Director, People & Culture Jobs

NLADA is America’s oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel. We provide advocacy, guidance, information, training, and technical assistance for members of the equal justice community, especially those working in public defense and civil legal aid. For more than a century, we have connected and supported people across the country committed to justice. 

Because the quality of justice in America should not depend on how much money a person has, NLADA leads a broad network of advocates on the frontlines to advance justice and expand opportunity for all by promoting excellence in the delivery of legal services for people who cannot afford counsel.

Over the last 6 months, we have welcomed new leadership and launched our Racial Equity Initiative. Our membership includes people who have been clients of public or civil defender services, and our overall membership drives our mission and strategic priorities. We are embarking on an organizational transformation and modernization, to include internal efforts at dismantling white supremacy culture. We are growing and evolving and seek others with a strong desire to join in the journey.

The Director of People and Culture (“Director of P&C”) reports to the President and CEO and is responsible for leading the Human Resources team, nurturing our culture, and inspiring our people.  The Director of P&C will strengthen the agility of the Human Resources function, promote a stronger orientation to our purpose and develop HR systems to attract and manage talent - nurturing an inclusive environment that responds to support our mission and people’s aspirations and takes care of their well-being.  You will be joining NLADA when the post-pandemic “new normal” is shaping our work and critical choices on how we design a workspace that is aligned with supporting our members and the broader community in advancing racial equity and access to counsel. NLADA is on a journey to become an anti-racist organization that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

• Lead efforts to gather and review staff input to create actionable steps to enhance and improve NLADA culture, creating an environment that fosters continual learning and staff engagement.
• Propose compelling, engaging initiatives and learning opportunities that help all staff members experience the benefits of inclusion and equity for themselves, their colleagues, NLADA, and the communities we serve.
• Maintain a schedule of facilitation and coaching with leaders and managers to assess individual, team, and organizational development needs and conduct or procure specific training, assessments, and/or workshops.
• Organize organization-wide staff engagement and volunteer events.
• A passion for working in diverse and multicultural social justice environmentsinnovate.
• Foster an inclusive organizational culture that promotes unity and cohesion to stimulate the enthusiasm and innovation of employees around NLADA’s strategy and vision.
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• Work with NLADA leadership to conduct equity-based compensation studies and suggest organizational structures supporting equity, shared decision-making, and accountability.
• Implement an inclusive and equitable performance evaluation system that drives growth and effectiveness for the NLADA staff.
• Act as a catalyst for organizational change, considering emerging trends and new technologies.
• Cross-functional team leadership: experience in leading and motivating teams of highly qualified members with diverse, preferably multicultural backgrounds to high levels of performance and engagement as well as a track record in creating environments in which teams are willing and able to
• Build trust with employees and be an active listener and effective solver of people and culture issues.

• Familiarity with strategic planning, including compensation practices, data analysis, organizational diagnosis and development, and understanding current HR trends in compensation, benefits, and performance evaluation programs.
• A minimum of five years of Human Resource management experience is preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations for a Washington-DC-based and multi-state organization.
• Experience using web-based platforms, such as MS Office 365, DocuSign, and
• Senior Professional in Human Resources or Society for Human Resources Management-Senior Certified Professional is highly desired.
• Previous experience working with a 501 (c)(3) is preferred.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required, or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Experience consulting and educating executive leadership and/or a Board of Directors on HR-related topics.

Work Schedule

• Local candidates to the DMV and immediate surrounding areas highly preferred;
• Hybrid role
• Must be available between 9:00 am – 5:30 pm ET work schedule via Zoom, Teams, and other similar platforms. 

How We Support Staff

• Paid time off, to include recognition of all federal holidays, a paid day off on months without a federal holiday, and is closed the week between December 24th and January 1st
• Employer-provided life insurance policy and Short-Term and Long-term disability benefits
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Free individual Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance for employee coverage, reduced rates for family coverage, and a health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Wellness support, to include paid sick leave, Family Medical Leave Act, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Salary Information

The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $90,000 annually, depending on experience.

Additional Information

NLADA is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, creed, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability, pregnancy, personal appearance, marital or family status, or any other status protected by District of Columbia and Federal laws. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.