Job title Director of People Operations
ProgramPeople Operations/Admin
Reports to Chief People Officer
FLSA StatusExempt
Last UpdatedSeptember 2026
General Description The Director of People Operations leads the day-to-day operations of the People Operations department, including recruitment, benefits, administration, employee relations, and compliance. This position serves as a trusted partner and bridge between employees, directors, and executive leadership, providing guidance, maintaining confidentiality, and ensuring consistent and effective People Operations practices. This position is essential in fostering positive employee relations, enhancing employee engagement, and developing and implementing personnel policies.
Required Competencies All GenerationEd Employees- Reliability and Quality of work
- Problem Solving/Critical Thinking
and Collaboration
- Trust and Accountability
- Effective Communication
Role Specific- Regulatory Compliance Management
- Conflict Resolution and Trust Building
LeadershipManagement and Accountability
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesPeople Operations Leadership & Daily Operations- Lead and oversee the day-to-day operations of the People Operations department, ensuring timely, consistent, and employee-centered service delivery.
- Provide direction and support for recruitment, onboarding, employee administration, benefits administration, employee relations, records management, and other core People Operations functions.
- Establish and maintain efficient People Operations processes, procedures, and workflows that promote consistency, accountability, and a positive employee experience.
- Monitor the department's workload and priorities and ensure responsibilities are appropriately assigned and managed.
- Serve as a resource and escalation point for People Operations team members, leaders, and employees.
- Identify opportunities to streamline processes, improve service delivery, and leverage technology and data to increase operational effectiveness.
Compliance & Risk Management- Ensure People Operations practices comply with applicable federal and state employment laws, organizational policies, and Head Start requirements.
- Maintain knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards (HSPS) and ensure People Operations practices appropriately support organizational compliance.
- Coordinate required People Operations audits, reviews, reporting, documentation, and compliance activities.
- Partner with organizational leaders to identify and address potential compliance risks.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality and security of employee and organizational information.
- Ensure accurate and timely maintenance of personnel records and required documentation.
Compensation & Workforce Analysis- Lead the organization's compensation study process in accordance with HSPS requirements.
- Conduct internal and external compensation research and analysis to evaluate the organization's competitiveness, internal equity, and compliance.
- Develop compensation recommendations and supporting analysis for review by the Chief People Officer and executive leadership.
- Maintain compensation structures, salary ranges, job classifications, and related documentation.
- Serve as the organization's internal resource for compensation analysis, reducing the need for external consulting support and associated costs.
- Monitor changes in the local labor market and nonprofit workforce environment that may impact recruitment, retention, and compensation strategy.
Employee & Leadership Relations- Serve as a trusted and confidential resource for employees, directors, and organizational leaders regarding workplace concerns and People Operations matters.
- Act as a bridge between staff, directors, and the C-Suite, helping facilitate productive communication and ensuring concerns are addressed at the appropriate level.
- Help employees and leaders navigate difficult or sensitive conversations while maintaining neutrality, confidentiality, and professionalism.
- Identify recurring themes or organizational concerns and elevate significant trends or risks to the Chief People Officer.
- Maintain appropriate boundaries and confidentiality when handling sensitive information and organizational matters.
- Serve as the primary contact for employee relations issues, including conflict resolution, grievances, and corrective actions.
- Conduct thorough investigations into employee complaints and recommend appropriate solutions.
- Ensure compliance with labor laws and company policies in handling employee relations matters.
Employee Engagement:- Develop and implement strategies to improve employee engagement and satisfaction.
- Conduct regular surveys and feedback sessions to assess engagement levels and identify areas for improvement.
- Organize activities and programs that promote team building and a positive work environment.
Personnel Policy Creation and Implementation:- Assist in the development, revision, and communication of HR policies and procedures.
- Ensure policies are consistently applied and aligned with organizational goals and legal requirements.
Talent Acquisition & Employee Lifecycle- Oversee recruitment processes and ensure leaders receive timely and effective support in filling organizational vacancies.
- Partner with hiring leaders to develop effective recruitment strategies for hard-to-fill and mission-critical positions.
- Monitor recruitment activity, hiring trends, vacancies, and workforce needs.
- Ensure effective onboarding and offboarding processes that provide a consistent employee experience and meet organizational and compliance requirements.
- Partner with the Talent Acquisition function to strengthen recruitment pipelines, retention strategies, and workforce planning.
Benefits & Employee Support- Provide oversight of benefits administration and ensure employees receive accurate, timely information regarding their benefits.
- Partner with benefits vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve issues and improve the employee benefits experience.
- Ensure required benefits communications, enrollments, documentation, and compliance activities are completed accurately and on time.
- Identify opportunities to improve employee understanding and utilization of available benefits and resources.
People Operations Strategy & Partnership- Partner with the Chief People Officer to implement the organization's People Operations strategy and annual priorities.
- Translate strategic People Operations initiatives into sustainable day-to-day practices and processes.
- Provide operational insight, workforce trends, and recommendations to support organizational decision-making.
- Collaborate with directors and executive leaders to align People Operations practices with organizational goals and business needs.
- Represent People Operations on cross-functional initiatives and organizational projects as assigned.
- Support the development and implementation of policies, procedures, programs, and initiatives that strengthen organizational culture and employee experience.
Team Leadership & Development- Lead, coach, and develop People Operations team members, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
- Establish clear expectations, priorities, and performance standards for direct reports.
- Promote a culture of service, responsiveness, confidentiality, and continuous improvement within People Operations.
- Provide mentorship and support to People Operations team members in navigating complex employee and organizational matters.
- Build the team's confidence and capability to appropriately advise leaders and employees while maintaining clear roles and boundaries.
Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement- Monitor and analyze People Operations data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
- Develop and maintain operational reports and metrics related to recruitment, turnover, benefits, employee relations, compliance, and other People Operations functions.
- Utilize HRIS and other People Operations technology to improve data accuracy, reporting, and operational efficiency.
- Partner with the People Operations team to identify opportunities for automation and process improvement.
- Provide regular operational updates and insights to the Chief People Officer and organizational leadership.
Essential Qualifications Education/Experience Requirements:- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field required; master's degree preferred.
- Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive Human Resources/People Operations experience, including experience leading or supervising People Operations functions
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:- Demonstrated experience managing day-to-day HR operations, including recruitment, benefits, employee relations, compliance, and employee administration.
- Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws, HR best practices, and compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility with employees, managers, directors, and executive leaders.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, conflict resolution, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to serve as a neutral and trusted resource while appropriately balancing employee needs, organizational priorities, and risk.
- Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and competing demands.
Physical, Mental and /or Visual Demands- Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods of time throughout the day.
- Must be able to lift up to 35 lbs.
- Must be able to bend and stoop.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Specific vision abilities required by the job include close, distance, color, peripheral depth and the ability to adjust focus.
