Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is seeking a Director of People Operations to lead the end-to-end execution of the employee lifecycle. This role is crucial in building scalable systems and ensuring operational excellence within the People Operations function during a period of significant organizational growth.
Responsibilities
- Own and lead the People Operations function, ensuring high-quality, consistent execution across the employee lifecycle (onboarding through offboarding)
- Oversee operational execution of performance cycles, compensation processes, and employee lifecycle changes
- Ensure delivery of services aligns with organizational priorities and capacity
- Ensure compliance with employment laws, policies, and internal standards
- Oversee accurate and complete employee records and documentation
- Oversee the mitigation of operational and compliance risks through strong systems and controls
- Lead and oversee the intake and triage system for all in-scope People & Culture requests
- Establish clear prioritization based on urgency, risk, and complexity
- Ensure timely acknowledgment and resolution of requests with clear communication of timelines and expectations
- Manage key partner relationships (e.g., PEO and other platforms) and collaborate with them to ensure operational excellence, compliance and a high-level of customer service
- Partner closely with Employee Experience and Talent & Org Effectiveness teams to ensure seamless execution of People & Culture priorities
- Provide operational feasibility input into new programs and initiatives
- Ensure alignment between strategy, design, and execution
- Design, implement, and maintain scalable, standardized People Operations processes in partnership with the Senior Process Improvement Specialist (People & Culture)
- Identify and resolve operational inefficiencies, duplication, and process breakdowns
- Drive continuous improvement through process redesign, automation, and simplification
- Ensure consistency, fairness, and quality of service delivery at scale
- Partner with technical and data teams to optimize HR systems, workflows, dashboards and reporting
- Partner with People & Culture subject matter experts to ensure the HRIS and other platforms are fit for purpose
- Identify and implement opportunities for automation and self-service
- Ensure people systems and technology support efficiency, scalability, and a strong employee experience
- Lead, coach, and develop the People Operations team
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
- Build a high-performing team focused on accuracy, responsiveness, and continuous improvement
Skills
- Significant HR/People Operations experience with management responsibility
- Relevant experience leading end-to-end HR operations in a complex, scaling organization
- Experience building and optimizing scalable systems, processes, and service delivery models (e.g., shared services, intake/triage)
- Demonstrated leadership and team development capabilities
- Strong operational and systems-thinking mindset, with a focus on process efficiency and scalability
- Deep knowledge of HR compliance, policies, and full employee lifecycle management
- Experience with HR technologies (HRIS, ATS, workflow tools) and process automation
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage data to drive decisions and continuous improvement
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across functions
- Strong customer service orientation, balancing responsiveness with prioritization and scale
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and fast-evolving environments
- Experience managing PEOs and external vendors/partners
Benefits
- 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
- Competitive dental and vision plans
- 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employer paid life and disability insurance
- 18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4
- Flexible work environment. We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.
- Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis.
- The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events.
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