Vice President, People

About the role:

We're looking for a strategic, people-first leader to help run the People function at 8am. As the Vice President, People, you'll partner closely with the Chief People Officer to build the strategy, programs, and workplace experience that support 8am's continued growth, spanning Total Rewards, People Systems and HRIS, People Business Partners, and Facilities.

You'll be a trusted advisor to business leaders across the company, a mentor to future leaders on your own team, and a champion of 8am's Core Values. You'll bring both strategic vision and hands-on execution, translating business priorities into people programs that keep employees well supported, well rewarded, and set up to do their best work.

About us:

At 8am, our vision is to power a world where professionals thrive. We start every day on a mission to empower professionals with the most trusted, innovative technology to deliver world-class outcomes for their clients and exceptional financial results for their business. They count on our purpose-built solutions to simplify operations, ensure compliance, and fuel profitable growth, so they can focus on their clients and do more of the work that matters.

Founded in 2005, 8am™ (formerly AffiniPay) is the professional business platform built to help legal, accounting, and other client-focused professionals run stronger, more profitable businesses. Today, more than 250,000 professionals across the U.S. trust 8am to help them work smarter, serve clients better, and unlock their full potential. We have been recognized as one of Inc 5000’s fastest growing companies in the U.S. for 13 years in a row, and as a result, our teams continue to grow as well!

What it means to be a VP at 8am

• You own the strategy, execution, and success of a business-critical function, not just its day-to-day.
• You're a cultural leader who builds trust, develops future leaders, and leads by example, including when a bet doesn't pay off.
• You operate as a fully functioning “lieutenant” to the Chief People Officer, providing business continuity for the People function when needed.
• You bring outshine-ordinary communication and are comfortable presenting to the Executive Leadership Team and Board.
• You're an objective decision-maker who puts the company first, versatile and organizationally savvy, and agile in the face of ambiguity.

What you'll do:

• Lead and develop the People Business Partner team, ensuring HRBPs act as trusted advisors who drive strong, consistent people practices across the business.
• Own the design, delivery, and ongoing evolution of 8am's Total Rewards strategy, including compensation, benefits, and recognition programs that attract and retain top talent.
• Oversee People Systems/HRIS, ensuring data integrity, efficient processes, and reporting that give leaders the insights they need to make good decisions.
• Oversee Facilities operations across 8am's offices, ensuring safe, functional, and welcoming workplaces for employees.
• Own the Executive Admin function, providing strategic oversight of executive support to enable leadership effectiveness.
• Partner with the Chief People Officer and executive team to translate business strategy into people programs and priorities.
• Ensure compliance with relevant employment laws, regulations, and internal policies across all people programs.
• Build scalable programs, processes and systems that support 8am's continued growth across the U.S., Canada, Colombia, and Czech Republic.
• Use data and metrics to guide decision-making and continuously improve the employee experience.
• Represent the People function with the Executive Leadership Team and Board as needed, and mentor and develop future leaders across the organization.

About you:

• Advanced degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a similar relevant field (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of progressive People leadership experience, including direct oversight of Total Rewards and HRIS/People Systems.
• Proven experience leading and developing People Business Partner teams.
• Strong knowledge of compensation design, benefits administration, and People systems/technology.
• Impeccable communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Strong analytical and project management skills.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and People compliance requirements.
• High emotional intelligence, sound judgment operating with ambiguity, and a demonstrated track record developing future leaders.
• Demonstrated command of 8am's Core Values, especially We Find a Way and Work Smart, Win Fast, with a track record of leading through ambiguity.
• Comfortable operating as a trusted advisor and occasional stand-in for the Chief People Officer, including at the ELT and Board level.
• Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills, with an objective, company-first approach to decision-making.
• A builder of diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams who makes people feel heard and valued.

Why This Role Is Exciting

• High visibility: you'll partner directly with the Chief People Officer and sit on 8am's Leadership Team.
• Real impact: your work will shape how every employee across the U.S., Canada, Colombia, and Czech Republic experiences working at 8am.
• Growth: you'll build the scalable programs and systems that support 8am's continued growth.
• Variety: you'll own Total Rewards, People Systems/HRIS, People Business Partners, and Facilities all at once, with a direct line to the leaders shaping 8am's future.
• This role sits on 8am's Senior Leadership Team with visibility to the Executive Leadership Team, eligibility for Leadership Offsites and the Award of Excellence trip, and a real hand in developing 8am's next generation of leaders.

Why 8am: 

At 8am, our culture is shaped by the people who bring it to life every day. Together, we build a company rooted in continuous learning, genuine community, holistic wellness, and meaningful engagement—values that empower us as individuals and unite us as a team. Our culture is grounded in our core values: Work Smart, Win Fast; Outshine Ordinary, and We Find a Way. These values drive how we serve our customers and work with each other in a collaborative, inspiring, and empowering environment, every day.

Here’s how we support our 8Team:

• Health Insurance Coverage: We offer our 8Team a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans, designed to fit your needs, including a 100% company-paid HDHP plan for employees.
• Financial perks: We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including annual bonuses, equity options and 401(k) or RRSP if in Canada, with a company match for all team members.
• Time for what matters: Flexible Time Off, paid holidays, and a parental leave program for our new parents.
• Wellness: Wellness stipends, mental health support, and one-on-one nutrition coaching.
• Learning and Development: Continuous learning through 8am.edu, leadership programs, professional development funds, and individually focused talent development.
• Giving back to the communities around us: Participate in our charitable matching gift program, paid time off for volunteer service, and company-sponsored volunteer events (both local and virtually).
• Engagement: Virtual and in-person team-building events, quarterly award recognition through our Rise & Shine Award of Excellence Program, and our peer-to-peer appreciation platform.

At 8am, we don’t just offer benefits - we create an environment where people can thrive, grow, and make a real impact every day.

Diversity, equity & inclusion at 8am:

At 8am, we recognize that innovation occurs with a strong team of people who are diverse in background, personality, talent and ideas. Experience comes in many forms and ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where we continue to learn from each other is an integral part of our culture. We are committed to creating a welcoming and transparent environment for all that embraces those differences through education, equal access to opportunities and information, inclusionary programs, and community outreach. 

Security advisory:

Our hiring teams at 8am are dedicated to recruiting top talent that share our passion for serving the professional services industry through innovative financial technology.  As such, our Talent Acquisition Team only follows legitimate hiring practices.  We will always communicate with our candidates using emails with the 8am domain and will never ask for sensitive/personal data during the application process.  All interviews take place over phone call, Zoom/Google Meet or in person.  All offers are communicated verbally by our Talent Acquisition Specialists with a written offer letter as a follow up.