Location: This role must be based in either our State College or Altoona office and requires frequent travel between both locations. The Director will also support select firmwide operational initiatives.
Position Summary Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak is seeking a hands-on, people-focused Director of Operations to lead the employee experience and day-to-day operational effectiveness of our State College and Altoona offices. This leader will take primary responsibility for hiring, onboarding, employee development, performance accountability, corrective action, and separations for the teams they support while creating a respectful, solutions-oriented workplace built on quality, care, commitment, and accountability.
The right candidate is organized, confident handling difficult conversations, comfortable making decisions, and energized by developing people and improving how work gets done.
Responsibilities - Lead employees across the State College and Altoona offices with a visible, accessible presence in both locations.
- Assess staffing needs and lead recruiting, interviewing, selection, offer coordination, and onboarding for the two offices.
- Set clear expectations, conduct regular check-ins, coach employees and supervisors, and build practical development plans.
- Lead performance management, including goal setting, reviews, recognition, documented coaching, corrective action, and progressive discipline when appropriate.
- Partner with firm leadership and HR resources on employee-relations matters and make well-supported recommendations regarding retention, promotion, discipline, and termination.
- Coordinate respectful, consistent, and appropriately documented employee separations.
- Oversee daily office operations, including staffing coverage, workflow coordination, communication, facilities, vendors, supplies, and professional standards.
- Implement and reinforce firm policies, procedures, systems, and client-service expectations across both locations.
- Identify operational or people-related issues, address root causes, and lead practical improvements with clear ownership and follow-through.
- Assist partners and firm leadership with firmwide process improvement, strategic initiatives, reporting, vendor management, and special projects.
- Maintain strict confidentiality regarding employee, client, compensation, and firm information.
Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in business, management, human resources, organizational leadership, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and substantial relevant experience.
- Five or more years of progressive operations and people-leadership experience, including hands-on responsibility for hiring, coaching, performance management, corrective action, and employee separations.
- Experience leading teams across multiple locations; professional-services or law-firm experience is preferred.
- Working knowledge of employment practices and confidence partnering with leadership or HR on Pennsylvania and federal employment matters.
- Excellent judgment, discretion, communication, organization, conflict-management, and follow-through skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and the ability to learn modern HR, reporting, and workflow systems.
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for frequent travel between State College and Altoona. Occasional travel to other firm offices may be required.
- SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or a comparable credential is a plus.
Compensation and Benefits We offer competitive compensation based on experience, qualifications, leadership scope, and demonstrated ability to deliver results. Employee benefits include paid time off, Holiday Pay, Jury Pay, Birthday Off, Bereavement Leave, Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance, Retirement Plan, Gym Membership, Student Loan Assistance and Tuition Assistance. Eligibility and plan terms are governed by applicable firm policies and benefit plans.
