Job Title: Vice President of People and Culture
Reports to: Chief Strategy Officer

Job Summary:

We are seeking a visionary, people-centric leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as the Vice President of People and Culture. If you are passionate about sports, Cincinnati, people, and talent development, we invite you to join our team. As the Vice President of People and Culture, you will be tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy for deploying our most important resource – our people. You will design and execute talent management strategies to attract, evaluate and retain a workforce that is equipped to make FC Cincinnati the world-class sports and entertainment group it aspires to be. You will lead the strategic development and execution of all aspects of human resources including but not limited to talent assessment, recruitment, learning and development, retention, coaching, performance management, career pathing, compensation and benefits, and employee relations. In addition, this position will foster an innovative and collaborative high-performance culture while ensuring that all employee-related practices, policies, systems, tools, and resources align with FC Cincinnati’s values.

What You’ll Do:

HR Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive, data driven, and scalable HR strategy and organizational design that aligns with the Club’s culture of high performance, employee development, and accountability. The strategy should support the organization’s vision and growth to become a world-class sports and entertainment group.
Talent Acquisition and Recruitment: Lead efforts to attract top talent by establishing a recruiting strategy, overseeing the recruitment process, and ensuring a seamless onboarding experience for new employees. Oversee the creation of a streamlined hiring process that drives consistency in hiring practices across the organization.
Talent Development and Retention: Create and oversee comprehensive talent development programs and initiatives consistent with the Club’s philosophy of Develop Champions from Within, including the buildout of FC Cincinnati University. In collaboration with department heads, identify skill gaps and develop tailored learning and development programs to build both organizational and individual leadership capabilities at all levels of the organization. Develop and implement a succession planning process for the organization. Define and strategize aspirational talent and org structure outcomes to develop a roadmap to achieve sustained and scalable growth that supports the Club’s growth objectives.
Performance Management: Review and enhance the current performance management process, including goal-setting and continuous feedback process to drive results from employees and create connectivity between employee work and the organization’s vision. Foster a culture of learning and performance by leading the continuous design, execution, and promotion of goal setting and performance management processes, as well as various training and leadership development programs.
Employee Engagement: Create an employee engagement philosophy for the organization that enables all employees to find purpose in their work. Regularly conduct employee engagement assessments and work with individuals to create customized action plans rooted in data insights that drive results.
Total Rewards: Continuously examine and enhance FC Cincinnati’s compensation and benefits programs aimed at attracting and retaining top talent. Provide strategic leadership to ensure FC Cincinnati’s benefit programs are cost effective, competitive, and compliant, enhancing the existing compensation structure including base wages, bonus programs, commission structures, benefits, and other incentives to be competitive with the market and driving performance.
Policies and Compliance: Ensure compliance with all employment laws and regulations. Develop and update HR policies and procedures as needed. Provide guidance to all people leaders on HR-related matters, developing, interpreting, and implementing policies and procedures consistent with federal and state laws and regulations, avoiding litigation and other potential losses by overseeing participation in EEO, ADA, FMLA, and other federal and state regulations. Oversee employee relations activities, ensuring fair and consistent application of policies and procedures. Provide guidance and support to managers and employees on HR-related matters, including performance management, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions.
Leadership and Team Management: Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to the HR team. Inspire a high-performing HR team, fostering a culture of professionalism, innovation, and excellence. Collaborate with other members of the Senior Leadership Team to drive organizational success. Bring forward key trends and ideas to ensure we are at the top of our game as it pertains to people management, talent development and organizational leadership.
HR Technology and Systems: Evaluate, implement, and optimize HR technology solutions to streamline processes and enhance the employee experience. Leverage HRIS data to automate routine tasks, improve data accuracy, and generate insights for decision-making. Stay abreast of emerging HR technologies and best practices to drive continuous improvement.

What You’ll Need:

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master's degree preferred).
Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience as a senior People leader, having driven People programs in a rapidly growing company and a proven track record of success specifically in scaling the People function.
SPHR, SHRM-SCP Certification preferred.
Comprehensive knowledge and experience in talent relations, employment laws and compliance with the ability to integrate applicable changes effectively and timely.
Experience creating and scaling HR functions and developing, implementing, and facilitating training around new policies, practices, systems, tools, and resources.
Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to map out a project, effectively manage stakeholder's expectations and drive towards completion.
Demonstrated track record of supporting companies that operated with a high-impact culture, outperformed competition, and developed a reputation for strong talent.

