Director, Employee Experience

National Wildlife Federation • RESTON, VA

3d • $100,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is seeking a strategic and hands-on leader for the Director, Employee Experience role. This position is central to the People Team's mission of transforming the employee experience into a model for the nonprofit sector and establishing NWF as a 21st-century organization. The Director will partner across organizational leadership to design and deliver strategies for hiring, onboarding, development, motivation, and retention. This role requires a leader with both strategic vision and operational depth, capable of inspiring trust and driving measurable change to ensure NWF becomes the wildlife organization it envisions.

Requirements

• Significant experience leading or building People operations, programs, and practices in a complex organization; strong generalist foundation across recruiting, talent development, change management, employee engagement, employee relations, compensation, and benefits.
• Proven track record using metrics and analytics to drive decisions and demonstrate HR impact.
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing HR professionals.
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws and practical experience translating legal requirements into equitable policy and practice.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Nice To Haves

• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as NWF’s internal champion for the employee experience, developing and sustaining a culture where staff feel seen, supported, and motivated to do their best work.
• Partner with the SVP of People and senior leadership to operationalize NWF’s people strategy, translating organizational vision into concrete programs and practices.
• Design and lead initiatives that reinforce NWF’s identity as a destination employer and a standard bearer for employee-centered workplaces in the nonprofit sector.
• Lead employee listening efforts—including engagement surveys, stay interviews, and exit data—and translate findings into actionable improvements.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of NWF’s People programs, ensuring policies and practices are applied consistently, equitably, and in compliance with applicable federal and state law.
• Provide confidential, expert guidance to employees and managers on a range of issues including employee relations, policy interpretation, performance concerns, and workplace conflicts.
• Develop and maintain systems for performance evaluation, feedback, and career development that are transparent, fair, and growth-oriented.
• Partner with the Total Rewards function to ensure compensation, benefits, and recognition programs support attraction and retention goals.
• Lead the design and execution of a dynamic, equitable, and engaging recruiting program that reflects NWF’s values and commitment to inclusion.
• Build sourcing strategies that expand NWF’s reach into diverse talent communities and reduce time-to-fill for critical roles.
• Establish structured, consistent hiring practices—including interview guides, scoring rubrics, and recruiter intake processes—that drive better decisions and candidate experience.
• In partnership with the Learning & Development team, identify and implement programs that build individual and team capability across the organization.
• Develop onboarding experiences that set new employees up for success from day one and accelerate their connection to NWF’s mission and culture.
• Champion manager development as a lever for organizational health, equipping people leaders with the tools, frameworks, and coaching they need to lead well.
• Lead, coach, and develop a small team of HR professionals, modeling the values and behaviors NWF aspires to organization-wide.
• Contribute as an active member of NWF’s People Leadership Team, shaping the function’s collective direction and supporting cross-functional collaboration.
• Support the SVP of People and executive leadership in executing NWF’s strategic goals and organizational initiatives.

Benefits

• Flexible scheduling
• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual based on a full-time schedule, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets) half day Fridays, and 11 holidays
• Paid winter break between December 25 to January 1
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance
• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director