Vice President of People Operations

Description

Bread Alone is entering a new chapter of growth—expanding our teams, strengthening our culture, and building the systems that will support our next decade. We are seeking a strategic, people-centered leader to elevate our People Operations function and ensure that every employee has the clarity, support, and resources they need to thrive.

This leader will oversee the full employee lifecycle—from talent acquisition and onboarding to learning & development, HR operations, total rewards, and compliance. They will shape the systems, processes, and rituals that define how our teams work, grow, and collaborate. This includes stewardship of our People Space at the Lake Katrine Production Bakery—our central hub for employee engagement, hospitality, and culture—while supporting a cohesive people experience across all locations.

The ideal candidate brings executive rigor, operational discipline, and a deep commitment to inclusion and hospitality. They will partner closely with senior leaders across retail, production, and support teams to build a top-tier employee experience aligned with our long-term vision: to become a top employer in the Hudson Valley within three years and one of New York State’s best employers within the decade.

Requirements

Vice President of People Operations 

Duties and Responsibilities

People Strategy and Organizational Leadership

• Develop and execute Bread Alone’s people strategy, aligning talent systems, culture, and organizational design with long-term business goals.
• Build structures that ensure every employee has clarity of expectations, opportunities for growth, and values-aligned leadership.
• Create dashboards, KPIs, and reporting rhythms to monitor talent acquisition, retention, performance health, and compliance.
• Serve as a strategic partner to senior leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Participate as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and in the annual planning process.

Talent Acquisition, Onboarding, & Retention

• Build best-in-class recruitment strategies and hiring workflows that attract and retain top talent across all departments.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality candidate experiences—including communication, interviews, assessments, and feedback loops.
• Oversee onboarding and new-hire training programs that support belonging, clarity, and readiness to contribute.
• Present recruitment and retention insights, trend analyses, and forecasts to executive leadership and the advisory board.

Employee Experience, Training, Development, & Culture

• Partner with People team leadership to build systems for performance reviews, coaching, goal-setting, and ongoing feedback.
• Define company-wide learning and development infrastructure, ensuring clear ownership and hand-offs between People Operations and operating teams.
• Steward Bread Alone’s Purpose, Values & Culture (PVC), designing programs that strengthen engagement and reinforce cultural alignment at every touchpoint.
• Lead the People Space experience at Lake Katrine—ensuring hospitality, warmth, and world-class employee facilities.
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to ensure all team members feel respected, supported, and able to contribute fully.

HR Operations & Compliance 

• Oversee all HR operations, including employee relations, policy governance, benefits administration, and compliance.
• Direct the governance of company policy to ensure legal compliance and cultural alignment.
• Maintain strong internal controls, timely compliance reporting, and adherence to all federal, state, and local employment regulations.
• Partner with technology and operations teams to evaluate and implement HRIS and IT solutions that improve efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience.

Payroll, Benefits, & Total Rewards

• Provide oversight of payroll execution to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and clarity—including PTO administration, deferrals, separations, and eligibility checks.
• Maximize employee understanding and utilization of Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), healthcare, 401(k), and other benefits.
• Assess and recommend total rewards programs that support competitiveness, retention, and employee well-being.
• Monitor compensation and benefits trends to ensure Bread Alone remains an employer of choice in the region.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate closely with Directors and Managers across all departments to ens