Head of People

About the Organization

The Asian American Foundation serves the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in their pursuit of belonging and prosperity that is free from discrimination, slander, and violence. Launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and to address the long-standing underinvestment in AANHPI communities, TAAF mobilizes to fight against hate and violence, reclaim our narratives and celebrate our stories by ensuring prosperity, safety and belonging. Through our high-impact initiatives, events, and investments in national and local nonprofits, we’re creating a permanent and irrevocable sense of belonging for millions of AANHPIs in the United States. For additional information about TAAF, please visit

About the Role

TAAF is seeking an exceptional Head of People to join its senior management team at a pivotal moment of growth. Under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer, the Head of People will provide strategic leadership and oversight of all people and HR functions in support of TAAF’s mission, values and continued growth. This role will lead the development and scaling of equitable, high-performing people systems, policies and practices that create a cohesive, inclusive and high-quality employee experience across a fast-paced, hybrid organization. The Head will oversee talent acquisition and development, employee relations, performance management, learning and development, payroll and benefits administration, HR operations and compliance. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, entrepreneurial and empathetic leader who balances long-term strategy with hands-on execution, fosters a culture of belonging and accountability and partners closely with leadership and staff to strengthen organizational performance and impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead and evolve TAAF’s people strategy to support growth, strengthen culture, and advance our mission and values.
• Build reliable and scalable HR operations and systems (tools, reporting, documentation, recordkeeping), supervise HR staff, and manage the HR budget.
• Drive inclusive, equitable, and compliant recruiting, hiring, onboarding and retention practices that build a diverse, high-performing workforce.
• Serve as a trusted resource to managers and staff, addressing employee relations issues with fairness, discretion and care.
• Strengthen and oversee performance and development systems including goal-setting, feedback, evaluations, learning programs, leadership development and succession planning.
• Administer the organization’s total rewards strategy in partnership with the COO ensuring programs are competitive, equitable, and aligned with nonprofit realities.
• Oversee payroll in partnership with Finance and ensure smooth, accurate HR operations across the employee lifecycle.
• Partner closely with senior leadership on workforce planning, organizational design and change management to help teams thrive through growth.
• Maintain and update HR policies, procedures, and the employee handbook; ensure compliance with employment laws and nonprofit regulations.
• Identify and manage HR-related risk, partnering with legal counsel as needed on complex matters, investigations and compliance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Undergraduate degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Master’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development or a related discipline is highly preferred.
• Five or more years of progressive HR and people leadership experience with at least three years in a senior role leading people and teams; nonprofit, philanthropic or mission-driven experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success designing and implementing people strategies in high-growth, matrixed or multi-site organizations.
• Expertise in talent acquisition, organizational development, culture strategy, performance management, compensation, employee relations and employment law.
• Hands-on experience analyzing, designing and administering employee benefits programs including open enrollment, plan changes, vendor and broker management, compliance, and ongoing employee support
• Experience supporting leaders through organizational change and navigating complexity with clarity and steadiness.

Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to design and implement multi-year people strategies aligned to mission, values, and organizational goals.
• Skilled in building an inclusive, values-driven culture.
• Strong knowledge of leadership development, coaching practices, and performance management frameworks (e.g., OKRs).
• Comprehensive knowledge of designing and administering employee benefits programs including, current healthcare trends, compliance, and industry trends.
• Understanding of compensation strategy, job architecture, HRIS, and multi-state compliance (NY, CA).
• Ability to manage complex employee relations issues, investigations, accommodations, and labor law requirements with fairness and discretion.
• Competence in using data and workforce insights to inform decisions, diagnose trends, and strengthen organizational health.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and change-management skills; able to build trust and alignment across a multi-office organization.
• Deep commitment to TAAF’s mission and understanding of issues affecting AANHPI communities..

Working Hours

• Occasional weekend, off-hours, or evening work required.
• Some travel required.

Location

• This role requires residency in New York or San Francisco with three days in office.

Benefits

• TAAF provides competitive compensation and benefits including health insurance (including dental and vision) and a 401k retirement plan to all employees.
• Anticipated salary is $185,000.00.