Equity, People, Inclusion, and Culture Director
Working Families PartyAbout the Working Families Party
The Working Families Party (WFP) is the progressive party for the multiracial working class, fighting for a nation that works for the many, not the few. We recruit, train, and support transformational candidates up and down the ballot — and run them to win.
We believe that no matter where we come from or what our color, most of us want the same things. We want to earn enough to thrive, not just survive, and leave a better future for our kids. We want healthy food and clean water, safe neighborhoods and a safe world. We want to be free.
The Working Families Party is regular people coming together across our differences to make a better future for us all. We’re a multiracial party that fights for workers over bosses and people over the powerful. We want an America which realizes the promise – unrealized in our history – of freedom and equality for all.
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.
\nLeadership & People Strategy
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Leads the strategy for building a fair, supportive, and high-performing workplace.
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Ensure evaluations and the progressive discipline policy are utilized effectively to improve performance.
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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.
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Implement systems to bring visibility in supervision chains of onboarding, probationary periods, performance improvement plans, and grievances.
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Implement practices that strengthen an impactful, collaborative, and values-driven workplace.
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Ensure policies, systems, and day-to-day practices are aligned, and proactively anticipate when changes are needed.
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Ensure equity and inclusion are built into systems, policies, and everyday practices.
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Build strong, trusting, and collaborative relationships with Division Directors and Department Directors and EpicWorks partners.
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Advise Division Directors and Department Directors on people strategy, organizational design, and culture to support impact.
Management & Culture Support
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Oversee staff development across the full lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, six month probationary period, growth, and retention.
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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.
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Serve on the salary committee and coordinate offers for new hires and current staff role reviews.
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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.
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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.
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Lead consistent communication and engagement rhythms for managers.
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Lead regular Department Director and Manager meetings, manager onboarding, and annual training programs.
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Lead cross-organization sabbatical planning in partnership with department leaders.
Staff Communication & Alignment
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Lead the onboarding experience for new staff to ensure a strong and clear start.
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Lead monthly all-staff calls and biannual in-person gatherings, including facilitating agenda-setting, content development, and coordination with key stakeholders.
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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.
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Partner with the Executive Office Director on staff-facing communications from the National Director.
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Lead the annual engagement survey and use staff feedback, including interviews and exit data, to improve the staff experience.
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Track and share key staff data, including demographics, compensation, retention, and development.
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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.
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Supervise tools and platforms such as the internal resource “Library” and “Wolfgang Botzart” chatbot to ensure information is clear and accessible.
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Partner with EpicWorks teams to ensure staff can easily access HR, finance, and operations support.
Employee & Labor Relations
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Serve as a key point of contact for staff on HR-related questions and concerns, in partnership with the EpicWorks People Team.
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Support managers through employee relations processes, including coaching and documentation.
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Oversee investigations, performance improvement plans, corrective actions, and terminations as needed.
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Maintain a strong, respectful relationship with the Workers United Working Families Party Staff Union.
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Serve on the Joint Labor Management Committee with the Senior Advisor and EpicWorks Counsel and collaborate with union representatives.
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Oversee implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and ensure compliance.
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Partner with EpicWorks Counsel to ensure alignment with labor and employment policies and laws.
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At least 10 years of work experience, including 5 years in leadership roles within nonprofit or political organizations.
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Extensive experience within human resources operations including compliance management, employee relations, and labor law.
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Proven track record in adult learning theory, leadership development, organization development, and/or organizational psychology.
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A strong commitment to economic, racial, and gender justice.
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Demonstrated experience managing staff, including supervising performance, providing feedback, and supporting team development.
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Strong expertise in creating and implementing equitable and inclusive policy, with demonstrated success in driving organizational change and holding leaders accountable.
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Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to mediate conflicts and build consensus.
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Expert group facilitation skills and an ability to lead engaging, effective meetings virtually and in person.
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Ability to work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment,
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Demonstrates exceptional self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal acumen
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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.
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Preferably brings experience leveraging data, analysis, and strategic insight to set priorities, inform decision-making, and continuously improve people and culture initiatives
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Preferably brings experience representing management in a unionized workplace
- 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.
- The position is permanent and full time.
- 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.
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.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor, or take over sponsorship of, employment visas at this time.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Working Families Party is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to economic and social justice. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and members of other historically disenfranchised populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to apply for or perform the essential functions of the job should contact us at jobs@workingfamilies.org with the subject line "Application Accommodation" to request such an accommodation.