VP of Personnel and Talent Acquisition

Job Description

About the job VP of Personnel & Talent Acquisition
Reports to: President

About Pax Christi Academies

As a growing system of schools, Pax Christi is steered by a dedicated team of visionary leaders working in partnership with church leaders whose sole focus is on education, where every child is provided the opportunity to encounter Christ, flourish, prosper and achieve academic excellence dedicated to excellence in teaching, fidelity to the Magisterium, and the flourishing of both faculty and families. With a dynamic leadership team and a deep commitment to mission, the Academies aim to be a national model for authentically Catholic education integrating the best practices of faith and moral formation, academic education, and enrollment growth and financial sustainability.

Position Overview

The Vice President of Personnel & Talent Acquisition will serve as a strategic partner to the President and principals, ensuring that human resources, personnel development, and organizational strategy are fully aligned with Pax Christi's mission and long-term growth.

Blending high-level strategic thinking with operational HR leadership, the VP will shape talent acquisition, faculty development, and retention practices in a way that strengthens school culture, improves hiring, addresses underperformance, and ensures the Academies attract and retain mission-aligned faculty and staff.

This role requires a leader who can navigate the balance between school-level autonomy and system-wide structures, bringing clarity, efficiency, and a mission-driven approach to all aspects of personnel and strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition & Development:

-Establish a mission-driven recruitment process for all faculty and staff.
-Strengthen hiring practices to ensure timely recruitment, cultural fit, and alignment with Catholic values.
-Develop onboarding, mentoring, and professional development systems for faculty and staff.

Performance Management:

-Design and implement fair, mission-based performance review processes.
-Equip principals to manage employee relations confidently, including addressing underperformance.
-Build leadership pipelines and identify future leaders within the Academies.

Strategic Capacity & Growth:

-Develop a multi-year personnel strategy tied to organizational growth and strategic priorities.
-Ensure HR practices support enrollment goals and long-term sustainability.
-Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and principals on personnel and organizational strategy.
-Collaboration & Communication:
-Facilitate alignment and communication across departments and campuses.
-Partner with principals to identify challenges and design effective solutions.
-Source talent from strategic networks and prepare hires to thrive in a Catholic school environment.

HR Administration:

-Build and update faculty, staff, and student handbooks to reflect Catholic mission and best practices.
-Define and manage HR responsibilities between Pax schools and diocesan shared services, ensuring clarity, compliance, and efficiency.
-Create policies and workflows that advance both compliance and strategic objectives.
-Core Competencies & Character
-Deeply committed to the mission of Catholic education.
-Strategic thinker with strong HR expertise and organizational leadership experience.
-Builds trust and navigates sensitive issues with clarity and grace.
-Skilled in talent development, mentorship, and performance management.
-Capable of implementing scalable, sustainable systems.
-Disciplined, adaptable, and resilient under pressure; brings clarity in ambiguity.

Qualifications & Experience

-Practicing Catholic committed to the Church's teaching and life of virtue.
-Minimum 7-10 years of leadership experience in HR, organizational strategy, or school leadership.
-Demonstrated success in recruitment, performance management, and organizational development.
-Experience in Catholic education or faith-based nonprofits strongly preferred.
-Strong written and verbal communication skills.

To Apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your fit with the mission of Pax Christi Academies and how your experience has prepared you for this role to Edi Denton: edenton@arcadiaed.com or click Apply for Position below.

About the Employer

Pax Christi Academies, a network of five faithful Catholic schools in Orange County, CA, is committed to forming children in the fullness of faith, intellect, character, and citizenship, who see Gods active presence in their lives and respond to the call to be like Jesus.