Senior Director of Human Resources

Title: Senior Director of Human Resources

Reports to: CFO/VP of Administration

Status: Salaried, Exempt

Location: Seattle, WA or Remote Home Office

Foundation Overview:

The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For more than 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope. Learn more at www.themaxfoundation.org.

Role Summary:

The Senior Director of Human Resources serves as the organization’s global HR leader, responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive people strategy that supports The Max Foundation’s mission to accelerate health equity. Reporting to the CFO/VP of Administration, this role partners closely with executive leadership to strengthen organizational effectiveness through strategic workforce planning, organizational design, and data-informed decision-making, while also ensuring excellence across all core HR operations. With responsibility for recruitment, compliance, performance management, employee engagement, and other HR initiatives. Operating across a globally distributed workforce, this role fosters a values-driven culture that enables teams to deliver meaningful impact for patients worldwide.

Responsibilities:

• Design and execute global HR strategy aligned with mission and organizational priorities
• Serve as the senior HR advisor to executive leadership, providing guidance on people-related risks, opportunities, and organizational effectiveness
• Oversee all HR operations, ensuring compliance with federal, state, local, and applicable international employment laws across globally distributed workforce
• Maintain and continuously improve HR policies, procedures, and personnel recordkeeping to ensure consistency, audit readiness, and alignment with both U.S. and global requirements
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning
• Supervise employee engagement, recognition, and team-building initiatives that reinforce organizational culture and values
• Manage, optimize, and negotiate benefits portfolio and compensation in collaboration with industry partners
• Structure, lead, and manage a high functioning HR team; builds organizational capacity through strong leadership, clear accountability, and continuous development of people and processes
• Foster a culture of reliability, attention to detail, and continuous improvement within the HR function
• Architect and implement performance management systems and leadership development
• Establish and uphold high standards for accuracy, consistency, and accountability across all HR functions
• Optimize HR Systems (Modern HRIS, Training platforms, etc.) to improve reporting, data integrity, and operational capability
• Lead the assessment and advancement of organizational health by integrating insights from diverse data sources to drive employee satisfaction, strengthen retention, and drive the mission of the organization

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required; Master’s preferred. Senior-level certification (SHRM-SCP or SPHR) are highly preferred
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role (HR Director, Head of HR, or similar), experience in global or nonprofit environments preferred
• Proven track record of building an HR function including people strategy and organizational structure leadership
• Demonstrated experience managing an HR department budget, directly overseeing employee benefits opportunities and compensation structuring for a globally distributed workforce
• Ability to assess organizational impact; recommends actions aligned with strategic priorities, and take initiative with solutions that drive organizational health
• Advanced proficiency with modern HRIS platforms and data analytics tools to enhance people strategy decisions
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices in alignment with both U.S. and global requirements
• Willing and able to travel domestically or internationally, averaging 20% annually

Skills and Attributes:

• Passionate about The Max Foundation’s mission and vision, and determined to lead and accomplish all goals related to current and future strategic plans
• High attention to detail and a high standard for quality work product
• Understanding of and comfortable in a global environment, with an emphasis on low and middle-income countries
• Passion for exceptional collaboration, and flexibility to do what it takes to elevate positive culture
• Comfort working in a complex, fast-paced, and high-workload environment
• Caring, humble, and people-oriented servant leader
• Resourceful, finds solutions using all available data to overcome challenges impacting the organization

Benefits Summary:

• Employer-sponsored benefits include:
  • 100% medical, dental, and vision premium coverage for employees; 50% premium coverage for spouse and/or dependents
  • Annual vacation accrual 80 hours (increases over time), personal time accrual of 104 hours, 12 paid company holidays, and 2 floating holidays per year
  • $10,000 Basic Life and AD&D insurance coverage; Short-term disability insurance
• Additional benefits include:
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Optional employee covered Long Term Disability and Supplemental Life Insurance
  • Eligibility for our Safe Harbor 401k plan participation after 3 months of employment, including Max-paid 3% non-elective contribution regardless of participation
  • Monthly wellness benefit (earn up to $70/month), Costco membership, and WFH/Commuter Stipend ($1,800/year)