Job Description

Kidney disease affects more than 1 in 7 US adults—that's 35.5 million Americans. With an unmatched scope of programs, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) directly supports patients and caregivers wherever they are in the fight against the disease. In recent years, AKF has grown quickly, building a strong foundation of transparent HR practices, high employee satisfaction, and low turnover, along with national recognition as one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For. We are seeking a Senior Director of Human Resources to lead the next phase of AKF’s people strategy, ensuring our HR function remains responsive while also anticipating the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, you’ll lead a 3-person HR team and manage our 2-person Administration team. You will be expected to partner closely with the Executive Team to advance AKF’s Quality of Work Environment (QWE) initiative by developing policies, programs, and practices that attract and support the best people to carry out our mission of fighting kidney disease and helping people live healthier lives.

In this highly visible and collaborative role, you'll balance day-to-day HR operations with long-term strategy to help AKF maintain a positive environment and high-performing workforce as we continue to grow. You’ll oversee all aspects of HR operations for a hybrid staff of 125, including onboarding and offboarding, employee relations, HR systems, policies, and compliance.

In addition to core HR operations, you’ll lead initiatives that reflect and reinforce AKF’s culture and give staff the tools they need to succeed at every stage of their careers. Early priorities include strengthening employee relations and engagement, creating a learning and development program, advancing recruiting strategies and efforts, and proactively identifying and addressing workforce needs.

This is an opportunity to take an effective HR function and shape it into a best-in-class operation. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who combines HR expertise with a deep commitment to serving others, and who can further AKF’s culture of trust, accountability, and high performance while aligning people practices with our strategic goals.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Your leadership will ensure AKF continues to be one of the nation’s top nonprofit places to work while building the workforce capacity needed to deliver on our mission. Success in the first 1–2 years will be demonstrated by:

• Relationship-Building and Trust. Take the time to get to know AKF staff, understand what’s worked and what hasn’t, and use that knowledge to offer recommendations and guide change in ways that make best use of staff resources and are authentic to AKF’s culture.
• Strategy and Partnership. Position HR as a proactive partner by advising the COO and Executive Team on strategies to develop culture, align cross-functional priorities, and support growth. Provide HR insight to support the development of the 2027-2030 strategic plan.
• HR Team Leadership. Clarify and streamline HR operations by defining roles within the team, setting clear performance expectations, and building HR’s capacity to anticipate and proactively address staff needs.
• L&D and Performance Management. Create a learning and development program that equips supervisors with practical people management skills and identifies areas of development for all staff. Ensure the consistent application of performance management practices so that evaluations are fair, constructive, and aligned with AKF’s standards of accountability.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

• You'll enjoy a hybrid work schedule with an average of 2-4 days per month in our North Bethesda, MD, office. We currently support employees in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Occasional out-of-town travel may be required (less than 5%).
• The budgeted salary range for this position is $180K - $185K plus bonus potential. AKF offers comprehensive benefits, including a matching 403b retirement plan, health, dental, vision, and life insurance, short- and long-term disability, flex spending, and generous leave.
• Additional perks include paid underground parking or Metro subsidies, employee-led recognition and social events throughout the year, and shorter workdays on Fridays.
• You are joining a diverse team of open, collaborative, and supportive colleagues who care deeply about our mission, the people we serve, and each other. AKF is financially secure and led by a national board of trustees that is appropriately engaged, supportive, and appreciative of the team.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Partnering with the EVP and COO, translate AKF’s strategic objectives into comprehensive HR strategies and operational plans.
• Advise the Executive Team on workforce planning, organizational development, and succession strategies.
• Champion initiatives that strengthen AKF’s culture and values.
• Working with the COO and Office of General Counsel, ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws that affect AKF (including staying abreast of newly introduced laws and regulations).

Talent & Culture

• Design and implement programs for performance management, leadership development, and employee engagement.
• Oversee compensation, benefits, and wellness programs that attract, retain, and motivate top talent.
• Manage employee lifecycle, from recruiting strategy, through orientation and onboarding, to offboarding and exit.

Operational Excellence

• Manage HR operations, systems, and data integrity to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Optimize vendor partnerships for benefits, HR systems, and related services.
• Oversee benefits audit, health and wellness plans, and compliance processes.
• Design, update, and lead the annual Quality of Work Environment survey process, including developing survey content, analyzing results, and collaborating with leadership to implement action plans based on findings.

Learning & Development

• Develop and execute the L&D strategy aligned with organizational goals and talent development priorities.
• Design and deliver scalable learning programs, including leadership development, compliance training, and technical skills development.
• Partner with subject matter experts, internally and externally, to create customized content and learning paths.
• Track, measure, and report on program effectiveness using KPIs and learner feedback.

Administration

• Ensure that the Administration department is well-organized to address AKF's office and Administration needs and maintain continuity during absences.
• Serve as backup to the Director of Administration.

Leadership & Support

• Lead, develop, and supervise a high-performing HR and Administration team, fostering accountability and collaboration.
• Provide coaching and guidance to managers on complex employee relations issues.
• Partner with General Counsel on investigations, risk mitigation, and policy interpretation.
• Evaluate existing and prospective human resources needs, including vendors.

Qualifications

• At least 10+ years of progressive experience in human resources, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role. Experience in a patient-centered nonprofit is a plus.
• A bachelor’s degree in HR, business, or a related field is required; a master’s degree is preferred. SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or similar certification preferred.
• Expertise in strategic HR, talent management, and compensation/benefits. Strong knowledge of DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) employment laws and compliance.
• Experience designing and implementing learning and development programs.
• Familiarity with HRIS systems (experience with UKG is a plus) and ability to use data to drive decisions.
• Demonstrated integrity, discretion, and ability to build trust at all levels of an organization.

About The American Kidney Fund

The American Kidney Fund fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation's leading kidney nonprofit—no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. We are grateful to our big-hearted donor community that makes all of this work possible. From prevention through post-transplant living, we are proud to be there by the sides of patients through every challenge that comes their way.

AKF's vision is a world without kidney disease. Until that day comes, we believe that every kidney patient should have access to health care, and every person at risk for kidney disease should be empowered to prevent it. Ninety-six cents of every dollar we spend goes to patients and programs. One of the nation's highest-rated nonprofit organizations, AKF has held Charity Navigator's highest 4-star rating for over 20 years running and holds the Candid (formerly GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.

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