Chief People & Operations Officer

fdd

Washington (District of Columbia)

Hybrid

USD 210,000 - 260,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

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Job summary

Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, DC seeks a VP of Human Resources & Administration to lead HR, payroll, benefits, compliance, and office operations. This executive will design systems, partner with the COO, and build a lean, mission-driven people and operations function for ~120 staff, with on-site work and up to two remote days weekly.

The role demands 10+ years in HR/ops, multi-state compliance knowledge, and hands-on payroll/HRIS expertise, with a strong nonprofit mindset.

Qualifications

10+ years of progressive experience spanning HR and operations, with at least 3 years in a senior or leadership role owning multiple HR functions end-to-end.
Experience supporting an organization of 50–200 people, including through a period of meaningful growth or organizational change.
Demonstrated experience building or substantially improving HR and operations systems in a lean, mission-driven environment.
Working knowledge of U.S. employment law, including multi-state compliance, FLSA classification, leave laws, EEO requirements, and pay transparency obligations.
Hands-on experience with payroll, benefits, and an HRIS/ATS (e.g., Paylocity, Gusto, Rippling, BambooHR, Greenhouse, Lever).
Practical experience managing office vendors, leases or landlord relationships, and physical workspace logistics.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the judgment to navigate sensitive conversations across all levels of an organization.
High ethical standards, discretion, and genuine comfort with confidential information.
Demonstrated experience conducting or overseeing workplace investigations and advising on sensitive employee relations matters.
Nonprofit, think tank, research institute, or policy-adjacent organization experience strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of District of Columbia employment law, including DC FMLA, DC Paid Family Leave, the DC Wage Transparency Act, and the DC Human Rights Act, is a plus.
SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition, Onboarding & Offboarding: scope roles, write descriptions, build interview processes.
Manage end-to-end recruiting: sourcing, screening, scheduling, references, offers.
Lead onboarding to integrate new hires with mission, culture, and operations including IT setup.
Own ATS, pipeline reporting, and employer-brand presence on platforms.
Manage independent contractor and fellow engagements, including classification and lifecycle tracking.
Coordinate work authorization and immigration support with outside counsel.
Own offboarding including exit interviews and deprovisioning.
Employee Relations & Culture: serve as senior contact for staff questions and conflicts.
Conduct or oversee workplace investigations into harassment, discrimination, and misconduct.
Coach managers on feedback, performance, conversations, and accommodations.
Design engagement surveys and translate results into action plans with leadership.
Compensation, Benefits & Payroll: ensure bi-weekly payroll and benefits administration.
Maintain compensation philosophy and salary bands; lead market benchmarking and merit adjustments.
Manage leave administration per federal and state laws.
HR Compliance & Systems: ensure compliance across jurisdictions; update records and handbook.
Optimize Paylocity and select ATS and performance tools with Finance.
Deliver compliance training: anti-harassment, non-discrimination, safety.
Performance & Development: run performance management, development planning, and growth.
Office Administration & Facilities: oversee HQ operations and space planning.
Supervise operations staff and manage lease relationships.
Strategic Partnership: advise COO/CFO on organizational design and workforce strategy.
Prepare People & Operations materials for Board and committees; assist with budgets.