What You’ll Bring:

High standards for quality and exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to exercise sound judgment while balancing the needs of the company and people.
Willingness to get your hands dirty - you don’t see any job too big or small.
Highly motivated, energized attitude that inspires others to seek higher levels of performance.
Inspiring people leader - your direct reports look up to you, internal team members trust you and you’re a key stakeholder in the company’s success.
Passion for sports and a commitment to Cincinnati.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and adept at managing ambiguity and uncertainty.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Why You’ll Love FCC:

Generous paid time off and holiday time
Option for one work from home day per week (by department and schedule)
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401k plan with company match
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
Maternity & Paternity Leave and Family Building Benefit
Employee Assistance Program and free subscription to the Calm App
Discount off merchandise in the FCC team store
Community volunteer opportunities
Professional development and Frequent team building opportunities
Employee recognition programs and referral programs
Opportunity for complimentary staff tickets to home FC Cincinnati matches

About FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati is a Major League Soccer team playing at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally founded in 2015 by Carl H. Lindner III and co-CEO Jeff Berding, FCC started play in the United Soccer League (USL) in 2016. FCC entered MLS as the 24th team in 2019. The club’s wide and diverse ownership group is led by controlling owner Lindner III; as well as managing owners Meg Whitman and Dr. Griff Harsh; Scott Farmer; and George Joseph.

FC Cincinnati opened the club’s privately funded, 26,000-seat soccer-specific TQL Stadium in the West End neighborhood of Cincinnati in 2021, a venue which has won numerous global awards including the World Football Summit Best Venue 2022 in Madrid and the 2022 Prix Versailles World Title in the Sports Category in Paris, France.

FC Cincinnati won the 2023 Supporters’ Shield – the annual award given to the team with the most points in the regular season – and clinched a spot in the 2023 MLS Playoffs for the second straight year. The club won the 2018 USL Regular-Season Championship in record-setting fashion and earned postseason berths in all three of its USL seasons. In 2017, FC Cincinnati also advanced to the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a run that included victories over two MLS squads.

At FC Cincinnati, we take pride in our commitment to excellence and fostering a positive work environment. We were honored to be recognized as one of the best places to work in the Sports Business Journal in March 2024. As an organization we strive to create an environment where employees can grow, collaborate, and feel supported.

About TQL Stadium

TQL Stadium, home of FC Cincinnati, is one of the most ambitious soccer-specific stadiums in not only North America, but the world. Critically-acclaimed firm Populous designed an innovative and forward-thinking stadium that is one of the largest soccer-specific facilities in Major League Soccer. TQL Stadium has been named Best Venue at the 2022 World Football Summit in Madrid and the 2022 Prix Versailles World Title in the Sports Category in Paris, France.

The stadium has five team locker rooms, including a comprehensive team suite for FC Cincinnati that features a dressing room, coach’s office, lounge, equipment storage and the Mercy Health Center of Excellence for the team’s medical and game day fitness needs. Within the 18 months of the stadium’s completion, TQL Stadium has featured both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, including the USMNT’s FIFA World Cup Qualification match vs. Mexico, and a concert by legendary rock band, The Who.

The closest seats are within 15 feet of the pitch at the $250 million, privately funded stadium. The design includes 53 traditional suites and 4,500 premium seats throughout four premium club spaces. FC Cincinnati’s supporters’ section, The Bailey, has grown to be more than 3,100 strong and loom over opponents at a 34-degree angle at the stadium’s north end. A 360-degree canopy roof covers every seat in TQL Stadium, but still allows sufficient sun in to grow a natural grass field.

About Mercy Health Training Center

In 2019, the club opened the state-of-the-art Mercy Health Training Center (MHTC) in Milford, Ohio. Designed by MSA Sport, the $30 million, 24-acre facility includes three full-size, lighted soccer fields – including two stabilized natural grass surfaces and one synthetic turf surface – as well as a goalkeeper-specific training area. The MLS team is housed in a 30,000 sq. ft., multilevel building abutting the fields, including a separate, 4,000 sq. ft. wing of the building for the FC Cincinnati Academy.

Additionally, there is a 3,000 sq. ft. maintenance facility on the property. In the design process, the MSA Sport design team benchmarked training grounds across the world, including the best in Europe, South America, and Asia. The goal of the design meets the original goal to develop one of the premier and most progressive team facilities in Major League Soccer and North America.

FC Cincinnati is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

VP, People and Culture