About Proteus Fund

Proteus Fund connects philanthropy to the frontlines of social justice. We strive to advance the interconnected goals of racial, gender, queer, and disability justice, and an inclusive, fully representative democracy. To do our work effectively and with significant impact, Proteus Fund creates dynamic relationships between progressive philanthropists, movement leaders, and other allies that go far beyond transactional grantmaking. Our trusted position among funders and field actors enables us to support, both through collaborative grantmaking and other efforts, a broad array of strategies to achieve social justice victories. Our donor collaboratives are best-in-class models for bridging responsive philanthropy and cutting-edge social justice movements for deeper impact, aligning resources to address critical needs, and shaping strategy alongside our partners. Through our fiscal sponsorship program, Proteus Fund partners with initiatives which play a powerful role in the larger ecosystem for social change, providing them with tailored and comprehensive organizational support.

To date, Proteus Fund, and its affiliated 501c4 organization, the Proteus Action League, have distributed $280 million in grants, and provided other essential tools to support activists, advocates, networks, coalitions, and issue-specific campaigns at the local, state, and national level. Proteus Fund is headquartered in New York City, with staff based across the United States. 

Please visit www.proteusfund.org/ for more information about Proteus Fund’s history, impact, and leadership.
 

About the Opportunity

Reporting to Proteus Fund’s Chief Operating Officer, the first-ever Vice President of People & Culture will serve as a leader and champion of Proteus Fund’s culture. As a member of the Senior Management team (SMT), the Vice President will implement best practices in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB), and shape the organization’s people and culture function, including its human resources (HR) management. The Vice President will also bring first-rate, strong stakeholder management to continue to strengthen Proteus Fund’s organizational culture and inspire change at all levels and divisions within the organization.

The Vice President will manage an HR Manager, who is primarily responsible for all benefits and leave administration and onboarding/offboarding processes, and will also have the opportunity to grow the current team by making an additional full-time hire to enhance the capacity of the People and Culture team, and support their vision for the evolution of Proteus Fund’s people and culture function and DEIB priorities. The Vice President will work regularly with executive leadership and all departments and programs at Proteus Fund. This includes donor services, finance, grants management, IT, operations, as well as Proteus Fund’s donor collaboratives and fiscally sponsored projects. This is a unique opportunity for a trail-blazing leader who brings a problem-solving orientation and strong skill set for developing solutions to their work. 

Proteus Fund welcomes everyone to our team. We strongly encourage applicants who are people of color, LGBTQ, women and gender nonconforming, and people with disabilities.

Areas of Leadership

Passion for Proteus Fund’s Mission & Values Alignment

• Ground the organization’s people and culture focused functions in the mission and vision of a social justice-focused philanthropy and its partner organizations
• Demonstrate authenticity, openness to embrace radical candor, strong collaboration, and listening skills 
• Lead by example with empathy and a focus on the future, consistently prioritizing how to best adapt Proteus Fund to its changing external environment and internal culture

Key Qualifications: 

• Passion for Proteus Fund’s mission and vision, demonstrated through an understanding of what motivates talented staff to bring their best to what they do 
• Interest in philanthropy, advocacy, and progressive social justice
• Ability to motivate and engage team members by ensuring that human resources policies and practices, and internal culture, are aligned with and reflect organizational core values and mission
• Fiscal sponsorship experience is a plus, but not required

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging and Human Resources Subject Matter Expertise 

• Set a clear vision and direction for Proteus Fund’s DEIB strategy, ensuring that the overall strategy supports equitable and progressive HR practices and the organization’s mission and vision, including developing/updating and implementing values-based policies and practices 
• Serve as a DEIB and HR thought partner to the President, Senior Management team, and Proteus Fund’s DEIB committee 
• Engage the DEIB committee and support the chair and committee members, acting as a partner, directing the DEIB workflow and ensuring it is aligned with organizational strategy, as well as expanding broader staff involvement in this body of work
• Review all HR policies and practices to ensure alignment with Proteus Fund’s mission, business model, strategic plan, and values while ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and best practices
• Create and distribute communications related to HR policies, procedures, and practices and any related topics to all Proteus Fund employees
• Design and coordinate trainings for core staff on DEIB best practices, strategies, and philosophies
• Stay current on internal/external best practices, including benchmarks, and actively pursue efforts in making Proteus Fund an effective and exemplary leader in DEIB strategy and HR policies

Key Qualifications: 

• Degree in a relevant field and equivalent work experience
• Experience leading nonprofit human resources, people and culture, and/or DEIB functions as both a direct supervisor and team leader
• Known for developing progressive policies and practices and tracking HR trends
• Experience developing, implementing, and continuously evaluating HR policies and systems that adhere to all relevant legal and regulatory requirements
• Certifications - such as DEIB, PHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP - will be recognized but are not required

Executive Leadership 

• Participate in Proteus Fund’s strategic planning process
• Lead as a thought partner and counselor to the President and Chief Operating Officer for all internal DEIB and HR strategies, from ideation and planning to execution
• Serve as a key member of the Senior Management team, coaching senior staff on effective implementation of DEIB and HR strategies, adoption and application
• Lead fellow Senior Management team members in strengthening and norming their leadership and management practices, and the effectiveness of a fully remote and inclusive, equitable culture
• Support responses to and advise the President and senior leaders on organizational changes and challenges in ways that advance necessary organizational transformation, including its partner organization and fiscally sponsored projects

Key Qualifications: 

