Director, People Experience

About the Opportunity:

The Director of People Experience is a vital member of the organization, responsible for driving a positive and inclusive culture, leading a team focused on employee engagement, and ensuring the workplace is a safe and conducive environment for employees to thrive and contribute to the Academy's mission. This newly created role will provide leadership in delivering a range of strategic and tactical people support to managers and employees across the Academy. Working closely with the Chief of People & Culture, the Director of People Experience will have the exciting opportunity to transform and enrich the Academy's workplace culture through various talent development and culture initiatives.

Organizational Culture:
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values! Currently, the Academy's strategic plan includes three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are intrinsic to Academy culture and operations, from recruitment and retention to science and advocacy.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications for the position.

This position is based in golden gate park at the museum in San Francisco, California. This exempt, full-time position reports to the Chief People & Culture Officer. Staff are currently expected to work from the Academy offices at least three days per week, which may fluctuate based on business needs. Please only apply if you can also work onsite.

About the People & Culture Team (PACT):
The People & Culture team collaborates across the Academy to: 1) build a thriving culture in which all staff members feel cared for and respected, with opportunities for growth: and 2) deeply connect employees to the Academy’s purpose of regenerating the natural world.

As Director, People Experience, you:

• Are excited to build for scale, drawing on your broad knowledge of HR specialties and functions to create and bolster a foundation for the Academy’s people initiatives.
• Are energized to lead and work across several Centers of Excellence, including People Experience, & Learning & Engagement
• Bring a strong equity lens that informs your decision-making as a leader and employee.
• Have a knack for building warm and collaborative working relationships across all levels and areas of an organization.
• Approach your work in a spirit of appreciative inquiry and collaborative problem-solving.

Strategic Leadership

• Collaborate with the Chief People and Culture Officer to understand and implement the organization’s strategic goals related to workforce planning, training, retention, and building culture.
• Develop the key programmatic issues for PACT, including organizational effectiveness, performance management, talent development, culture, and employee engagement, to support the Academy’s overall success. 
• Propose and implement policies and programs that support staff performance, engagement, development, and accountability.
• Propose and implement impactful initiatives to enrich and expand our commitment to
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for all Academy employees.

Program Oversight & Implementation

• Performance Management: Consult with the senior leadership team to establish and roll out an effective performance management process that provides regular feedback, sets clear expectations, and supports employee growth. Work closely with L&E lead and PACT BPs to roll out and maintain ongoing performance management processes.
• Oversee and drive the administration of People & Culture programs such as performance, talent management, training and development, engagement, and succession planning across the Academy.
• Work closely with the People Operations team to ensure c