The Role
Leads enterprise-wide People Operations and culture strategy across a multi-entity, multi-state organization. Oversees talent acquisition, HR operations, employee relations, performance management, compensation, payroll, benefits, workers’ compensation, compliance, HR systems, analytics, and change management. Partners with executives and cross-functional leaders to build scalable processes, manage risk, support acquisitions and integrations, strengthen culture, and ensure a consistent employee experience.
Summary Generated by Built In
Kiva Confections (www.kivaconfections.com) is a world-class cannabis-infused edibles company in California, the largest cannabis market in the world. Kiva's line includes Kiva Chocolate Bars, Terra Bites, Petra Mints, Lost Farms Gummies & Chews, and Camino Gummies. Our products are crafted from premium ingredients and thoughtfully combined with California cannabis. Since our beginning in 2010, our goal has been to create confections that redefine what a cannabis confection ought to be. By applying art and science, we ensure a deliciously consistent experience.
We have high-reaching growth plans as the legal market and consumer adoption expand. Key growth initiatives include ambitious platform innovation, outstanding marketing, geographic expansion, strategic partnerships, and more. We are resourced for this spectacular growth and looking for great people to help take us to the next level.
Job Summary
The Director of People Operations & Culture serves as the head of HR for all Kiva companies, setting the strategic direction and operational foundation for how we attract, develop, support, and retain our people. This role leads the full People Operations function: Talent Acquisition, HR Operations, Employee Relations, Performance Management, Total Rewards, Payroll & Benefits, Workers’ Compensation, Compliance, and Culture. Their work includes ensuring scalable systems, clear expectations, strong managerial accountability, and a consistent employee experience across the organization. This role partners closely with all internal functional teams and executive leadership to align people strategy with business priorities while maintaining a people‑forward, compliant, and high‑trust workplace.
MUST reside near the Bay area!
This job is for you if...
- You believe great companies are built through clarity, consistency, and care for people at every stage of their journey.
- You enjoy operating at both the strategic and hands‑on levels, setting direction while ensuring the fundamentals are executed exceptionally well.
- You are energized by building systems, teams, and processes that scale with growth and complexity.
- You are a trusted advisor to leaders and a steady, credible presence for employees.
- You take pride in creating structure without bureaucracy and culture without performative gestures.
- You are comfortable navigating gray areas, complex people issues, and fast‑moving business needs with sound judgment.
- You are comfortable leading a lean, hardworking team where the leader stays close to the work, and you build capacity deliberately as the business grows
As Kiva's Director, People Operations & Culture, you will...
- Set and execute the enterprise-wide People Operations strategy aligned with Kiva's business goals and growth plans.
- Build scalable people processes that support a multi-entity, multi-state organization operating in a highly regulated industry.
- Lead the people workstream in acquisitions, integrations, and organizational restructuring, including diligence, transition planning, and post-close harmonization of pay, benefits, and policy.
- Serve as the senior People Operations leader across all Kiva companies, ensuring alignment and consistency.
- Lead, develop, and mentor the People Operations team, setting clear expectations, priorities, and standards of excellence.
- Foster cross-functional collaboration between People Operations, Finance, Legal, Operations, and business leaders.
- Establish operating rhythms, metrics, and reporting that provide visibility into people performance and risks.
- Own the full-cycle talent acquisition function, including sourcing strategy, hiring process, candidate experience, and accountability for time-to-fill and quality of hire.
- Lead workforce planning in partnership with Finance and business leaders, including headcount forecasting and requisition governance.
- Own the onboarding experience end to end, including I-9 compliance, new hire documentation, and first-year integration.
- Own the design and continuous improvement of the performance management program, including goal setting, review cycles, and calibration.
- Own the engagement listening strategy, including survey design, results analysis, and manager-level action planning.
- Lead talent review and succession planning for critical roles, and build development and internal mobility pathways.
- Strengthen manager capability through clear guidance, tools, and training.
- Provide strategic oversight of employee relations, investigations, and conflict resolution processes.
- Oversee workplace investigations, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and workplace violence matters, with appropriate escalation to Legal.
- Identify recurring themes and systemic issues, and drive proactive solutions.
- Oversee separations and reduction-in-force execution in partnership with Legal.
- Own compensation strategy and job architecture, including leveling, salary structures, and market benchmarking.
- Maintain pay equity review practices and ensure compliance with pay transparency requirements in every state where Kiva posts or hires.
- Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across all entities and states.
- Oversee benefits strategy and administration, including Open Enrollment, plan design, and vendor management.
- Own workers' compensation carrier and broker relationships, policy placement, and program cost management across all entities and states.
- Own the interactive process and reasonable accommodation determinations under the ADA and FEHA.
