San Jose, California, United States, September 2025 — Liz Mireles has been appointed as Vice President, People & Culture at San Jose Sharks, where she will lead the organization’s overall people strategy, talent development, and employee experience. In this role, she will oversee HR operations, total rewards, culture initiatives, and wellness programs, while serving as a strategic advisor to senior leadership in aligning people priorities with business goals.
Mireles has been with the San Jose Sharks since 2023, most recently serving as Director of People, where she provided leadership across HR strategy, talent acquisition, employee engagement, and compensation and benefits. She was a key partner to leadership in shaping organizational culture and ensuring talent structures and processes aligned with long-term business strategy.
Before joining the Sharks, she was Vice President for Human Resources at Hope Services in San Jose. There, she provided strategic direction across recruitment, onboarding, compensation and benefits, DEI initiatives, and union relations, playing an instrumental role in aligning HR with the organization’s mission of community service and impact.
Earlier in her career, Mireles built a significant tenure at Santa Clara University, where she held progressive HR leadership roles over 13 years. She served as Assistant Director of Workforce Planning, Workforce Planning Manager, and Senior HR Partner, contributing across areas such as workforce planning, compensation, employee relations, labor relations, and performance management.
She began her HR journey at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she worked as HR Partner, Assistant HR Analyst, and Assistant HR Partner, building expertise in recruitment, compliance, employee relations, and process improvement. These early experiences equipped her with a strong foundation in HR strategy and operations.
With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, nonprofit, and sports management sectors, Mireles brings deep expertise in HR leadership, organizational culture, and talent strategy. At the San Jose Sharks, her leadership is expected to strengthen employee engagement, foster inclusivity, and build a purpose-driven and high-performance workforce.
About San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks, founded in 1991, are a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise based in the heart of Silicon Valley. The team plays its home games at the SAP Center at San Jose and is recognized for its passionate fan base, vibrant community engagement, and commitment to excellence both on and off the ice. #SharksForLife
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