Vice President - People Operations

Job Title: Vice President of People 
Location: California (Remote/Hybrid) 
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer 

About Evolve 

Evolve is a clinician-led, mission-driven behavioral health organization dedicated to serving adolescents aged 12–17 across California. Our mission is clear:  “Through individualized care and ongoing support, we empower teens to heal, hope, and become the best versions of themselves.” 

We are guided by core values that shape every aspect of our work: 

Achieving Clinical Excellence | Leading With Kindness | Empowering Clinicians | Being Accountable | Affirming for All | Growing Together 

At Evolve, we are committed to clinical integrity, operational excellence, and creating a culture that values both compassion and accountability. 

Position Summary 

Evolve is looking for a highly organized, compliance-savvy, and mission-aligned executive to serve as our Vice President of People. This is a unique role that requires both strategic vision and operational execution. Leading a small but mighty team (three direct reports), this individual must be comfortable rolling up their sleeves to handle day-to-day HR operations while also driving macro-level initiatives that shape the future of our organization. 

The VP of People will oversee all aspects of HR, including compliance, recruitment, employee relations, compensation, and culture. The right candidate brings deep knowledge of California labor law, experience supporting high-volume hourly and clinical workforces, and the leadership presence to serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior team. You will help build a fair, consistent, and values-aligned workplace while ensuring we meet all regulatory and accreditation requirements. 

Key Responsibilities 

HR Governance & Compliance 

• Serve as the in-house expert on California labor law, wage & hour regulations, and leave policies.
• ​Ensure full compliance with CCLD, CARF, and Joint Commission standards.
• Develop, update, and enforce HR policies and procedures that are both legally sound and mission-aligned. 

Employee Relations & Leave Management 

• Manage high-sensitivity employee relations issues with discretion and objectivity. 
• Oversee administration of CFRA, FMLA, ADA, and other leaves in a consistent and compliant manner. 
• Act as a steady, fair presence in handling risk, conflict, and performance issues. 

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning 

• Lead high-volume recruiting strategies for hourly and clinical roles across the state. 
• Design creative sourcing pipelines in a competitive, constrained labor market. 
• ​​​​​​​Manage recruiting systems (JazzHR) and collaborate closely with program leadership to meet staffing targets. 

Leadership Support & Policy Coaching 

• Train and coach managers to apply policies fairly, document appropriately, and lead effectively.
• Support leaders across departments in building a high-accountability, high-support environment.
• ​​​​​​​Ensure that HR practices are aligned with clinical and operational excellence. 

Compensation, Benefits & Systems Management 

• Oversee compensation benchmarking, salary bands, and rewards strategy. 
• Ensure administration of benefits programs and employee communications around offerings.
• ​​​​​​​Leverage HRIS systems (Paylocity, OnShift, JazzHR) to drive efficiency and transparency. 

Culture & Engagement 

• Partner with clinical and operations leadership to support internal newsletters, retreats, and recognition efforts. 
• Build initiatives that foster connection, inclusivity, and alignment with Evolve’s mission and values.
• ​​​​​​​Play a hands-on role in cultivating a cohesive and engaged workplace. 

Qualifications 

• 8+ years in progressive HR leadership, with a strong track record of compliance and execution 

• Deep knowledge of California labor law, wage and hour issues, and regulatory environments 

• Experience supporting high-volume hourly and/or clinical workforces 

• Familiarity with accreditation/licensing standards: CCLD, CARF, Joint Commission 

• Proficient in Paylocity, JazzHR, OnShift or similar platforms 

• Hands-on and highly organized, with the ability to shift between strategic leadership and tactical execution 

• Skilled at building trust and modeling sound judgment, fairness, and clarity 

Salary: $150,000 – $170,000 annually DOE 

Evolve is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all team members.