Head of RISE (Chief Diversity Officer)

About Gusto

Gusto is a modern, online people platform that helps small businesses take care of their teams. On top of full-service payroll, Gusto offers health insurance, 401(k)s, expert HR, and team management tools. Today, Gusto offices in Denver, San Francisco, and New York serve more than 300,000 businesses nationwide.

Our mission is to create a world where work empowers a better life, and it starts right here at Gusto. That’s why we’re committed to building a collaborative and inclusive workplace, both physically and virtually. Learn more about our Total Rewards philosophy. 

RISE (Representation, Inclusion, Social Impact and Equity) work is foundational to everything we do at Gusto. As our business grows and our needs become more complex, it’s vital we continue to evolve our approach to RISE; identifying and enacting proven practices that drive successful business results and increase inclusive and equitable outcomes. The Head of RISE will be a key partner to the Head of People and work closely with the Head of Gusto and other organizational leaders on Talent Strategy and RISE related program/policy initiatives. This role is an opportunity to be a true leader in our organization, with a high level of responsibility as well the full support of our executive team. The position is full-time and based in San Francisco, New York City, Denver, or in one of our Centers of Gravity.

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

• Internally, you’ll lead Gusto’s RISE efforts, driving improvements in Representation, Inclusion, Social Impact, and Equity. This includes creating, aligning and executing Gusto’s RISE Strategy for the next chapter of company scaling and building. 
• You will be responsible for setting and guiding progress to RISE Aspirational Goals for each organization, alongside the leader who is accountable for them. 
• You will create and execute programs around RISE for the broader company, including, but not limited to, our RISE learning journeys for leaders, managers and Gusties, strategic partnerships, our RISE annual report, and more.
• Support Gusto’s nine affinity groups through providing resources, guidance and counsel as these communities grow.  
• You will work cross-functionally across the People team to ensure our People programs and processes (hiring, onboarding, development, promotion, job architecture, total rewards) drive inclusive and equitable outcomes. 
• You’ll serve as Gusto’s Chief Diversity Officer, externally. As a company that makes a People product, this role is highly visible and you’ll be called on to influence + inform Product development, represent Gusto to our customers, and be a highly engaged and visible thought leader on People topics. 
• Starting direct team size will be 4 full-time RISE professionals, with room to grow in the future.

Here’s what we're looking for:

The Head of RISE must excel at leveraging data to create innovative solutions and have the interpersonal skills required to drive successful outcomes across our portfolio of offerings. The following background is strongly preferred:

• Demonstrated Industry Comprehension
  • The Head of RISE will have a combination of professional experiences that could stem from many backgrounds, but always involving DE&I strategies and focus. They will be able to fly at multiple altitudes, leveraging their experiences as an operator to lead a team of executors while being able to influence senior leadership members on RISE initiatives as they apply to Gusto’s business initiatives and internal teams. Having a background from a variety of industries plus experience in software technology organizations with a deep partnership with Engineering, Product, Design, and Data Teams will allow for this person to make an immediate impact on our RISE journey. 
• Data Driven Problem Solving & Influential Partnership
  • The Head of Rise will drive influence when working with Gusto Leaders. You will leverage your data-driven skills and DEI expertise to educate leaders on RISE practices, facilitate discussions, make recommendations, and provide solutions to the business. This role will be leveraged to thoughtfully and effectively act as a sounding board for decisions and for rolling out company changes to ensure they are inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds. You will also take charge in ensuring that all Gusties are aligned with the RISE goals and that we are collectively fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
• Builder Mentality
  • The Head of RISE has a builder mindset and sets ambitious RISE goals while enabling the company to accomplish those goals. You will own, improve, and drive our RISE programs across the comp