Vice President of People and Culture

Founded in 1989, Sakhi for South Asian Survivors (Sakhi) is a nonprofit that works to eradicate gender-based violence in the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean diaspora. Led by and centering survivors, we provide trauma-informed direct services, actively push for change, and stand as a go-to resource for allies and advocates. Sakhi is a trailblazer – agile, and inclusive of all South Asians and Indo-Caribbeans regardless of how they identify.

With the collective strength of survivor voices united for justice, we are shaping a world where gender-based violence has no place. What distinguishes Sakhi is not only what we do, but how we do it. Cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed practice are not programmatic add-ons—they are embedded in everyday interactions, internal decision-making, language access, and community relationships.

Sakhi recently underwent a values-informed rebrand, broadening our articulation of inclusion and reaffirming our commitment to all survivors of gender-based violence. Our work is relational, values-driven, and deeply trusted within community networks. Learn more about our recognition and impact here and here.

Sakhi is now at an inflection point. We have secured two significant gifts from Yield Giving and Action for Women’s Health. These investments create meaningful opportunities to deepen impact, expand services, and potentially extend reach beyond New York. Senior leadership is actively engaging in strategic conversations about growth—whether that means increasing staffing capacity, strengthening infrastructure, expanding programming nationally, or some combination of these paths.

Sakhi stands at a rare and promising moment: well-resourced, well-regarded, and deeply rooted in community. The thoughtful prioritization of internal capacity - beginning with a Vice President of People and Culture - positions the organization to expand its reach while preserving the integrity that has defined its work for more than three decades.

Position Overview

As Sakhi contemplates team expansion and broader service delivery, the organization must ensure that its internal systems evolve alongside its external ambitions. Scaling a trauma-informed, culturally grounded organization requires more than adding headcount. The Vice President of People and Culture will serve as a steward of Sakhi’s internal ecosystem, ensuring that expansion strengthens rather than strains the organization’s core values. This role will help translate Sakhi’s deeply relational culture into sustainable systems, supporting staff well-being, professional growth, and organizational resilience.

This position will report to the Executive Director and as a member of Sakhi’s Steering Committee, this senior-level role will be responsible for critical decision-making that will have implications for Sakhi’s evolution.

Key Responsibilities

1. Organizational and Departmental Leadership:

• Serve as a member of the Steering Committee, participating in organizational strategy and decision making
• Steward the culture of the organization through policies, communications, supportive leadership, and programs that enhance employee engagement, satisfaction, and well-being
• Stay attuned to internal and external factors that impact the team
• Facilitate managers’ meetings to strengthen relationships between the Leadership Team (LT) and this group
• Lead and conduct bi-monthly manager trainings
• Liaise with external consultants on bi-annual team day

2. Talent Acquisition, Growth and Management:

• Oversee the recruitment and selection process to attract, hire, and retain top talent including offer letters, background checks, fingerprinting, etc.
• Manage employee onboarding, training, and development to enhance skills and career growth
• Design, implement, and oversee performance management systems and process to drive employee accountability and productivity and foster goal setting and feedback
• Provide coaching and support to managers and employees on performance-related matters
• Develop and manage competitive compensation and benefits programs
• Conduct exit interviews, and with support from the Operations team, manage the overall employee off boarding process
• Conduct regular benchmarking to ensure the organization remains competitive in the job market

3. Employee Relations & Experience:

• Lead equity, inclusion and dignity initiatives to create a welcoming workplace for all employees which fosters a positive, inclusive, and collaborative organizational culture
• Build and maintain a trusted space for team members to engage in an open dialogue regarding their daily responsibilities, challenges, and reflections on organizational culture
• Collaborate with the LT to develop programs that are responsive to trends in employee retention, satisfaction, and engagement
• Establish best practices and procedures for addressing employee performance or behavioral challenges and counsel managers in order to resolve issues that may arise
• Serve as an Ombudsman, trusted advisor, and internal mediator for resolving internal conflict and develop policies for managing disputes and investigations in a fair and timely manner
• Ensure a safe and respectful workplace by addressing any instances of harassment or discrimination
• Keep a pulse on trends and shifts in workplace culture by conducting regular employee surveys and feedback sessions

4. HR Administration & Compliance

• Ensure that Sakhi complies with labor laws and relevant employment regulations, maintaining up-to-date HR policies and procedures captured and maintained in the Employee Handbook
• Conduct annual training for all team members on Handbook policies
• Communicate changes in policy, practices, and resources and endeavor to ensure that policies
• Perform annual assessment of employee benefit plans and incentives and coordinate the plan
• Support leave administration for team members
• Oversee administration and employee data management with an eye towards data security and privacy

Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience developing and implementing HR strategies and initiatives, with at least 5 years in a leadership role that has included oversight of a division/department/unit and corresponding team
• Experience and demonstrated expertise in the not-for-profit sector, ideally working with immigrant, South Asian and/or Indo-Caribbean populations, or trauma survivors
• Track record of fostering collaborative, input-rich decision-making and building systems and infrastructure that promote clarity and cohesion
• Experience working with immigrant, South Asian and/or Indo Caribbean populations, or trauma survivors

Personal Characteristics

• Dedication to equity and systems-level change
• Self-awareness, humility and the ability to lead effectively in the fore - or background, as well as the inclination to share credit
• An orientation to listen well, with empathy and curiosity that permits authentic, trusting relationship building
• Practice of kindness and care-centered leadership

Skills

• Demonstrated expertise with conflict resolution in complex contexts and across positional power
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s degree preferred
• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR)
• Experience practicing trauma-informed care strongly preferred

Reporting Relationships

The Vice President of People and Culture will report to the Executive Director and will have one Associate level direct report.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time role (35+ hours a week), with a salary range between $160k-$165k per year based on experience. Staff members have the flexibility to organize their 35 hours over a four day work week. Some evenings and weekends will be required. Sakhi offers a generous benefits package, including unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, health and dental insurance. Additionally, all full-time staff have access to clinical supervision.

At Sakhi we offer a unique work environment that is collaborative, fun, and committed to social justice. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, persons of color and bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with marginalized caste identities are strongly encouraged to apply. At Sakhi, we have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and do their best work. Sakhi is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Application Process

We invite you to submit your resume and, in lieu of a cover letter, respond to the following prompts (approximately 250-300 words each):

1. What draws you to Sakhi’s mission, and how have your personal and professional experiences shaped the values you bring to people and culture leadership? Please share an example of how you have translated your values into action in your workplace.

2. Tell us about a time you helped strengthen an organizational culture to be more inclusive and aligned with its values. How did you approach the work, and what impact did it have on staff—particularly those whose identities or experiences have historically been marginalized?

3. Describe your approach to building and scaling people systems (e.g., hiring, onboarding, performance development, or leadership pipelines) in a growing organization. How did you ensure those systems were both operationally effective and reflective of the organization’s mission and community?

The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. Please send your materials to our search partner at SakhiVPPC@lns-partners.com. For best consideration, please apply before May 15, 2026.

*We really want to get to know you and hear your authentic voice. Please do not use AI to polish your writing.