VP of People & Culture

Company: CPS Inc
Location: Oakland
Posted on: April 30, 2025

Job Description:

Harmless Harvest envisions a world where nutritious, clean, organic, and healthy food and beverages are standard rather than the exception; where all people involved in creating the product are treated with fairness; and the planet is treated harmlessly. We are focused on changing the world, and we are always looking for like-minded, wildly passionate individuals to help us do this. Join the #HarmlessMovement.About the Role:As the new VP of People and Culture, you will be joining our small (4-5 direct reports) but mighty People & Environment team in a fast-paced environment at our Oakland-based HQ. In this role, you will elevate and refine the Harmless Harvest culture, People process and strengthen overall team engagement. As a member of the Leadership Team, you will report directly the CEO but work daily with other members of the P&E team and Leadership team.What you'll be doing:

• Oversight of People + Environment team:
  • Lead all facets of human resource management, including talent acquisition, performance management, total rewards, compliance, employee relations and engagement, organizational design, DEI, and professional development.
  • Shape the organization to fit company and encourage team development, engagement and well-being.
  • Strategically manage hiring and termination processes to reflect the company's values and operational goals.
  • Benchmark and innovate processes that advance Harmless Harvest's culture and ensure a conductive work environment for peak employee performance and productivity.
  • Works in partnership with Harmless Harvest's Thailand based Operations Team to maintain connectivity and alignment on key HR initiatives and policies.
  • Culture and Leadership Development:
    • Work with Harmless Harvest leadership to clarify its mission and values and embed that across the organization and culture - creating a consistent and authentic experience for all employees.
    • Actively coach leaders to embody organizational values and foster accountability, encouraging them to lead collaboratively across teams.
    • Collaborate with CEO to develop productive cadence and agendas for leadership team meetings and strategy offsites.
    • Exhibit exemplary leadership skills, acting as a leader of leaders, and fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and high performance.
    • Enable strong collaboration and communication between all employees, regardless of physical location, through the effective use of space and technologies.
    • Continuously assess effectiveness of employee work-locations and adjust space and policies as needed to ensure maximum productivity.What You'll Bring:
      • Leadership Skills
      • Ability to collaborate/influence C-suite as trusted advisor.
      • General management skills, given ownership of multi-faceted teams.
      • Strategic and business acumen. Fast processing speed, understanding of the business, its talent needs, the dynamics across the team and competitive landscape.
      • Accountability for self and for team. Drive for outstanding results.
      • Skilled in leveraging People metrics and methodologies to drive measurable results.
      • Masterful execution of large-scale projects and change management.
      • Ability to attract, nurture, develop, and retain strong talent.Depth of HR Knowledge and Experience
        • Experience building and managing a team of subject matter experts in HR. Build collaborative relationships with HR team members that appropriately balance empowerment with oversight and accountability.
        • Experience working with distributed, global HR teams, preferably within Asia.
        • Ability to develop a cohesive HR, People and People Operations strategy.
        • Working knowledge of compensation and rewards (including benefits, equity), employment law and compliance for exempt and non-exempt employees, talent acquisition and employer branding for an under-the-radar brand, performance management and motivation, org design, and adult learning. A clear understanding of what 'great' looks like and the ability to anticipate potential challenges.
        • Strength in internal communications, development of a coherent culture, and execution, maintenance, and evolution of this culture.
        • Maintains a current understanding of HR tools, technology, and trends, applying them thoughtfully within the global context of Harmless Harvest. Demonstrates independent thinking and a pioneering mindset, avoiding blind adherence to trends.
        • Track record of creating lasting impact and sustained positive change.
        • Alignment with Harmless Harvest culture
          • Purpose-driven.
          • Genuine care for sustainability, regeneration, authenticity, diversity, and people.
          • Cost consciousness.
          • 10+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in the human resources field, which includes 5 years of leadership experience.
          • Experience within a consumer package goods organization is required.
          • Highly organized, flexible to daily work priorities.Must Have's to be considered: 10+ years in HR People management, strong background in culture change/strategy; strong certifications in HR. Potential candidates MUST come from food and beverage manufacturing and MUST be local to the San Francisco Bay area or willing to move with little to no relocation support.Harmless Harvest is manufactured in two facilities in Thailand and has been in business since 2009. Their Oakland US Headquarters houses their R&D, Regulatory, Packaging, Supply Chain, Marketing, Accounting and other corporate functions. They make coconut water-based beverages, smoothies, yogurt, etc. with more line extensions coming.They have a very dynamic culture with an "all hands-on deck" mentality and run their teams lean and mean and are careful to attract and hire like-minded players to join their organization.Who You Are:
            • Make the impossible, possible - someone who is resilient, optimistic, and determined.
            • Protect the most vulnerable - someone who is compassionate, empathetic and acts with integrity.
            • Craft incredible things - someone who is creative, passionate, with keen attention to detail.
            • Act with heart - someone who is kind, generous and respectful.Why You'll Love it Here:
              • Join a passionate team that comes from all backgrounds
              • Copious amounts of fee coconut water
              • Generous Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
              • Comprehensive health benefits and perks
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Keywords: CPS Inc, Oakland , VP of People & Culture, Executive , Oakland, California