Graciela Villanueva

As Chief Human Resource Officer, Graciela Villanueva leads the recruitment, hiring, and retention of all Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic staff; develops and implements HR strategy and planning; oversees compensation and benefits; guides workforce development; and ensures a strong, mission-driven team dedicated to delivering high-quality care to patients and clients.

Graciela began her career with Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic in 2006 as a Recruiting Manager. She was later promoted to Recruiting Director, served as Compensation Director for several years, and ultimately advanced to her current role as Chief Human Resource Officer. Her previous experience includes serving as HR & Diversity Director for Planned Parenthood of Central Washington and HR Manager for Trail Wagons/Chinook RV.

Graciela has led the transformation of Human Resources into a respected, high-performing, and data-driven function. She has been the architect of equitable compensation systems, innovative physician pay models, and strategic workforce development plans that align people with organizational growth. She is recognized for amplifying employee voice, influencing governance reform, and building scalable people systems. Graciela is a trusted advisor to CEOs and boards, with expertise spanning compensation, organizational development, workforce strategy, and stakeholder alignment.

Outside of Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Graciela is a strong advocate for the Yakima Valley. She serves on the Washington Association of Community & Migrant Health Centers’ Workforce Committee, the South Central Washington Workforce Development Council, and the Yakima School District’s Board of Directors.