Director of People Operations

Job Title: Director of People Operations

Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research ("the Foundation") is seeking top talent for its Director of People Operations.  Reporting to the SVP, Head of Talent & Org Effectiveness, this position is responsible for leading the end-to-end execution of the employee lifecycle with consistency, quality, and compliance.  As a key leader within the People & Culture function, this role plays a foundation-building part in scaling the People Operations function during a period of significant organizational evolution and growth. This position operates as both a system-builder and execution leader, establishing the operational infrastructure, service delivery model, and team capabilities required to support the Foundation efficiently and equitably at scale. 

This role is ideal for a highly operational leader who is energized by building scalable systems, leading through growth and change, and evolving high-quality operations alongside a rapidly scaling organization.  

This is a hybrid-flex position that will require in-person attendance at The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s headquarters in New York City. 

 
Key Responsibilities:

People Operations Leadership  

• 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  

  

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement  

• 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   

  

Systems & Technology Optimization  

• 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   

  

Team Leadership & Development  

• 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  

Qualifications & 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 is preferred