As Centura’s Director of People & Culture, you will serve as a strategic leader responsible for shaping and advancing the firm’s people strategy. You will partner with leadership to align HR practices with business goals, driving operational excellence, compliance, and a values-based culture. You will lead initiatives that strengthen engagement, promote accountability, and support a high-performing, inclusive workplace. You will ensure HR policies, programs, and systems reflect best practices and comply with federal and state regulations. You will act as a trusted advisor to leadership and employees alike, fostering transparency, trust, and collaboration across the organization. Ultimately, you will champion Centura’s mission by creating a culture where people thrive and business goals are achieved through aligned, purpose-driven performance. This role is located onsite 4 days a week in San Diego, California. Remote candidates will not be considered.

Primary Responsibilities:

Open Enrollment

• Lead Centura’s annual benefits renewal and open enrollment process, including timeline creation, vendor coordination, and communication planning.
• Evaluate current benefit plan performance annually by analyzing participation, utilization, employee feedback and cost trends.
• Partner with the firm’s benefits broker to review plan design options, renewals, and alternative carriers or cost-savings opportunities.
• Recommend plan design changes to leadership based on cost, compliance, and employee needs.
• Manage vendor and carrier relationships, ensuring service quality, data accuracy, and timely issue resolution.
• Develop and deliver employee communication materials for open enrollment (e.g., guides, FAQs, and presentations) that clearly explain benefits options and changes.
• Conduct post-enrollment audits to verify accuracy of enrollments, deductions, and carrier data feeds.

Leave of Absences / Reasonable Accommodations

• Administer Centura’s Leave of Absence (LOA) and Reasonable Accommodation processes in compliance with federal and California laws (e.g., FMLA, CFRA, ADA).
• Coordinate with employees, managers, and HR leadership to ensure a smooth leave process and proper return-to-work planning.
• Track leave dates, extensions, and return-to-work statuses to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Provide guidance to employees and managers on leave and accommodation policies, escalating complex cases to HR leadership as needed.

Workers’ Compensation

• Administer Centura’s Workers’ Compensation program in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers regarding workplace injuries or incidents.
• File claims and coordinate with the insurance carrier to ensure timely submission and follow-up.

Policy Updates and Renewals

• Review annual federal and California legislative and regulatory updates to ensure company policies remain compliant.
• Draft, edit, and format new or revised policies for leadership review and approval.
• Provide guidance to managers and employees regarding policy interpretation and implementation.

Performance Management

• Design, implement, and continuously refine Centura’s performance management framework to ensure alignment with the firm’s mission, values, and strategic objectives.
• Partner with leadership to establish clear performance expectations, goal-setting processes, and feedback standards that promote accountability and growth.
• Lead the annual and quarterly review cycles, including timeline planning, training and communication.
• Coach managers on delivering constructive, values-based feedback and fostering a culture of continuous performance improvement.
• Analyze performance data to identify firmwide strengths, development needs, and trends that inform talent planning and training initiatives.
• Ensure consistency, fairness, and compliance in performance evaluation practices across all departments.
• Partner with Finance and leadership to connect performance outcomes with compensation and advancement decisions.
• Develop and maintain performance improvement and development programs that support employee success and retention.
• Champion a feedback-driven culture that values recognition, accountability, and professional development.
• Coach managers on delivering constructive, values-based feedback and addressing underperformance proactively and effectively.
• Partner with leadership to identify and respond to performance issues through coaching, documented feedback, and ongoing performance discussions.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and tracking of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), ensuring fairness, compliance, and consistency across departments.
• Collaborate with legal counsel and executive leadership on complex or escalated performance cases to mitigate risk and support sound decision-making.
• Provide guidance to managers on documentation standards and best practices for managing performance-related issues.
• Analyze performance data to identify firmwide trends, high-potential talent, and areas requiring additional support, training or intervention

Compliance

• Oversee all HR compliance functions to ensure alignment with federal, state, and local employment laws, including wage and hour, leave, benefits, and anti-discrimination regulations.
• Partner with Centura’s legal counsel and external partners (e.g., Littler) to interpret new legislation, assess business impact, and implement required policy or procedural changes.
• Maintain and update Centura’s Employee Handbook and HR policies to reflect current laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Oversee completion of all mandatory employee trainings and certifications, including compliance, anti-harassment, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of required reporting and filings (e.g., ACA, EEO-1, OSHA, COBRA, ERISA).
• Partner with leadership to manage compliance-related investigations, employee relations issues, and disciplinary actions as needed.
• Educate managers and employees on compliance expectations, providing guidance and resources to promote ethical conduct and risk awareness.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Deep understanding of employment law and HR compliance across federal and California regulations (FMLA, CFRA, ADA, ACA, EEO, wage and hour, etc.).
• Experience with open enrollment, compensation structures, and total rewards strategies.
• Understanding of employee engagement best practices.
• Knowledge of change management and organizational effectiveness principles.
• Working knowledge of HR systems and analytics tools.
• Skilled in coaching leaders through feedback, performance improvement, and talent growth.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution, moving seamlessly between big-picture planning and hands-on leadership.
• Ability to analyze HR metrics and workforce data to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to navigate sensitive employee matters with discretion, empathy, and professionalism.
• Ability to adapt to changing business needs and regulatory requirements while maintaining HR compliance.
• Ability to model ethical leadership and uphold the highest standards of integrity and confidentiality.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive HR experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership or strategic HR management role.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing multiple HR functions such as recruiting, performance management, benefits, compliance, and employee engagement.
• Proven track record in developing and implementing HR strategies that align with organizational goals and improve business performance.
• Experience in California employment law compliance and employee relations.
• Strong knowledge of HR systems and technology platforms (e.g., HRIS, ATS, performance and engagement tools).
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to build and lead high-performing teams and foster an inclusive, collaborative work environment.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.
• Experience in financial services or RIA environments strongly preferred.

Competencies:

• Communication
• Bold Leadership
• Delegation
• Forward Thinking
• Influencing Others
• Adaptability
• Decision Making
• Project Management
• Resource Management
• Risk Navigator

Centura Investment Advisory, headquartered in San Diego with a national presence, is an SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm delivering innovative Investment and Wealth Management services to affluent families, business owners, and Corporate Executives. Our skilled professionals have been crafting sophisticated financial solutions as a team since 2005, yielding total Investment efficiency and purpose to those looking to liberate their wealth.

We achieve this by focusing on our clients' needs, upholding the highest ethical standards, fostering a tradition of quality, and investing in the individuals who, together, form our team. In doing so we cultivate a culture of excellence visible throughout all facets of the company, our practices, and most of all, the work we do for our clients.

At Centura Wealth Advisory, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where all employees feel valued and respected. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.