Director of People and Culture

Do you approach human resources and organizational culture from a place of creativity and curiosity? Are you seeking a role as Director of People and Culture where you can drive meaningful change within a mission-driven nonprofit organization?

The Stanley Center for Peace and Security , an MRA member, is hiring a Director of People and Culture to develop, implement, and lead all aspects of HR and organizational culture initiatives. Reporting to the President and CEO, the director collaborates with others on the leadership team to ensure HR policies and programs align with and support the Stanley Center’s mission and goals.

As the center’s first-ever full-time HR and organizational culture director, they are looking for a candidate who:

• Is enthusiastic about developing HR and organizational culture programs to elevate a mission-driven nonprofit organization to the next level of people strategy.
• Has a desire to challenge traditional HR practices and explore new models of organizational design, power sharing, and decision making.
• Thrives in a collaborative team environment, working in-person at least two (2) days/week and remotely up to three (3) days/week.
• Enjoys creating, facilitating, teaching, and guiding best practices in HR and organizational culture.
• Is dedicated to incorporating an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens into all facets of their work.

This is a full-time, exempt position with the option to work remotely up to three (3) days per week, flexible scheduling, and an optional half day off on Fridays.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The Stanley Center offers competitive pay, opportunities for learning and professional growth within the organization, and a generous benefits package. Please see benefits details, job qualifications and responsibilities, and application requirements below.

Only complete applications will be considered.

About the Stanley Center

The Stanley Center for Peace and Security partners with people, organizations, and the greater global community to drive policy progress in three issue areas—mitigating climate change, avoiding the use of nuclear weapons, and preventing mass violence and atrocities. Based in Muscatine, Iowa, the center’s home is one of the most ecologically sustainable office buildings in the world.

Full Position Description

The Director of People and Culture develops, implements, and leads all aspects of HR and organizational culture initiatives. Reporting to the President and CEO, the person in this position collaborates with others on the leadership team and across the organization to ensure HR policies and programs align with and support the Stanley Center’s mission and goals.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy

• Develops and leads HR strategy, annual plan, budget, and programs that support an equitable, inclusive, and collaborative workplace.
• Partners with the leadership team, staff, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, and outside experts to lead organization-wide diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives.
• Leads the center’s self-assessment and continuous improvement related to the Just Label , which impacts all aspects of the Stanley Center’s work, employee relations, and interactions with local communities.
• Serves as a member of the leadership team to colead organization-wide initiatives.
• Is a liaison to the Board HR Committee, acting as the main contact, presenting HR reports and insights to support strategic decisions.
• Sources, negotiates, and manages contracts with external experts as needed (e.g., staffing firms and learning and development professionals) to expand organizational capabilities.

Organizational Culture and Employee Experience

• Collaborates with the President and CEO and Director of Finance to administer equitable, transparent, and competitive pay, benefits, and flexibility programs.
• Supports a growing culture of inclusivity by implementing ongoing feedback opportunities such as employee surveys and peer-to-peer exchanges.
• Guides organizational design, career development, leadership development, staffing/workforce planning, and succession planning.
• Establishes, tracks, and reports on key people metrics, including turnover, retention, and employee engagement and belonging to make improvements to workplace culture.
• Implements a strategy and plan for inclusive, meaningful employee recognition programs.
• Provides guidance, coaching, and conflict management for a wide variety of employee relations issues, ensuring objectivity and confidentiality.
• Supports staff bringing forward feedback or concerns about their employee experience.

Recruitment and Retention

• Develops and leads organizational recruitment and retention strategies and programs.
• Identifies staffing needs; creates/revises job descriptions, recruitment plans, and job advertisements; and facilitates the overall recruitment and hiring processes.
• Implements employee onboarding, orientation, and benefits education.
• Facilitates offboarding and exit interviews, identifying trends to shape organizational culture.

Policies, Procedures, and Operations

• Develops policies and procedures and leads the annual employment policy manual review and update.
• Upholds HR-related compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Administers leaves of absence and accommodations, ensuring people-centered processes.
• Manages various HR-related administrative processes, including employee status changes, benefits enrollments and changes (in collaboration with the Finance Director), and personnel files.
• Directs safety programming, workers’ compensation claims management, unemployment claims management, and other compliance tasks.

