Location: Deli Star Food Discovery Center, St. Louis, MO Reports to: President, works closely with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on culture and wellbeing programs
Company Description
At Deli Star, protein means defiant discovery with integrity, driven by a commitment to our people, community, and the planet. We are a team of curious food scientists and passionate culinarians who are not only dedicated to pioneering innovation in our industry but also to fostering a workplace where employee wellbeing and personal growth are paramount. Through sustainable partnerships and innovative processing methods, we collaborate closely with our supply chain to create brilliantly simple, fresh, nutritious sous vide proteins that prioritize both health and environmental stewardship. From farm to discovery center, to our manufacturing partners, and ultimately to your plate, this is Deli Star—where we celebrate the joy of food while nurturing our community and the world around us.
Job Summary
As the Vice President of People and Culture, you will lead and oversee the full spectrum of Human Resources (HR) functions while driving the company’s commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and sustainable workplace culture. You will play a key role in shaping and executing strategies that support employee wellbeing, community engagement, sustainability initiatives, and the overall employee experience. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and dynamic leader with a deep passion for people, culture, and sustainability within the food industry.
Key Responsibilities: 1. Culture and Employee Experience:
- Champion and Cultivate the People and Culture strategy aligned with the company’s purpose, core values, and business objectives, with a strong focus on people-first philosophy, employee wellbeing, community, and sustainability.
- Champion and cultivate the company’s culture, ensuring alignment with purpose, core values, people-first philosophy, and sustainability initiatives.
- Partner with the executive leadership team to shape the company's long-term vision for people, organizational design, and culture.
- Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees.
- Lead efforts to cultivate a positive, engaging, and inclusive company culture that reflects the organization’s core values.
- Create and facilitate experience moments around key phases of an employee's life cycle–onboarding, promotions, and offboarding.
- Ensure alignment between the company’s cultural initiatives and its sustainability goals, fostering a workplace that prioritizes environmental and social responsibility.
2. Employee Wellbeing:
- Oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive wellness programs that promote physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing.
- Implement flexible work arrangements, work-life balance initiatives, and employee assistance programs.
- Create and maintain a supportive work environment where employees feel valued, heard, and empowered to perform their best.
3. Community and Sustainability:
- Lead community engagement initiatives, including volunteerism, partnerships with local organizations, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
- Collaborate with sustainability teams to integrate environmental and social goals into people and culture strategies.
- Promote sustainability in HR practices, such as eco-friendly office policies, green commuting options, and sustainable sourcing for employee programs.
4. Organizational Design and Talent Management and Development:
- Create and manage a People Strategy that aligns with business goals and supports organizational structure and upskilling across the organization.
- Conduct organizational assessments and recommend changes to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and employee morale.
- Drive change management efforts to support organizational transformation and growth.
- Oversee talent acquisition strategies to attract, recruit, and retain top talent aligned with the company’s culture and values.
- Facilitate Personal Growth Plans for all employees, working with leaders to establish goals that connect to the company vision and sustainability objectives.
- Develop and implement robust talent management processes, including the tuition reimbursement program, performance management, succession planning, and leadership development programs.
- Foster a learning culture by promoting continuous professional development and career growth opportunities for all employees.
- Lead the strategy for benefit development, ensuring current and future offerings empower our employees while supporting retention efforts.
5. Human Resources Operations:
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local labor laws and regulations.
- Manage compensation, benefits, and HR systems to support a fair, competitive, and transparent workplace.
- Oversee employee relations, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and policy development, while ensuring a consistent and fair approach.
- Facilitate 360 reviews, employee engagement surveys, and stay interviews, gathering insights that impact growth and morale.
- Conduct internal pay equity studies, ensuring pay guidelines are applied fairly across the organization, and address any disparities with a focus on fairness and inclusion.
Additional Duties And Responsibilities
- Identifies legal requirements and government reporting regulations affecting Human Resources functions and ensures policies, procedures, and reporting comply with all applicable laws
- Ensures compliance with regulatory and company standards set by Deli Star, DOL, EEOC, USDA, SQF, and FDA.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree in the fields above preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, with a proven track record in culture-building, employee wellbeing, and sustainability.
- Strong understanding of HR best practices, employment law, and regulatory compliance.
- Experience in the food industry or a similar fast-paced, consumer-driven environment is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams and drive organizational change.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
Key Competencies:
- Strategic Thinking
- Leadership and Influence
- Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
- Employee Advocacy
- Sustainability and Community Engagement
- Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
- Integrity and Ethics
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary and benefits package including D*Stock program
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- A supportive and inclusive work environment
- The chance to make a meaningful impact on people, our industry and the community
- Flexible, exciting, and fun work environment
