Director, People Effectiveness

Description

We’re seeking a strategic Director, People Effectiveness to architect the systems that define how our people grow, perform, and contribute at Sprout—from career frameworks and performance cycles to organizational design and change leadership. You'll own the design and delivery of performance management systems, organizational effectiveness frameworks, and change enablement strategies that drive measurable business outcomes, building scalable infrastructure that enables clarity, accountability, and exceptional results through both strategic vision and hands-on execution.

Why join Sprout's People Strategy & Innovation team?

The People Strategy & Innovation team sits at the intersection of business strategy and employee experience, creating the conditions where extraordinary performance becomes possible. We design and deliver innovative solutions that enhance connection, enable growth, and drive organizational effectiveness in our distributed environment. 

What you'll do

As the Director of People Effectiveness, you'll approach organizational challenges with a product mindset—treating performance systems, career frameworks, and change processes as products that require user research, iterative design, and measurable impact. Your work spans building new solutions from the ground up alongside optimizing existing products based on user feedback and data. You'll ensure our people infrastructure scales through disciplined product development that prioritizes employee experience, clear success metrics, and continuous improvement:

• Define the overarching strategy and roadmap for performance development, organizational design, and change enablement that anticipate our growth trajectory and market demands
• Own the integration of career, growth, and performance systems—ensuring clarity and consistency across levels, functions, and programs that empowers every employee to understand their path forward
• Develop and lead org effectiveness efforts, including structure consulting, team diagnostics, and operating model evolution that keep us agile and high-performing as we scale
• Lead alignment with HRBPs, Internal Comms, and functional leaders to implement performance and growth systems that support strategic priorities through cross-functional collaboration and DRI accountability
• Ensure change enablement is embedded in PSI initiatives and organizational transformations, making transitions feel natural and empowering rather than disruptive
• Guide adoption and usage of Sprout's talent frameworks across the business, ensuring consistent experiences that feel personal rather than bureaucratic
• Coach and Develop a High-Performing Team: Lead talented professionals focused on organizational effectiveness and performance systems, providing mentorship that builds capabilities, fostering collaboration, and creating an environment where team members feel empowered to deliver their best work through product ownership mindsets
• Embody the Player/Coach Mindset by balancing providing team leadership with making direct contributions to critical initiatives in performance systems and organizational design, demonstrating how to think strategically while staying connected to practical realities

• Pioneer organizational effectiveness approaches through cutting-edge methodologies including AI-powered diagnostics, data analysis tools, and automated insights that enhance team assessment capabilities and intervention design

What you'll bring

The minimum qualifications for this role include:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in organizational development, performance management, or related people functions
• 3+ years experience leading high-performing teams in fast-growth, distributed environments
• Demonstrated success designing and implementing strategic people initiatives that measurably impact business outcomes
• Experience designing performance and development programs that drive exceptional results
• Strong consulting skills with ability to influence senior leaders and navigate complex stakeholder environments
• Demonstrated AI fluency and ability to experiment with emerging technologies to enhance organizational effectiveness solutions
• Experience partnering with business leaders to tie people initiatives directly to revenue, efficiency, and growth goals

Preferred qualifications for this role include:

• Experience in high-growth technology or SaaS companies
• Advanced expertise in organization design and effectiveness methodologies
• Background in human-centered design or design thinking approaches
• Track record developing successful leadership development programs
• Experience with organizational goal-setting methodologies

How you'll grow

Within 1 month, you’ll plant your roots, including:

• Developing comprehensive understanding of Sprout's business strategy, organizational structure, and current people programs
• Forging key relationships with People Team leaders and cross-functional partners to understand strategic priorities
• Assessing current state of performance systems, leadership development, and team capabilities
• Partnering with your team to understand current initiatives and establish working cadences

Within 3 months, you’ll start hitting your stride by:

• Developing a strategic roadmap for your team that addresses critical business needs
• Leading the planning and execution for our annual performance cycle to strengthen accountability and growth
• Designing leadership development experiences that address capability gaps
• Deepening your understanding of the team and continuing to build strong coaching relationships that support growth and impact

