Manager-Director, People Programs

VERVE•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

Verve is seeking an experienced, hands-on Director of People to lead and scale our people operations while fostering a high-performing, inclusive, and culture-forward workplace. This role will serve as a strategic partner to leadership while remaining deeply involved in day-to-day HR execution. The ideal candidate brings strong HR fundamentals, sound judgment, and a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach, with experience supporting fast-paced, creative, or professional services organizations. Level (Manager vs. Director) will be determined based on experience and scope. About Verve verve (vu^rv)a) enthusiasm in literary or artistic workb) energy in the expression of ideasc) aptitude; talent Verve is a premier talent agency providing global representation for clients across film, television, publishing, digital, theatre, and books-to-screen.Founded in 2010, the agency prides itself on discovering the most exciting new voices in entertainment and guiding the careers of some of the most sought-after storytellers in the world. Verve clients have been recognized by the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize. Continually disrupting an industry with its innovation and ability to be reflective of an everchanging landscape, Verve’s client-first approach provides unparalleled service, influence and career-building with a passion matched only by that of their clients.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
5+ years of progressive HR experience, including 2+ years in a senior manager or director-level role
Strong command of HR fundamentals: employee relations, compliance, talent management
Proven ability to handle sensitive, complex ER matters with excellent judgment and discretion
Strong interpersonal and communication skills across all levels of an organization
Deep knowledge of California employment law

Nice To Haves

Experience in entertainment, media, talent representation, or a closely related creative industry
Familiarity with the culture and dynamics of talent agencies, studios, networks, or production companies
Hands-on mindset: comfortable being both strategic advisor and day-to-day executor
Experience scaling HR in a high-growth or fast-paced environment
Paylocity or comparable HRIS experience

Responsibilities

Partner with the C-suite to develop and execute people strategies aligned with business goals and Verve's unique culture
Serve as a trusted advisor on organizational design, workforce planning, and senior people decisions
Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives across the agency
Bring a point of view - not just process - to how Verve attracts, develops, and retains top talent
Lead all ER matters - performance management, conflict resolution, investigations, and disciplinary actions - with empathy and compliance
Navigate the distinct dynamics of a talent agency environment with professionalism and discretion
Model and reinforce Verve's cultural values; help build a respectful, high-performing, and inclusive workplace
Oversee recruiting, onboarding, and retention across agents, executives, assistants, and support staff
Drive performance review cycles, succession planning, peer recognition, and year-end planning
Build career paths, learning opportunities, and leadership development programs tailored to entertainment
Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws - with deep emphasis on California labor law
Own HR policies, employee handbook, compensation, benefits, payroll, and HR systems (Paylocity a plus)
Partner with external legal counsel on employment matters as needed
Lead people-side change during periods of growth, restructuring, or operational evolution
Use data and employee feedback to continuously improve programs and processes
Scale HR infrastructure to meet the demands of a growing, ambitious agency