VP of People: Facts, Skills, and Next Paths

A VP of People oversees all human resources functions, from recruiting and compensation to performance management and labor law compliance. Day-to-day, this role directs teams that handle employee relations, organizational design, and HRIS systems, ensuring policies are applied consistently across the company.

Core responsibilities include strategic and operational leadership across all HR areas, often within a specific region or for a multi-site organization. For example, Kinder Morgan’s HR Director provides subject-matter expertise and directs subordinates in recruiting, compensation, and employee relations, while Rockbot’s Director of People focuses on aligning department goals to company objectives and scaling people infrastructure for a distributed workforce. This role typically reports to executive leadership and manages a team of exempt and non-exempt staff.

The median salary for a VP of People is approximately $190,000. The most requested skills in current postings are Performance Management (100% of postings), Labor Law & Compliance (75%), and Compliance (75%).