VP of People

VP of PeopleLocation: Louisville, KY (On-site with hybrid flexibility) Reports to: CEO & President Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt Compensation: $120,000 - $140,000 base salary + performance bonus + equity options About Cornbread Hemp Cornbread Hemp is a Louisville-based hemp company on a mission to produce the highest quality USDA certified organic wellness products in the country. We are a pioneer of Kentucky-grown hemp, and everything we do is rooted in craftsmanship, transparency, and integrity. We are a high-growth company in a dynamic and evolving industry. Our team is a mix of in-office and remote employees who are passionate, entrepreneurial, and deeply committed to what we're building. If you want to be part of something meaningful at a company where your work matters and your voice is heard, we'd love to talk. The Role The VP of People is a senior executive role and a direct strategic partner to the CEO. This is not a compliance-and-paperwork HR role - it is a people-first, culture-defining position for someone who understands that a company's greatest competitive advantage is its team. Cornbread Hemp is operating at a pivotal moment. We are a high-growth company in a dynamic and evolving regulatory environment, and this role requires someone who has navigated organizational change before. You will own the full employee lifecycle, shape Cornbread's culture across a distributed workforce, and report directly to the CEO with a seat at the table where decisions are made. This role is ideal for an experienced people leader who thrives in dynamic, fast-changing environments, is energized by building and scaling systems, and has the organizational resilience to lead through ambiguity. About the People Function The VP of People currently operates as a department of one, overseeing all aspects of people operations across a mixed remote and in-office workforce. One of your first priorities will be hiring an HR Coordinator to own day-to-day administrative HR functions - onboarding paperwork, benefits questions, HRIS maintenance, employee records, and interview coordination. That support structure will allow you to operate at the executive level, partnering with leadership and driving the people agenda forward. What You'll DoCulture & Employee Experience Serve as the steward of Cornbread's culture - defining, protecting, and evolving it as the company grows Design and execute employee engagement programs that work for both remote and in-office team members Build recognition programs that reinforce company values and make people feel seen Lead company events and culture-building activities that reflect who we are as a brand Be a visible, trusted presence for the team - the person employees come to when something matters People Operations Develop and maintain HR systems, policies, and procedures that are scalable and practical Own and update the employee handbook, HR documentation, and compliance records Manage benefits administration, payroll coordination, and HRIS systems Maintain accurate employee data, files, and documentation Build and refine onboarding and offboarding processes that create a consistent, high-quality employee experience Talent Acquisition & Development Lead full-cycle recruiting across all departments, with a strong eye for both skill fit and cultural alignment Partner with leadership on workforce planning and org design as the company scales Build and manage a performance management framework that is developmental, not just evaluative Support leadership in identifying high-potential employees and creating growth paths for them Own succession planning and internal mobility strategy Compensation & Total Rewards Own and evolve Cornbread's compensation philosophy and pay structure as the company grows Conduct regular benchmarking to ensure our offers are competitive in the Louisville market and beyond Manage benefits programs and partner with leadership on total rewards strategy including equity and bonus programs Ensure pay equity across the organization and advise leadership proactively on compensation decisions Retention & Workforce Analytics Use data to identify opportunities for improvement, track engagement trends, and inform proactive retention strategies Build and maintain dashboards or reporting tools that give leadership visibility into people metrics Conduct stay interviews and exit interviews and translate findings into actionable recommendations Partner closely with the CEO on org health, team dynamics, and culture risks Employee Relations & Compliance Serve as a trusted, neutral advisor to both employees and managers on workplace issues and conflict resolution Conduct workplace investigations with proper documentation and strict confidentiality Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws Maintain and enforce company policies and consistent disciplinary practices Stay current on employment law developments relevant to Kentucky and multi-state remote workforces Strategic People Leadership Serve as a thought partner to the CEO on organizational design, culture, and people strategy Lead the people function through periods of organizational change, growth, or strategic transition with steadiness and clarity Build and execute workforce plans that can flex quickly - whether the business is scaling, pivoting, or restructuring Partner with leadership on building new talent profiles if the company's go-to-market or business model evolves Align people initiatives with business objectives and the company's growth roadmap Evaluate and continuously improve HR programs, policies, and practices Build scalable people infrastructure that supports a company of 100+ employees continuing to grow Represent the people function in leadership team conversations and strategic planning QualificationsRequired 7+ years of progressive HR or people leadership experience supporting the full employee lifecycle Proven experience leading an organization or team through significant change - restructuring, pivoting, or rapid scaling Proven experience building and leading an HR team - you have hired, developed, and managed HR staff before and are ready to do it again here Experience supporting organizations of 200+ employees through an active growth phase Strong knowledge of federal and Kentucky employment law; experience with multi-state remote workforce compliance a plus Proven track record in talent acquisition, employee relations, and performance management Data-driven approach to retention, engagement, and workforce planning Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust across all levels of the organization Strongly Preferred Experience in a regulated or emerging industry (hemp, cannabis, CPG, supplements, or similar) Familiarity with Culture Index, Predictive Index, or similar behavioral assessment platforms Experience working within the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) framework Familiarity with Gusto or similar HRIS/payroll platforms PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification What We Offer Competitive base salary ($120,000 - $140,000) plus performance bonus Equity options available for this role Health, vision, and dental benefits with employer contribution 4 weeks PTO Hybrid work flexibility An executive role with direct access to the CEO and real influence over company direction TO APPLY: Please follow the link provided and submit your resume and a cover letter describing the impact you hope to make at Cornbread Hemp and why you would be a meaningful addition to our team as we continue to grow and evolve. Cornbread Hemp is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Created: 2026-03-12