- Oversee administration of all leave programs, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, SDI, PFL, and paid sick leave in all applicable states.
- Partner with Environmental Health & Safety on claim strategy, return-to-work placements, and prevention.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws in every state where Kiva operates.
- Own annual regulatory filings and reporting obligations, including California pay data reporting and EEO-1.
- Maintain state employment registrations and compliant employment infrastructure as Kiva enters new jurisdictions.
- Maintain audit-ready documentation and proactively address people-related risks before they escalate.
- Ensure HRIS data integrity, audit readiness, and system optimization across all entities.
- Drive operational efficiency, automation, and continuous improvement across People Operations workflows.
- Own People reporting and analytics - turnover, retention, headcount, and cost of workforce — translated into recommendations for executive leadership.
- Serve as a steward of Kiva's culture by reinforcing clear expectations, consistent communication, and shared standards.
- Guide change management and communication during periods of growth, transition, or organizational change.
Lead People Operations Strategy & Execution
Lead the People Team
Talent Acquisition, Onboarding & Workforce Planning
Performance Management, Engagement & Development
Employee Relations & Investigations
Total Rewards: Compensation, Payroll & Benefits
Workers' Compensation, Leave & Accommodation
Compliance & Risk Oversight
HR Operations, Systems & Data
Culture Stewardship & Change
What we're looking for...
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; SHRM-SCP or SPHR strongly preferred.
- 8+ years of progressive experience in Human Resources or People Operations, including team leadership.
- Demonstrated experience leading People Operations in a multi‑entity organization supporting a distributed, multi‑state workforce, including entry into new states and management of registrations and jurisdiction‑specific requirements.
- Strong background in employee relations, compliance, total rewards, and HR operations.
- Experience owning a talent acquisition function and building compensation structures.
- Experience partnering closely with executive leadership.
- Experience with mergers, acquisitions, or integrations, including workforce transitions, is strongly preferred.
- Cannabis, food & beverage, CPG, or other regulated manufacturing experience preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading People Operations in a multi‑entity organization supporting a distributed, multi‑state workforce, including entry into new states and management of registrations and jurisdiction‑specific requirements.
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills at all levels of the organization.
- Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
Work Environment
- Regular collaboration with executives, leaders, and employees across multiple locations.
- Work involves access to highly confidential employee and company information requiring strict discretion.
- Travel to Kiva locations and to states where Kiva employs staff is required on a periodic basis.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
- Ability to communicate clearly via phone, video, and in person.
- Regularly required to use hands to handle, type, or feel; reach with hands and arms.
- May require occasional standing, bending, or walking to file or retrieve materials.
California Privacy Notice at Collection – Job Applicants
If you are a California resident we are required to disclose that we collect personal information about you in connection with your application for employment.
Categories of Personal Information Collected:
Identifiers (e.g., name, email, phone number, address)
Professional and employment-related information (e.g., resume, work history, references)
Education information
Background check information (where permitted by law)
Sensitive Personal Information (e.g., Social Security number, driver’s license or government ID number, if required for background checks or legal compliance)
Purposes for Collection:
We collect this information to evaluate your candidacy, communicate with you, conduct background checks (where permitted), comply with legal obligations, and maintain employment records.
We do not sell or share applicant personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
We retain your information for as long as reasonably necessary to evaluate your application, comply with legal obligations, and protect our rights.
For more information about how we collect, use, disclose, and retain personal information (and to learn about your California privacy rights) please review our full California Job Applicant Privacy Notice here:
If you are a California resident, you have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
To submit a privacy request, please contact:
[email protected] | 510.610.8968
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification
- 8+ years of progressive Human Resources or People Operations experience
- Experience leading an HR or People Operations team
- Experience leading People Operations for a multi-entity, multi-state workforce
- Experience managing entry into new states, employment registrations, and jurisdiction-specific requirements
- Strong experience in employee relations, compliance, total rewards, and HR operations
- Experience owning talent acquisition functions
- Experience building compensation structures
- Experience partnering with executive leadership
- Experience with mergers, acquisitions, or integrations and workforce transitions
- Cannabis, food and beverage, CPG, or regulated manufacturing experience
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills
- Bilingual English and Spanish proficiency
- Ability to reside near the Bay Area
- Periodic travel to Kiva locations and states where Kiva employs staff
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The Company
What We Do
Kiva was founded in 2010 with a clear mission - change how the world views and uses cannabis for the better. Frustrated by the inconsistent, low-quality edibles available at the time, a young couple began making chocolate bars out of their Bay Area home kitchen. Today, their award-winning chocolates, mints, and gummies are the most trusted, recommended, and sought after on the market. For this, Kiva has become the most recognized edible brand in cannabis with a loyal customer base throughout hundreds of dispensaries across seven states
