Senior Vice President, Human Resources

ESA is seeking a Senior Vice President of Human Resources to collaborate with our executive team to share in driving ESA’s strategic growth and development, and leading innovative people and culture programs to secure our future as a thriving employee-driven consulting firm. The overall responsibility of the Senior Vice President of HR (SVP of HR) is to ensure that our Human Resources programs align with our values, strategic vision, and short- and long-term goals, as defined in the five-year Strategic Plan and annual Growth Plans. More specifically, the SVP of HR’s responsibilities include oversight of overall workforce strategies, standards, and implementation of employee-focused programs; providing meaningful leadership, guidance, and mentorship to our HR team; collaborating with ESA’s executive team to set the firm’s strategic direction; partnering in the execution of key growth plan initiatives; ensuring compliance with relevant laws and legal requirements, and overseeing the implementation of ESA’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) programs, with special attention on leading the implementation of ESA’s JEDI Plan in coordination with our Diversity Committee. This position will be located in Northern CA or the Northwest Region on a hybrid schedule.

Who You Are

• You have a Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in a human resources-related discipline; HR certification and/or Master’s degree is preferred.
• 15+ years of relevant experience with progressively increasing responsibility managing a multi-functional HR team and delivering human resources programs and services, including at least five years in a senior leadership position.
• Demonstrated experience with providing strategic guidance, compliance management, and oversight of the human resources function preferably in a professional consulting environment. Strong understanding and knowledge of federal, state, and local employment law, immigration law, and managing visas.
• Demonstrated experience leading programs and activities surrounding mergers and acquisitions.
• Demonstrated experience strategically and tactically evaluating and implementing HR programs and initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively and effectively with corporate executives and staff at all levels.
• Demonstrated experience in creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce with the ability to achieve equitable outcomes in all areas of the employee experience.
  
  

What You Will Do

• Keep abreast of best practices, changes, and trends in the field of human resources within the A&E industry and consider how recommendations will impact the operations of the firm.
• Partner with the EMT to drive the execution of key strategic initiatives for current and future challenges; function as a strategic business partner and advisor to guide executive/senior management.
• Monitor and report to the BOD on staff well-being, including measures of staff turnover, recruitment success, career development, succession and transition planning, diversity, and overall employee engagement.
• Ensure that the voices and inputs from the HR team are represented and that HR team members have a consistent and reliable channel to participate, and to provide their thoughts, ideas, and inputs.
• Demonstrate constructive feedback and teamwork, develop strategic and tactical growth plans for the human resources function, and set clear goals and expectations for human resources team members.
• Lead the annual budgeting process for Human Resources.
• Foster professional development throughout the firm to further career progression and succession planning and increase employee engagement and retention.
• Coordinate with Regional Directors and the Chief Operating Officer to develop or enhance firm-wide professional development programs and work closely with Business Group Directors and Practice Leaders to provide appropriate professional development opportunities for their teams.
• Drive, promote, and implement ESA’s diversity, inclusion, and belonging programs throughout the firm.
• Understand and leverage the benefits of employee ownership to increase employee engagement and promote an ownership culture.
• Demonstrate a high degree of creativity, judgment, and foresight in planning, developing, communicating, and implementing human resources strategies.
• Routinely visit offices to engage with staff throughout the firm in support of employee engagement and collaboration with employee-owners and local leadership.
• Proactively initiate and develop innovative recruiting approaches to cultivate top-performing candidates to meet the firm’s near- and long-term hiring needs.
• Partner with the Regional and Firmwide Services Directors, and other senior staff to implement effective succession planning programs to develop leaders within ESA and strategies for securing strategic hires.
• Partner in workforce integration activities for mergers and acquisitions to grow the firm by the firm’s strategic plan objectives. Serve as a member of the Strategic Acquisitions Committee.
• Collaborate with the EMT in the execution of Human Resource components of ESA’s strategic and tactical plans for growth and profitability. Partner with EMT to align goals and expectations for Regional Directors and other senior staff.
• Represent the firm for civic and professional association responsibilities and activities in the professional community on a local, state, and national level to expand ESA’s existing networks.
• Ensure ESA’s culture, compensation, and benefits are competitive to attract, retain, and fully engage top-performing talent.
• Advise the EMT on the firm’s compensation and bonus plans, including adjustments to any salary, bonus, profit sharing and/or profit distribution program.
• Remain abreast of trends related to competitive and cost-effective compensation and benefit plans that are aligned with the firm’s culture.
• Leverage your and the HR team’s effective communication and active listening skills to foster a productive and engaging work environment where employees feel safe and have clarity in how to be successful in their professional careers.
• Collaborate with Regional Directors and Business Group Directors to ensure the effective and successful implementation of human resources, operations, and legal/ safety policies and procedures
  
  

What’s Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.

ESA has established multiple pay ranges tailored to the economic factors in the geographies in which ESA staff reside. For this position, the range is approximately as listed based on our anticipated hiring locations as noted in the above job details. Actual compensation is determined by several factors including but not limited to an individual’s related experience, education, skills, and the city in which the applicant lives.

CA Pay Transparency Clause

$191,253 — $286,880 USD

Who We Are

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.

In accordance with ESA’s duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies.

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)