Senior Director, People

About Yoga Alliance

Yoga Alliance is a global nonprofit membership organization serving yoga professionals, practitioners, and advocates. Its mission is to expand access to yoga, highlight its positive impact, remove barriers to participation, and strengthen the wider yoga community.

The organization supports a broad and varied community that includes experienced yoga educators, teachers building their expertise, people just beginning to explore yoga, and organizations and community leaders using yoga for social good.

People and culture are central to the organization’s work. Team members are encouraged to lead, innovate, create, and grow in an environment shaped by diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging. Collaboration, learning from mistakes, and challenging conventional approaches are key parts of the culture.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Senior Director of People will own the strategy, planning, and execution for attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining talent. This role serves as the organization’s HR subject matter expert across areas such as performance management, learning and development, organizational design, talent acquisition, engagement and retention, succession planning, employee relations, HR operations, and total rewards.

The position acts as a trusted advisor and business partner, ensuring that people programs, policies, systems, tools, and resources align with Yoga Alliance values and reinforce inclusion and belonging. The team works remotely across the United States, and this leader will play a key role in shaping an engaged, high-performing, and mission-driven workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and scale the People function to support the organization’s expanding needs.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop members of the People team.
• Coach team members with depth and consistency to support growth and professional development.
• Own and evolve key HR areas, including benefits, employer brand, performance management, learning and development, talent acquisition, onboarding, employee relations, and total rewards.
• Create and execute short- and long-term People strategy and serve as a primary resource for employees on people-related matters.
• Work with organizational leadership and the Senior Director of Operations on structure, workforce planning, and organizational design.
• Ensure diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging are embedded across people policies, programs, systems, and practices.
• Review and improve HR policies and programs so they stay compliant with federal, state, and local requirements while remaining current and effective.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen culture and position Yoga Alliance as an employer of choice.
• Keep up with changing employment laws and integrate new compliance requirements on time.
• Plan and facilitate People meetings, events, and programming.
• Own People initiatives and projects from planning through completion.
• Introduce technology and innovative approaches that reduce friction and improve People processes while preserving high-touch support where needed.

Requirements

• 12 or more years of People/HR experience.
• At least 5 years of generalist experience.
• At least 5 years of business partner experience leading People strategy, execution, project management, and employee relations.
• At least 5 years of experience leading, coaching, and developing People teams.
• Experience supporting a distributed, remote workforce across the United States.
• Strong knowledge of talent relations, employment law, and HR compliance, with the ability to apply requirements promptly.
• Experience building people practices through a lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with people at all levels.
• Ability to handle confidential information with sound judgment, neutrality, and trustworthiness.
• Strong communication, coaching, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong project management ability, including managing multi-phase work and stakeholder expectations.
• Solid business acumen and critical thinking skills.
• Comfort with ambiguity, initiative, and finding practical solutions through resourcefulness and collaboration.
• Operationally strong with the ability to design, launch, and train others on new people processes and tools.
• Interest in modern HR practices, systems, technology, and innovation.
• Ability to work onsite in the Arlington, Virginia office up to three days per week.
• Hands-on experience with platforms such as Microsoft 365, JazzHR, Culture Amp, BambooHR, Paychex, Monday, or similar systems.
• Preferred: experience in an association or membership organization.
• Preferred: advanced degree in Human Resources or a related field.
• Preferred: HR certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR.
• Applications are welcome even if candidates do not meet the preferred qualifications.

What We Offer

Yoga Alliance offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health coverage fully paid by the employer for employees and 65% covered for dependents. The organization also provides a matching 401(k), generous paid leave that includes parental leave and sabbatical leave, and reimbursement for professional development.

The workplace culture is casual, supportive, collaborative, and attentive to both physical and mental well-being.

Location and Work Arrangement

This role is based in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, DC, and follows a hybrid schedule. The person in this position must be able to work from the office up to 70% of the time, and may also be asked to be onsite up to three days per week.

Compensation and Employment Details

This is a full-time exempt position. The salary range is $155,000 to $175,000 per year, depending on experience.

Application Timeline

Candidates are encouraged to apply by April 14 for priority consideration. Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis after that date until the role is filled.

A cover letter is required and will be reviewed as part of the hiring process. Phone calls and walk-ins are not accepted.

Inclusive Workplace Commitment

Yoga Alliance is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. The organization welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are especially encouraged to apply.