Within 6 months, you’ll be making a clear impact through:

• Implementing revised approaches to performance management that enhance feedback quality and growth
• Establishing measurement frameworks that demonstrate clear impact of PS&I team initiatives
• Developing innovative solutions to leadership effectiveness challenges
• Building strong partnerships across the organization that position your team as strategic advisors
• Creating scalable frameworks that enable consistent experiences across the organization

Within 12 months, you’ll make this role your own by:

• Establishing industry-leading approaches to performance management, career and leadership development and team effectiveness
• Creating sustainable systems that scale with company growth
• Demonstrating measurable impact on key business metrics through people initiatives
• Positioning your team as a competitive advantage in how we develop talent and drive performance
• Building a high-performing team with clear succession plans and growth trajectories
• Modeling the player/coach approach through both team development and direct contributions to performance frameworks and organizational effectiveness

Of course, what is outlined above is the ideal timeline. Business needs may shift, and other projects or responsibilities could be added at your manager’s discretion.

Our Benefits Program

We’re proud to regularly be recognized for our team, product and culture. Our benefits program includes:

• Insurance and benefit options that are built for both individuals and families
• Progressive policies to support work/life balance, like our flexible paid time off and parental leave program 
• High-quality and well-maintained equipment—your computer will never prevent you from doing your best
• Wellness initiatives to ensure both health and mental well-being of our team
• Ongoing education and development opportunities via our Grow@Sprout program and  employee-led diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• Growing corporate social responsibility program that is driven by the involvement and passion of our team members
• Beautiful, convenient and state-of-the-art offices in Chicago’s Loop and downtown Seattle, for those who prefer an office setting

Whenever possible, Sprout wants to provide our team with the flexibility to work in the location that makes the most sense for them. Sprout maintains a remote workforce in many places in the United States. However, we are not set up in all states, so please look at the drop-down box in our application to see whether your state is listed. Few roles require an office setting. If your position requires a physical presence in a Sprout office, it will be evident in the job listing and your offer letter.

Individual base pay is based on various factors, including work location, relevant experience and skills, the responsibility of the role, and job duties/requirements. In the United States, we have two geographic pay zones. For this role, our current base pay ranges for new hires are:

• Zone 1 (New York, California, Washington): Min $172,040, Mid $215,100, Max $258,060 USD annually
• Zone 2 (All other US states): Min $156,400, Mid $195,500, Max $234,600 USD annually

The listed ranges represent the full earning potential in this position. Starting salaries for well-qualified new hires are typically around the midpoint of the range. These ranges were determined by a market-based compensation approach; we used data from trusted third-party compensation sources to set equitable, consistent, and competitive ranges. We also evaluate compensation bi-annually, identify any changes in the market and make adjustments to our ranges and existing employee compensation as needed.

Base pay is only one element of an employee's total compensation at Sprout. Every Sprout team member has an opportunity to receive restricted stock units (RSUs) under Sprout’s equity plan. Employees (and their dependents) are covered by medical, dental, vision, basic life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance, and Modern Health (a wellness benefit).  Employees are able to enroll in Sprout’s company’s 401k plan, in which Sprout will match 50% of your contributions up to 6% with a maximum contribution. Sprout offers “Flexible Paid Time Off” and ten paid holidays. We have outlined the various components to an employee’s full compensation package here to help you to understand our total rewards package.

Sprout Social is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on identity- race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex (including sexual identity), age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, order of protection status, citizenship status, arrest record or expunged or sealed convictions, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law. Because Sprout Social is a federal contractor, we affirmatively recruit individuals with a disability and protected veterans. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our latest DEI Report.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. We'll do all we can to ensure you're set up for success during our interview process while upholding your privacy, including requests for accommodation. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please click here (1) Equal Opportunity Employment Poster and (2) Sprout Social's Affirmative Action Statement. 

Additionally, Sprout Social participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. 

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