Summary
Description
POSITION DESCRIPTION: Vice President of People and Culture
Mission: To represent the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean diaspora living in
America in a survivor-led movement for gender justice and to honor
the collective and inherent power of all survivors of violence.
Organization Overview:
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
and practices are efficient, equitable, timely, auditable, and responsive
○ Perform annual assessment of employee benefit plans and incentives and coordinate the plan
renewal process to ensure quality, cost-effective plans are secured
○ 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.
