A highly respected, long-standing community bank headquartered in the Central Valley is seeking a strategic and experienced Human Resources leader to succeed their retiring HR Director. They need someone with experience in the financial services industry: bank or credit union. This bank has built a reputation over more than a century for its strong culture, low turnover, and people-first approach. The incoming VP / Director of Human Resources will inherit a high-functioning team of subject matter experts, a supportive executive environment, and a meaningful opportunity to shape the future of the bank's people strategy while continuing its legacy of excellence.
We are excited to connect our client with senior HR Leaders (MUST have experience in financial services, either at a bank or credit union) who are passionate about culture, strategy, and building strong, people-centered organizations.
Job Title: Vice President/Director of Human Resources
Location: Stockton, CA area (on-site required) - Candidates willing to relocate will be considered and are encouraged to apply.
Top Requirements (non-negotiable):
- Must have at least a handful of years working in financial services at a bank, credit union industry, or maybe a private finance company.
- Must be able to work in-person full-time.
- Must have at least 7 years of experience, preferably 10-15.
Essential Duties:
- Lead all Human Resources functions, including but not limited to Employee Relations, Benefits, Payroll, Talent Acquisition, Compensation Strategy, Learning & Development, etc.
- Act as a key advisor to senior leadership, contributing to strategic decision-making and organizational planning.
- Manage and mentor a team of six direct reports across HR and L&D functions.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws and internal policy.
- Champion a high-trust, low-politics culture where employees are supported and treated with integrity.
- Step in during complex or sensitive situations at branches or across departments when leadership presence is needed.
- Oversee compensation, payroll, open enrollment, and self-insured benefit programs.
Ideal Candidate Profile:
- A seasoned HR executive with at least 7-15 years of progressive experience, ideally within banking or financial services.
- Deeply experienced in employee relations, organizational leadership, and compliance.
- Strategic yet hands-on-you thrive in environments where autonomy, trust, and performance go hand-in-hand.
- Analytical and data-driven, able to extract and share useful insights without overwhelming stakeholders.
- A confident communicator who builds trust with executive leadership and team members alike.
- Comfortable in a "title-light" environment-impact here is measured by leadership and value, not rank.
Highlights of this Role:
- You'll step into a stable, highly respected bank with loyal teams and engaged leadership.
- This is a true succession plan-you'll have access to your predecessor during a thoughtful transition period.
- The HR function is central to the organization, with direct access to the CEO and real influence on bank operations.
- The role is deeply respected internally and comes with the autonomy to lead without red tape or micromanagement.
- A new dedicated HR space is in development to support privacy and professionalism in people operations.
Benefits & Pay:
- Pay is flexible and negotiable for the right person and will be dependent on a variety of factors such as years of experience, culture fit, overall expertise, leadership, etc. The base salary target is $250k-$300k. The bank has also said they are open to feedback on the range and adjust for the right person.
- Generous retirement plan.
- Strong, self-insured healthcare coverage.
- Stable culture with very low turnover.
- On-site role with high visibility and autonomy.
Next Steps:
If you are interested in having a confidential conversation about this opportunity, please apply here and/or reach out to Taryn Wright by calling or texting or email .