Deputy Director, People Global Operations

Ladders; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 234,000 - 363,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health and wellness

Professional development opportunities

Flexible work arrangements

Inclusive workplace culture

Support for work-life balance

Job summary

Ladders in Seattle, WA seeks a Deputy Director, People Global Operations to oversee global People operations that support the full employee lifecycle, with a strong emphasis on HRIS administration, service delivery, and operational excellence.

The role will partner closely with Legal, IT, and governance stakeholders to ensure policies, processes, and technology are applied consistently and responsibly across a global environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience in HR operations or large-scale change management.
• Leadership in HR tech-enabled service delivery or shared services.
• Experience with senior leaders on operational decisions and risk assessments.
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms like Workday and Zendesk.
• Experience with automation and AI in People operations.
• Knowledge of global compliance and cross-border HR considerations.
• Strong strategic problem-solving and change management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead global People operations across the employee lifecycle and HRIS administration
• Establish service standards and continuous improvement practices based on operational insights
• Ensure consistent implementation of People policies and procedures in collaboration with Legal
• Oversee recruiting operations and related technology enhancements
• Identify and implement process improvements and AI solutions for People operations
• Partner with IT and governance stakeholders to evaluate technology use responsibly
• Lead cross-functional initiatives while balancing global standards with local needs
• Advise leaders on operational risks and resource allocation, anticipating downstream effects
• Develop and coach the team, fostering collaboration and accountability

Skills

HR ops

People leadership

HRIS admin

Policy governance

Risk management

Cross-functional

Analytics

Process improvement

Automation/AI

Global ops

Tools

Workday

Zendesk

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Deputy Director, People Global Operations to join the team of a leader in the Education, Government & Non-Profit space.

This leader will oversee global People operations that support the full employee lifecycle, with a strong emphasis on HRIS administration, service delivery, and operational excellence. The role will partner closely with Legal, IT, and governance stakeholders to ensure policies, processes, and technology are applied consistently and responsibly across a global environment. This position will also help shape scalable ways of working, balance enterprise standards with local needs, and guide decisions that affect risk, resources, and employee experience.

Location: Seattle, WA

Compensation: $234,000 – $362,800 annually

Responsibilities

• Lead global People operations across the employee lifecycle and HRIS administration
• Establish service standards and continuous improvement practices based on operational insights
• Ensure consistent implementation of People policies and procedures in collaboration with Legal
• Oversee recruiting operations and related technology enhancements
• Identify and implement process improvements and AI solutions for People operations
• Partner with IT and governance stakeholders to evaluate technology use responsibly
• Lead cross-functional initiatives while balancing global standards with local needs
• Advise leaders on operational risks and resource allocation, anticipating downstream effects
• Develop and coach the team, fostering collaboration and accountability

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience in HR operations or large-scale change management
• Proven leadership in HR technology-enabled service delivery or shared services
• Experience collaborating with senior leaders on operational decisions and risk assessments
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms like Workday and Zendesk
• Demonstrated success in process improvement and technology adoption, including automation and AI
• Strong understanding of HR compliance and global operational intersections
• Excellent strategic problem-solving and change management skills

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements
• Inclusive workplace culture
• Support for work-life balance

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.