Employee Culture Lead in Phoenix, Arizona at Chicanos Por La Causa

Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) is a non-profit organization and one of the largest Hispanic Community Development Corporations in the United States. The organization began with a group of student and community activists in 1967, and was incorporated and received non-profit status in 1969. CPLC is committed to empowering individuals through health & human services, housing, education, and economic development.

OBJECTIVE AND POSITION SUMMARY

The Employee Culture Lead provides strategic leadership, vision, and oversight for the organization’s employee culture, engagement, and inclusion initiatives supporting CPLC programs. This role ensures that Employee Culture Partner II staff experience a positive, inclusive, and value-aligned workplace culture that supports retention, performance, and program excellence.

The Employee Culture Lead supervises EC Partner II staff from a people leadership, culture, and employee relations perspective, partnering closely with leadership, HR, and compliance teams. This position serves as a trusted advisor to program leaders, translating organizational culture strategy into practical, program specific execution.

The Employee Culture Lead manages and mentors the Employee Culture team, including Employee Culture Partner II and I roles, and serve as a key advisor to, the HR Director, HR Manager, and program leaders. This position ensures consistency, impact, and continuous improvement of culture initiatives through data-driven insights, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational change leadership.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES.

• Directly supervise Employee Culture Partner II staff and provide indirect oversight of Employee Culture Partner II staff
• Establish team goals, performance expectations, and professional development plans
• Oversee coaching, performance evaluations, and corrective action for assigned staff
• Facilitate regular 1:1 meetings, team meetings, and leadership development conversations
• Allocate workload and resources to ensure effective execution of culture initiatives
• Serve as escalation point for complex employee culture, engagement, or conflict matters
• Escalate significant risks or trends to HR leadership with recommendations for complex employee culture or engagement concerns
• Support and advise on disciplinary actions, investigations, mediation, and terminations as needed
• Ensure consistent application of workplace and program policies

SPECIALIZATIONS

• Advanced knowledge of employee engagement, organizational culture, and inclusion best practices
• High emotional intelligence with demonstrated leadership presence
• Conflict resolution, mediation, and de-escalation expertise
• Organizational change management experience
• Data analysis and interpretation related to engagement, retention, and employee experience

PRIMARY DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Employee Relations Oversight

• Oversee and ensure accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of employee relations processes, including:
• Fact finding investigations
• Policy interpretation and application
• Corrective action and termination support
• Review fact finding documentation and outcomes for quality, objectivity, and risk mitigation
• Partner with HR leadership, Legal, and Compliance as needed on complex cases
• Ensure employee relations practices align with organizational values and trauma informed principles
  

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claims Oversight

• Maintain full accountability for the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of UI claims
• Oversee responses submitted via Equifax and related systems
• Review documentation prior to submission to ensure consistency with employment actions
• Track UI trends, identify risk patterns, and provide recommendations to leadership
• Support or attend unemployment hearings as needed

Reporting, Data Accuracy & Requests

• Ensure completion and accuracy of month end Employee Culture reports
• Oversee department data requests, including headcount trends, engagement metrics, and employee relations activity
• Validate data integrity before distribution to leadership or external partners
• Translate data into actionable insights and recommendations

Operational Leadership & Special Projects

• Lead and coordinate special projects related to employee culture, engagement, or employee relations
• Improve workflows, documentation standards, and internal controls
• Support implementation of new tools, processes, or compliance requirements
• Serve as project owner or subject matter expert as assigned by the Employee Culture Director

Development of the Employee Culture Team

• Lead the development and maturation of the Employee Culture function
• Establish standards, playbooks, and best practices for consistency across teams
• Foster a culture of accountability, learning, and psychological safety within the department
• Identify skill gaps and support training and continuous learning opportunities

Leadership & Emotional Intelligence

• Demonstrate exceptional emotional intelligence in all interactions
• Balance empathy with accountability when addressing sensitive employee matters
• Model professionalism, discretion, and values based decision making
• Build trust with employees, managers, and leadership through thoughtful communication
• Other duties as assigned to meet programmatic, departmental and agency needs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education/Background:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Psychology, Legal Studies, or related field required OR
• 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in employee culture, engagement, HR, or related field
• 1-2 years of people leadership experience required
• SHRM CP, SHRM SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification required or able to be certified within 1 year of starting position
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
• Active/valid driver’s license required

Other Requirements

• Experience and commitment to working with multi ethnic, multicultural, low-income populations
• Excellent initiative, flexibility, and stress-management in handling the demands of leadership
• Excellent attention to detail, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Proven ability to lead through influence and collaboration
• Proven supervisory and effective leadership skills
• High level of discretion and confidentiality
• Proven ability to follow up and meet deadlines
• Ability to multi task, prioritize, and delegate to balance the many responsibilities, and address the various issues that a leader faces during the workday.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools (Teams, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint)

What does CPLC offer YOU as a valued employee? We recognize that our success is driven by great talent, and that's why we provide a comprehensive and competitive suite of benefits to serve you and your family. Check out our benefits for FULLTIME employees below:

• Generous Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off & Paid Sick Days
• Medical, Dental, and Vision for Spouse/Domestic Partner & Children to age 26
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Recognition Program
• Tuition Reimbursement for qualifying degrees
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account
• Free Preventative Services & Wellness Rewards
• Life + Disability options
• Employee Assistance Program
• Telemedicine & Concierge Services
• Pet Care, Life Mart Purchase Discounts
• Mileage & Cell Reimbursement for qualifying roles
• Identity Theft Protection & Voluntary Benefits

Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CPLC knows it takes variety of thought, culture, background, and perspective to create a truly impactful workforce. As CPLC grows, we are seeking talented employees with varying backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our innovation and creativity. CPLC commits to a continued focus on fair and just hiring, training, promotional practices, and policies. We work for real change and progress in equal opportunity recruitment, hiring, and advancement. Learn more by visiting https://www.eeoc.gov/poster

California Residents: Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc and its subsidiaries will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Right’s Department Fair Chance Act webpage.