• Experience as a senior/executive organizational leader who brings a high level of emotional intelligence, maturity, and integrity to sensitive and/or confidential information
• Ability to link broader organizational vision and goals to the design and implementation of effective systems and processes 
• Experience partnering with team members, senior leaders, and other stakeholders to lead and manage complex organizational change
• Track record and comfort with coaching and developing peers and more senior leaders
• Working knowledge of complex budgets and experience managing them effectively
• Flexibility and adaptability to navigate, understand, and support multiple organizational cultures embodied by fiscally sponsored projects

Team Leadership 

• Set a clear vision and direction for the People and Culture team structure - including determining the role and scope to hire a third team member - that functionally and effectively serves an organization of 90 employees across the Proteus Fund core staff and fiscally sponsored projects
• Develop and implement an equitable and integrated HR function and strategy that proactively addresses the people/culture needs of the organization, including but not limited to: workforce planning, talent acquisition and onboarding, staff retention, organizational and professional development, performance management, employee relations, compensation, and benefits administration
• Provide HR advice and counsel to the Senior Management team and all supervisors, including directing all workplace investigations, working with managers to develop effective performance improvement plans and assist in implementing them when necessary, and managing all voluntary and involuntary terminations, and exit interviews
• Create, monitor, and manage the HR department’s budget and the organization’s DEIB budget
• Provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship to the HR Manager and additional team member(s) in order to build a strong people and culture function and cohesive HR team, including development of annual work plans, and the skills and professional development opportunities necessary to support their success
• Manage the relationships with the two PEOs that Proteus currently uses for 10 Fiscally Sponsored Project staff living outside the U.S.
• Remain knowledgeable and current on HR trends and best practices

Key Qualifications: 

• Demonstrated ability to articulate a clear vision and build consensus around it in order to move multiple work functions forward; capacity and experience in complex project management
• Track record in multiple aspects of human resources, including staff development and talent management strategies, as well as a successful track record of building, leading, and/or executing a progressive human resources function
• Experienced, hands-on generalist, capable of leading the function

Culture & Change Management Leadership

• Lead the work and processes to better define and communicate the organization’s decision-making and internal communication structures to help minimize and mitigate siloing across Proteus Fund
• Create training programs to grow and develop Proteus Fund’s team in ways that are inclusive, engaging, empowering, and creative
• Develop and facilitate HR, culture, and learning initiatives that reflect the organization’s mission, values, and strategic priorities, including through participation in organization-wide working groups (e.g. the DEIB committee)
• Assist in developing an organizational environment that reflects Proteus Fund’s values, creating a culture of trust, transparency, respect, and collaboration
• Help define and create strategies for the organization’s culture goals, including addressing its new/recent primarily remote structure
• Develop and implement ways of operating that leverage best practices across systems, processes, and policies that impact the overall people and culture experience throughout the organization and elevate employee engagement and wellbeing

Key Qualifications: 

• Ability to establish and implement progressive systems and structures designed to support the development and engagement of staff and overall organizational goals
• Experience developing an environment of collaboration, transparency, and respect by strengthening working relationships and dismantling silos between departments as well as team members
• Track record of restorative and effective conflict resolution
• Previous experience as an organization’s people-focused culture leader
• Keen sense of prioritization and multitasking, and experience in relating to others who represent a variety of backgrounds, skills sets, and experiences

Compensation, Benefits, & Location

The starting salary for this role is $160,000 to $190,000 and is based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to: geographic location, skill set level, number of years of previous/applicable experience, and Proteus Fund's commitment to ensuring pay equity within the organization. The recruiting team will share more details regarding salary bands based on the factors noted above. Salary is one part of the total compensation that Proteus Fund provides to employees.

Proteus Fund is committed to ensuring that its employees are supported holistically, from compensation, benefits, and resources to an enriching work environment and collaborative culture. Proteus Fund leads the market in a number of its offerings, including a sector-leading retirement plan contribution and robust benefits package. Medical and dental benefits for employee and eligible dependents available on the first day of work. 

• Retirement savings account (401k) with an organization contribution of 10% of annual salary
• Three weeks paid vacation in first year of work; four weeks in subsequent years
• 15 sick days per year
• Three personal days per year
• 15 paid holidays
• Professional development initiatives for growth
• Life insurance
• Paid Family Leave, short-term, and long-term disability

This is a full-time, exempt, U.S.-based remote or hybrid position. The person in the Vice President, People & Culture role is an individual located in the Northeast (i.e., within the Washington DC to Boston corridor), with a preference for someone in the New York City area. Regardless of location, the role requires up to 20% travel for internal meetings and retreats, as well as conferences and other events.

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Proteus Fund believes that one of the greatest strengths of an organization is the rich diversity of its staff and Board and is committed to providing equal employment and promotional opportunities based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under the law. Proteus Fund’s policies and practices are to reflect Proteus Fund’s commitment to nondiscrimination in all areas of employment.

Proteus Fund is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Proteus will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please  contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 413-256-0349, option 3. Additionally, throughout this document, use of the pronoun “they” is intended to be inclusive of humans who identify as non-binary, as well as those of gender expansive identities and experiences.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

Please note, to maintain and safeguard staff's health, well-being, and safety, Proteus Fund requires all employees to be vaccinated, including the initial vaccine series and boosters, prior to their employment and adhere to the regular upkeep of COVID-19 vaccination requirements as per CDC recommendations while employed. Proof of the CDC-recommended level of COVID-19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment with Proteus Fund.