Head of People Operations

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Head of People Operations based in United States.

This is a mission-driven senior leadership role responsible for shaping and scaling the People Operations function within a high-impact, remote-first organization working at the intersection of AI, data science, and public interest. You will ensure that employees and managers are fully supported with the systems, guidance, and structures needed to do their best work. The role blends strategic People leadership with hands-on execution across employee relations, talent acquisition, performance management, and HR operations. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership while also directly handling sensitive and complex employee matters. A key part of your impact will be building durable people systems, coaching managers, and strengthening organizational culture at scale. This is a highly visible role where judgment, empathy, and operational excellence directly shape the employee experience.

• Lead the full scope of People Operations, including employee relations, talent acquisition, performance management, manager development, learning and development, and HR operations.
• Serve as the primary owner of employee relations cases, advising managers, resolving workplace issues, and escalating high-risk matters with clear documentation and sound judgment.
• Design and deliver a manager coaching and development program that strengthens leadership capability, improves performance conversations, and reduces reliance on HR intervention.
• Own full-cycle recruiting for technical and non-leadership roles, including sourcing, interviewing frameworks, candidate experience, and offer coordination.
• Lead performance management cycles end-to-end, including system execution, calibration support, manager coaching, and continuous improvement of review processes.
• Build and manage learning and development programs, including onboarding experiences, leadership training, and organization-wide capability building initiatives.
• Oversee HR operations and compliance, including HRIS administration, onboarding/offboarding, benefits administration, and multi-state employment law compliance.
• Identify trends in people data and proactively advise leadership on risks, opportunities, and improvements across the organization.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of HR experience, including at least 7 years focused on employee relations, talent management, or manager coaching; technical recruiting experience required.
• Strong track record of coaching managers through complex performance, conduct, and organizational issues with sound judgment and discretion.
• Deep knowledge of core HR domains including employee relations, recruiting, performance management, compensation, benefits, and U.S. multi-state compliance.
• Experience designing and delivering effective learning and development programs that drive measurable behavior change.
• Hands-on experience with HR systems and tools such as HRIS platforms, ATS, Google Workspace, Asana, Culture Amp (or similar), and LinkedIn Recruiter.
• Demonstrated fluency in using AI tools within HR workflows, with the ability to assess applicability, limitations, and responsible use cases.
• Strong communication and influence skills, with the ability to adapt messaging across individual contributors, managers, and senior leadership.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, remote-first environments with both strategic and operational responsibilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience); HR certification strongly preferred.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary range of $130,000–$150,000 annually with equitable and transparent compensation practices
• Fully remote work within the United States with strong flexibility and work-life balance
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, effective from day one
• Employer-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with up to 6% employer match plus additional discretionary contributions
• Generous PTO, national holidays, and end-of-year winter break
• Up to 6 months of gender-neutral parental leave for caregivers
• Wellness and mental health support, including EAP, Headspace, and financial wellness tools
• Remote work stipend and annual in-person summit for connection and collaboration
• Learning and development reimbursements, professional growth opportunities, and philanthropic donation matching