Position: Director of Human Resources
Reports To: CEO
Location: Portland, Oregon 
Employment Type: Full-Time / Exempt

Company Overview

Linguava Interpreters, Inc. is a premier language services provider dedicated to ensuring language access in healthcare and beyond. Our mission is to be the go-to company that employees take pride in, linguists are excited to be partnered with, and the healthcare community trusts as the premier choice for exceptional language services. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Linguava has grown into a $35 million company with a team of 70+ full-time staff and a network of skilled linguists. We are passionate about helping patients find their seat at the table to fully participate in their healthcare, regardless of what language they speak or sign.

Trusted by respected organizations such as Providence, CareOregon, and Mercy Corps, Linguava is positioned for significant growth: expanding its current offerings and scaling nationally. This organization has self-implemented an EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) model and is looking for a true Integrator to partner with the CEO/Visionary. 

The Mission (Our Concern)

The Director of Human Resources leads our people strategy, ensuring the organization thrives by fostering a "People First" culture. You serve as a strategic partner to all functional areas of the business, practicing deep listening and collaborative problem-solving to ensure our HR initiatives align with business goals while honoring the humanity and dignity of every individual.

Strategic Results (What You’ll Achieve)

• Collaborative Organizational Alignment: You will work side-by-side with leadership across all departments to translate business objectives into a comprehensive people strategy, ensuring solutions are co-created to meet the unique needs of every team.
• A Culture of Deep Listening & Engagement: You will establish channels where every employee feels heard and empowered. You will develop specific engagement strategies for our distributed/remote workforce to ensure our values transcend physical borders.
• Successful Change Leadership: You will maintain high levels of morale and retention during periods of organizational growth and technology evolution, guiding the team through the Pursuit of Progress.
• Ethical Integrity & Transparency: You will lead with honesty, engaging in open and respectful conversations and holding the company to the highest ethical standards of fairness and trust.
• Strategic Workforce Planning: You will lead a high-performing recruitment and onboarding function that attracts talent who share our commitment to Above & Beyond Service.

Core Responsibilities

• Cross-Functional Partnership: You will partner closely with leaders across the entire organization to understand their specific challenges. You serve as a consultative ally, co-creating tailored solutions for the people-related issues that arise in their unique workflows.
• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement strategies that support the long-term vision of the company and the growth of our people, advising the executive team on organizational development and human potential.
• Policy & Governance: Create and implement all HR policies and labor law compliance frameworks, ensuring they reflect our value of Doing the Right Thing.
• Total Rewards & Recognition: Lead the design of competitive compensation and "Wow" programs that exceed employee expectations and create internal raving fans.
• Performance & Development: Oversee performance management, shifting the focus toward coaching and recognizing that none of us are perfect and growth is a shared journey.
• Conflict Mediation: Act as a high-level liaison between management and staff, resolving complex disputes with compassion, understanding, and a focus on maintaining mutual respect.
• Budget & Operations: Manage the departmental budget, ensuring resources are allocated to foster growth and well-being.

Core Competencies & Expectations

• Deep Listening & Empathy: The ability to listen beyond the surface to understand the needs of others, treating every stakeholder with the respect and compassion they deserve.
• Emotional Resilience & EQ: High emotional intelligence and the ability to remain calm and compassionate during high-stress situations, modeling the "Have Each Other’s Back" mentality under pressure.
• Collaborative Problem-Solving: A mindset that approaches HR issues as shared challenges to be solved together rather than obstacles to be managed.
• Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen: The ability to see the "big picture" and align human potential with the company’s growth in the language services market.
• Communication Mastery: Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead transparent, honest, and respectful conversations at all levels.
• Innovation Mindset: A relentless drive to seek out new ideas and encourage creativity, making our daily activities a little better each day.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in HR Leadership (Director or Senior Manager level).
• Proven track record of building cross-functional relationships and solving complex organizational issues collaboratively.
• Experience leading change management initiatives and managing remote/distributed teams.
• Deep knowledge of employment law and best practices, with a focus on ethical implementation.
• A background in service-based industries (Language Services, Healthcare, or Hospitality) is preferred.