistently and effectively across all teams and locations
• Evaluate and improve the systems, tools, and practices that underpin HR operations to ensure they are reliable, user-friendly, and aligned with the needs of a dynamic organization. This will include working closely and productively with key stakeholders across the organization
• Develop a strong internal service mindset across the HR team, positioning the function as a trusted partner to departments and leaders throughout the agency

People Analytics and Continuous Improvement

• Introduce and utilize workforce analytics to inform decision-making, measure impact, and identify areas for improvement across the employee lifecycle
• Monitor internal trends and surface insights that support learning, adaptability, and long-term talent planning
• Stay current on HR best practices and innovations, applying relevant approaches to strengthen performance and organizational resilience

Legal, Compliance, and Risk Mitigation

• Ensure HR policies and practices comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
• Oversee maintenance of up-to-date employee handbooks, HR policies, and documentation in alignment with evolving legal standards and organizational values
• Proactively identify areas of HR-related risk and implement systems, training, and policies to reduce liability and support ethical, equitable practices
• Serve as a key partner to legal counsel as needed on sensitive personnel matters, investigations, and compliance questions

Organizational Relationships and External Representation

• Build trusting, collaborative relationships across all levels of the organization, fostering open communication and shared ownership of people-related priorities
• Actively represent JFS in the broader community and professional networks, sharing HR insights and helping position the organization as an employer of choice

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Strategic HR Leadership: 7-10 years HR leadership experience leading and evolving a high-functioning HR department (preferably in the state of California), aligning people operations with organizational strategy and growth.
• Relevant Education and HR Certifications: Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree in business, education, or related field preferred. SHRM-CP, PHR, SHRM-SCP or SPHR desired.
• Depth in Core HR Functions: Expert knowledge of talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, benefits, payroll function, and compensation—ideally in a complex, service-oriented nonprofit environment.
• HR Systems & Operational Excellence: Demonstrated ability to build or strengthen internal systems, workflows, and team structures that drive accountability, consistency, and high-quality service delivery. Acumen using project management software and service delivery or ticketing platform desired.
• Employment Law & Compliance Expertise: Strong understanding of employment law, HR compliance, and risk management, with a track record of sound, proactive decision-making.
• People Analytics & Data Literacy: Skill in using HR data and people analytics to inform decision-making, identify trends, and guide organizational improvements.
• Inclusive leadership: Deep personal and professional commitment to advancing equity and inclusion through HR policies, practices, and leadership behavior.
• Collaborative Ability

  Ability to build trust and work in partnership with leaders and staff across all levels of the organization, including executive leadership and front-line teams.

  
  

• Change Leadership and Adaptability: Experience leading through change, improving legacy systems, and helping others navigate complexity.
• Clear, Compassionate Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills—able to deliver feedback, navigate sensitive conversations, and represent staff perspectives with credibility and care.
• Integrity, Discretion, and Judgement: Strong personal ethics, sound judgment, and the ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and care.

Important Notice:

Please submit your cover letter and resume on your application.

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community. For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving. At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency. We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect. Our goal is your success. Come work at JFS and be our partner inMoving Forward Together. To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org.

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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