ABOUT THE ROLE

The People & Culture Director plays a key role in fostering a healthy, values-driven workplace culture where employees and managers can thrive. This role partners across the organization to strengthen manager capability, employee engagement, team effectiveness, and organizational trust while ensuring thoughtful and consistent people practices.

The Director serves as the primary strategic advisor on employee and labor relations matters, supports performance and development conversations, provides strategic oversight and escalation support for leave and accommodations processes, and helps ensure compliance with employment laws and collective bargaining agreements. This role balances compassion and accountability, helping leaders navigate complex situations with clarity, care, and consistency.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and emotionally intelligent leader who believes strong culture and clear expectations go hand in hand.

ABOUT SAM

As SAM heads into its second century, we are boldly reimagining what we can and should be. Our goal is to be a model for the future of museums - a bold, dynamic hub of creativity, belonging, and cultural leadership, shaping the future of art and community. Embracing new ways of engaging communities and seeking innovative partnerships - all while keeping art and community at the center of what we do. This ambitious effort represents a transformative shift and radically redefining how art museums operate. This is a pivotal moment for SAM, and we are seeking great talent to join us on our journey. Working at SAM is not just a job—it's a chance to be part of a vibrant, creative community.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Partners with leaders and managers across the organization to strengthen workplace culture, employee engagement, team effectiveness, and organizational health
Serves as a trusted advisor and coach to managers on employee relations matters, performance conversations, conflict resolution, workplace concerns, and organizational change
Leads employee relations processes including investigations, performance management, corrective action, and dispute resolution with a balanced, fair, and employee-centered approach
Acts as an escalation point for leave administration processes, accommodations, and related employee support programs in alignment with organizational policies and applicable laws
Supports employee experience initiatives that contribute to employee wellbeing and retention
Partners closely with labor leadership and management representatives to support positive labor-management relationships
Participates in labor-management committee meetings, collective bargaining preparation, grievance response, and labor negotiations
Helps create and maintain people policies, practices, and resources that reflect organizational values, operational needs, and legal compliance
Monitors and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and HR best practices
Drafts, updates, and maintains employee handbook content, policies, guidelines, and manager resources
Supports recruitment and onboarding efforts for senior leadership and other key organizational roles, as needed
Uses data, feedback, and employee insights to identify trends and recommend improvements to organizational practices and the employee experience
Maintains knowledge of emerging trends, best practices, and regulatory changes in human resources, employee relations, labor relations, and organizational culture
Supports departmental planning, budgeting, and operational priorities within the People & Culture function
Performs other duties as assigned
Contribute to an institutional focus of delivering exceptional, welcoming, and inclusive customer service—creating positive, meaningful experiences for all visitors, every time
Participates in institutional learning opportunities to grow our collective understanding and integration of antiracism, cultural competency, and equity values into SAM’s work

WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
7+ years of progressive Human Resources or People & Culture experience, including significant experience in employee relations and manager coaching
Experience working in a unionized environment, including labor-management collaboration and collective bargaining support
Demonstrated ability to navigate sensitive and complex workplace situations with sound judgment, discretion, empathy, and professionalism
Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
Experience supporting organizational culture initiatives, leadership development, change management, or employee engagement efforts
Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, coaching, and communication skills
Strong conflict resolution and relationship-building capabilities with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization
Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution in a fast-paced and evolving environment
Commitment to fostering inclusive, respectful, and people-centered workplaces
Ability to navigate complex and sensitive conversations with empathy, discretion, and clarity, tailoring communication to diverse audiences
Strong ability to coach and advise leaders on handling challenging situations such as performance issues, employee relations matters, and organizational change with fairness and respect
Builds trust and credibility with employees and leaders by modeling transparency, consistency, and integrity in all interactions
Fosters an environment of psychological safety, ensuring employees feel heard, respected, and safe to share perspectives or concerns without fear of reprisal
Uses emotional intelligence to defuse conflict, read situations effectively, and balance organizational needs with employee well-being
Serves as a confidential sounding board and thought partner for leaders, helping them anticipate reactions and communicate effectively during times of change or conflict
Translates complex HR and compliance issues into clear, actionable guidance that leaders and employees can understand and implement
Strong verbal and written communication skills, demonstrating tact, discretion, and a compassionate directness that creates clarity
Demonstrated ability to organize effectively, manage time efficiently, and deliver high-quality work with precision
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, guided by critical thinking and good judgement in complex or sensitive situations
Strong supervisory and leadership skills
Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software and proficiency or ability to quickly learn the HRIS, ATS, and LMS systems

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree or certification in Human Resources (e.g. SHRM, SPHR, CCP, CERP)
Experience in the non-profit sector, preferably arts and culture
Skilled spreadsheet creation, management and data collection

FLSA Status: Full Time, Exempt

Reports To: Chief People Officer

Work Location: Seattle Art Museum - Downtown Location

BENEFITS

Benefits include a fully employer paid HMP medical plan or an employee contribution PPO plan, dental, vision, and basic life insurance/LTD/AD&D, Flexible Spending Account, Short Term Disability, Supplemental Dental Insurance and participation in SAM’s 403b retirement plan.

Following 1 year of service and 1,000 hours worked, SAM makes a discretionary 3% employer contribution regardless of participation and provides an employer match program. Historically, this contribution has been made annually.

Additional benefits include paid time off for vacation, PSST, bereavement leave, and jury duty, 11 scheduled holidays, 1 paid floating holiday, a subsidized unlimited Orca card, onsite fitness facility, and an EAP. FT Staff also receive a Patron level membership to SAM, a Tier III membership to the American Alliance of Museums and discounts to museum shop and programming.

ACCOMODATION

People & Culture Director

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Seattle Art Museum