Vice President, People and Culture

Bonsai Leadership Group is excited to support Ocean Conservancy in its search for a Vice President, People and Culture.

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY

Ocean Conservancy works to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with its partners, it creates evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. Learn more about Ocean Conservancy at www.oceanconservancy.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Ocean Conservancy seeks a people-centered, strategic leader to serve as its Vice President, People and Culture (VPPAC). This critical leadership role will strengthen the People and Culture strategy to ensure it delivers exceptional strategic and operational value across the organization.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Council, the business-minded VPPAC will lead efforts to implement integrated people and culture strategies and optimize HR operations to ensure the organization is positioned for long-term effectiveness, agility, and impact. Reporting to the Chief Administrative and Financial Officer, the VPPAC partners closely with the Executive Leadership Team to shape the people strategy and organizational culture.

This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative leader who thrives in complex, values-driven environments and balances strategic vision with tactical execution. The most successful candidate will have extensive experience demonstrating the following leadership competencies:

• Strategic Systems Thinker: Sees the full organizational landscape, understands interdependencies, and designs scalable, people-centered strategies that align with mission and structure.
• Transformational Change Leader: Navigates complexity with clarity and courage by partnering with leaders across the organization to build alignment through trust, steadiness, and care.
• Culture Catalyst: Strengthens culture by partnering with leaders across the organization and ensuring people-centered practices reflect the full representation of staff.
• Business-Minded Partner: Aligns people and culture strategies with organizational outcomes, operational capacity, and long-term financial sustainability in collaboration with the Finance team.

DESIRED SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will have many of the experiences and qualifications described below but need not possess them all for consideration:

• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles in nonprofit, national and/or global organizations.
• Proven success in leading strategic HR initiatives across complex institutions with simplicity and focus.
• Advanced understanding of HR systems, compliance, employment-related laws, and best practices in workforce strategy, compensation, and benefits design.
• Deep knowledge of talent development, organizational design, coaching, and change leadership.
• Demonstrated experience building high-trust, collaborative relationships with employees and executive and senior leadership teams.
• Track record of managing and mentoring high performing HR teams with a culture of collaboration, learning, innovation, and accountability.
• Financial and operational acumen, with the ability to align people strategies in resource-constrained environments for long-term sustainability in partnership with the Finance team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with emotional intelligence, humility, and the ability to inspire and influence across all levels.

LEARN MORE

Learn more and review the full position announcement at: https://www.bonsaileadershipgroup.com/vppac

Ocean Conservancy offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance for employees, spouses (both same sex and opposite sex), domestic partner, and dependent children (effective day one of employment)
• Short- and Long-Term Disability (free for employee)
• Basic Life Insurance (free for employee)
• Healthcare and/or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Retirement Planning - 100% vested upon hire; can begin contributing at hire. After 1 year, Ocean Conservancy will open a 401(a) account for you and will contribute 6% of your monthly salary whether you participate in the 403(b) or not.
• 15 paid vacation days, 11 holidays, 12 sick days, and two personal days