Head of People and Culture

Summary

The Head of People and Culture supports the mission, vision, and values of The Museum of Flight by aligning people, processes, and culture with the organization’s strategic goals. This role leads a people strategy that inspires a culture of belonging, integrity, excellence, and collaboration, positioning the Museum as an employer of choice and an engaged community member.

Responsibilities

• People Operations Lead: Partner with People Operations (HR), Community Engagement, Volunteer Program, and museum leaders to develop recruitment strategies, address day‑to‑day employment needs, and ensure compensation, benefits, and recognition programs prioritize equity. Implement performance management processes and maintain compliance with employment regulations.
• Engagement and Culture: Promote an organizational culture that reinforces the Museum’s vision and values, champion the “Living Our Purpose” plan, design practices for belonging and community engagement, foster an “entire crew” mindset, develop global competency programs, and establish quantitative and qualitative measures of employee, volunteer, and community experience.
• Learning and Development: Oversee onboarding for staff and volunteers, expand learning opportunities at all levels, embed continuous improvement into the culture, and coach executives to strengthen leadership bench strength.
• Strategy: Work closely with the CEO and executive team to integrate people perspectives into strategic plans, lead workforce and succession planning, and provide insights on HR trends, talent management, and organizational development.
• Organizational Development: Design and execute plans to enhance organizational capability (goal‑setting, role clarity, decision‑making, communication), identify gaps and misalignments, advise on restructuring and process redesign, and lead change‑management initiatives.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred). Ten (10) years of progressive HR leadership experience, preferably in a nonprofit.
• Knowledge:
  • Deep understanding of business principles, employment laws, compensation and benefits, talent management, and nonprofit governance.
  • Familiarity with volunteer program management, community engagement, and current industry trends.
  • Passion for the Museum’s mission.
• Skills:
  • Excellent leadership, management, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
  • Proven relationship‑building with senior executives and stakeholders.
  • Expertise in systematic change, public speaking, training, and group facilitation.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, Teams, and related platforms.
• Abilities:
  • Advising and influencing executives with data‑driven insights.
  • Managing high‑performing teams, coaching, and conflict resolution.
  • Systems thinking, creative problem‑solving, and rapid adaptation.
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and building inclusive environments.
• License & Certification: Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM‑SCP) strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• 403(b) retirement plan with 5% match after one year of service
• Employee Assistance Program
• Company‑paid life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment, and long‑term disability
• Paid time off: 2 weeks sick leave (80 hours), 5 weeks vacation (200 hours), 10 paid holidays, and 2 floating holidays

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $129,471 to $207,154 annually, with an anticipated hiring range of $160,000 to $180,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Final salary will reflect role scope, experience, skills, and ability to execute successfully.

Work Schedule

Primarily Monday through Friday with flexibility for evenings, weekends, and variable hours based on museum needs. Occasional local and out‑of‑area travel may be required. The role is performed in a normal office environment with standard on‑site attendance.