Equity, People, Inclusion, and Culture Director
Working Families Party
Remote
USD 107,400-180,300 / year + Equity
The Equity, People, Inclusion, and Culture (EPIC) Director leads the strategy for building a fair, supportive, and high-performing workplace at Working Families Party and Working Families Power. This role shapes how we recruit, develop, support, and retain our staff, and helps ensure people feel connected, valued, and clear on what matters most as we pursue our shared goal of building power for working class people of every race.
This position is charged with raising the bar and increasing consistency of management across the organization, ensuring high standards, direct feedback, effective listening, and clear direction and ownership become cultural norms.
The EPIC Director works closely with senior staff as a trusted advisor on people and culture, helping align how we work with our values and goals. This role also helps keep all staff aligned by improving communication and engagement, and making sure people understand our priorities and progress.
Finally, the EPIC Director maintains a strong relationship with the Workers United Working Families Party Staff Union, serving on the Joint Labor Management Committee and ensuring the Collective Bargaining Agreement is followed.
This role is not doing this work alone. The EPIC Director sits in a department with and partners closely with the Chief of Staff, Executive Projects Manager, Senior Advisor and the staff of EpicWorks, our shared services provider, which delivers core HR, finance, and operations functions. Together, they ensure staff have the tools, support, and structure needed to do their jobs effectively.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Leads the strategy for building a fair, supportive, and high-performing workplace.
Ensure evaluations and the progressive discipline policy are utilized effectively to improve performance.
Monitor staff morale and organizational culture, identifying strengths to build on and areas where additional coaching and support are needed to strengthen teams and leadership.
Implement systems to bring visibility in supervision chains of onboarding, probationary periods, performance improvement plans, and grievances.
Implement practices that strengthen an impactful, collaborative, and values-driven workplace.
Ensure policies, systems, and day-to-day practices are aligned, and proactively anticipate when changes are needed.
Ensure equity and inclusion are built into systems, policies, and everyday practices.
Build strong, trusting, and collaborative relationships with Division Directors and Department Directors and EpicWorks partners.
Advise Division Directors and Department Directors on people strategy, organizational design, and culture to support impact.
Oversee staff development across the full lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, six month probationary period, growth, and retention.
Lead and support the full hiring process, including managing the Lever applicant tracking system, advising hiring managers, strengthening recruitment strategies, and supporting priority searches as needed.
Serve on the salary committee and coordinate offers for new hires and current staff role reviews.
Lead performance management systems, including role description updates, annual work planning and evaluations through Small Improvements, a culture of regular feedback, and the progressive discipline policy.
Set and uphold clear management and leadership standards, including leading the 360 evaluation process for managers, and lead the development of a new managers handbook.
Lead consistent communication and engagement rhythms for managers.
Lead regular Department Director and Manager meetings, manager onboarding, and annual training programs.
Lead cross-organization sabbatical planning in partnership with department leaders.
Lead the onboarding experience for new staff to ensure a strong and clear start.
Lead monthly all-staff calls and biannual in-person gatherings, including facilitating agenda-setting, content development, and coordination with key stakeholders.
Collaborate with the Executive Projects Manager on all-staff communication and engagement rhythms so staff understand priorities, progress, and how their work connects to larger goals.
Partner with the Executive Office Director on staff-facing communications from the National Director.
Lead the annual engagement survey and use staff feedback, including interviews and exit data, to improve the staff experience.
Track and share key staff data, including demographics, compensation, retention, and development.
Own the updating of the Employee Handbook and oversee other systems that help staff navigate the organization, access resources, and understand and do their jobs effectively.
Supervise tools and platforms such as the internal resource “Library” and “Wolfgang Botzart” chatbot to ensure information is clear and accessible.
Partner with EpicWorks teams to ensure staff can easily access HR, finance, and operations support.
Serve as a key point of contact for staff on HR-related questions and concerns, in partnership with the EpicWorks People Team.
Support managers through employee relations processes, including coaching and documentation.
Oversee investigations, performance improvement plans, corrective actions, and terminations as needed.
Maintain a strong, respectful relationship with the Workers United Working Families Party Staff Union.
Serve on the Joint Labor Management Committee with the Senior Advisor and EpicWorks Counsel and collaborate with union representatives.
Oversee implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and ensure compliance.
Partner with EpicWorks Counsel to ensure alignment with labor and employment policies and laws.
Leadership & People Strategy
Management & Culture Support
Staff Communication & Alignment
Employee & Labor Relations
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
At least 10 years of work experience, including 5 years in leadership roles within nonprofit or political organizations.
Extensive experience within human resources operations including compliance management, employee relations, and labor law.
Proven track record in adult learning theory, leadership development, organization development, and/or organizational psychology.
A strong commitment to economic, racial, and gender justice.
Demonstrated experience managing staff, including supervising performance, providing feedback, and supporting team development.
Strong expertise in creating and implementing equitable and inclusive policy, with demonstrated success in driving organizational change and holding leaders accountable.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to mediate conflicts and build consensus.
Expert group facilitation skills and an ability to lead engaging, effective meetings virtually and in person.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment,
Demonstrates exceptional self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal acumen
Ability to build trust across diverse teams, navigate complex dynamics with empathy and clarity, and give and receive feedback in ways that strengthen relationships and organizational culture.
Preferably brings experience leveraging data, analysis, and strategic insight to set priorities, inform decision-making, and continuously improve people and culture initiatives
Preferably brings experience representing management in a unionized workplace
LOCATION AND TRAVEL
- You may work remotely from anywhere in the United States. You may need to travel for major events and all staff meetings a few times per year.
SCHEDULE
- The position is permanent and full time.
UNION AFFILIATION
- WFP is a unionized workplace. This is a managerial position, not included in our bargaining unit. WFP's union employees are represented by the New York Metropolitan Area Joint Board, Workers United union.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
107400 - 180300 USD a year
The final salary offer will fall into one of the following ranges depending on where you live:
Base Market A: (e.g., Cleveland, Detroit, Phoenix) $107,400 - $142,000
Base Market B: (e.g., Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas) $114,000 - $151,900
High Market (e.g., Baltimore, Los Angeles, Portland): $125,700 - $166,100
Very High Market: (e.g., Boston, New York City, San Francisco) $136,400 - $180,300
The locations listed above are just examples and not an exhaustive list.
We also offer a robust benefit package for full time employees including paid time off; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plan options; professional development funding; and remote work support.