Learning, Professional Development, and Performance

• Develops and implements organization-wide training and coaching programs for Stanley Center employees’ professional growth and career development. Engages external contractors as needed.
• Supports performance management implementation, including quarterly performance discussions, 360s, mediation, coaching, and corrective action as needed.
• Stays up to date on HR, leadership, and organizational culture best practices, and compliance/ regulatory issues that impact the Stanley Center.
• Performs other related duties as needed.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess:

• At least five (5) years of HR, people and culture, or related experience with at least three (3) years at the leadership level.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in leadership, HR, coaching, employee well-being, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• A commitment to the Stanley Center’s mission and values, including equity, diversity, and inclusion, and the ability to implement those values in all aspects of your work.
• A desire to challenge traditional HR practices and explore new models of organizational design, power sharing, and decision making.
• Strong cultural humility, with the ability to build rapport and trust with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• A commitment to upholding ethical standards and maintaining confidentiality.
• The ability to implement a collaborative approach to group facilitation and conflict management.
• The ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and independently manage multiple priorities, accurately and on time.
• Experience with managing organizational culture issues and implementing best practices for workplace support and accommodations for neurodiverse individuals and people of all physical and mental abilities.
• Strong interpersonal, coaching, communication, feedback, and presentation skills.
• Technical proficiency with database/HRIS management, Google Suite, MS Office, social media platforms, and related software.

Additional desirable traits include:

• A degree in public administration, business, HR, organizational culture, organizational psychology, and/or a related field.
• A SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.

The position requires in-person work at the Stanley Center in Muscatine, Iowa, at least two (2) days each workweek and some nonlocal travel may be required. Applicants must be able to travel approximately one to two times annually.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. A preemployment background check is conducted after a job offer. Past justice system involvement does not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment; background checks are evaluated individually in relation to the specific role.

What the Stanley Center Offers

Flexibility and Benefits

• Work remotely up to three (3) days, with two (2) required office days (Mondays and Thursdays), per week.
• Flexible scheduling and optional half day off on Fridays.
• Minimum of 10 days’ vacation leave annually (determined at hiring).
• Eight days health care leave annually.
• Eleven paid holidays plus two individual holidays per year.
• Up to nine weeks of paid parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; center pays approximately 95 percent of employee-only premiums; employee pays approximately $60/month for employee-only coverage.
• Flexible benefit plans.
• Retirement plan with up to 3 percent match plus annual contribution of 7 percent of compensation, 100 percent vested on day of hire.
• Employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement and annual allotment for professional development.
• Lifestyle Spending Account: up to $1,500 per year for fitness, airline club memberships, veterinary expenses, home purchase closing costs, home office equipment, and more.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Cell phone and internet stipends.

Classification: This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position.

Schedule: Monday–Friday, eight work hours per day, with some schedule flexibility, including optional half days on Fridays.

Compensation: Salary commensurate with qualifications; a hiring pay range will be shared directly with all applicants. We cover most expenses involved with relocation, including housing-hunting trips and temporary housing, if needed.

Location: 304 Iowa Ave, Muscatine, Iowa (work in-office at least Mondays and Thursdays).

This position is located at the Stanley Center office in Muscatine, Iowa , a unique community of 23,000 people with affordable housing and a variety of recreational opportunities on the Mississippi River. From the center’s founding in 1956, they have been intentionally based in Muscatine. The location provides a valuable vantage point from which to conduct global operations while also continuing the Stanley family’s commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue, celebrating diverse perspectives, and promoting equity locally.

The Stanley Center offers a beautiful, sustainable work environment . They have recently renovated the former city public library to be the center’s new home and have transformed the space into one of the most environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable buildings in the world.

Within commuting distance of Muscatine are Iowa City (population 70,000)—UNESCO City of Literature and home of the University of Iowa, the renowned Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and nationally recognized University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics—and the Quad Cities area , comprising Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline and Rock Island, Illinois, with a combined population of about 350,000.

Application Directions

MRA–The Management Association is assisting the Stanley Center with filling this role. To be considered for this position, please apply using the application form above. You will be asked to include a letter of interest, your resume, and at least three references.

Priority Application Deadline: 5:00 PM Central time on January 7, 2025. The position is open until filled, but candidates are strongly encouraged to apply by the priority deadline.

Position Posting Date: October 23, 2024

Target Hire Date: February 18, 2025

Hiring Process: The Stanley Center’s hiring process can include an initial phone interview, a videoconference interview, and an on-site interview. The Stanley Center pays for travel costs associated with on-site interviews. They conduct reference checks before making an offer of employment.

For more information about working at the Stanley Center and applying for this position, please visit their Careers page and read their Career FAQs .

The Stanley Center is an equal opportunity employer . People of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. The center is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, knowing that diverse perspectives lead to new and better ideas. The Stanley Center cultivates an organizational culture that reflects a vision for freedom, justice, and dignity for all people—one that is antiracist and in which all employees are valued and respected.

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