Director of People Operations

The Edge Group; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Edge Group is seeking a Director of People Operations for a mission-driven education program in Houston. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role leads all aspects of the employee and volunteer experience, combining strategic leadership with hands-on execution to attract, develop, engage, and retain talent.

As the solo owner of the people function, you will partner with school leadership, shape culture, and guide compensation, payroll, performance, and workforce planning to support

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, business, organizational leadership, or related field.
• 7–10 years of progressive experience in human resources, people operations, talent management, organizational development, or related fields.
• Experience developing and implementing workforce strategies, policies, and programs that support growth, engagement, and culture.
• Experience serving as a strategic advisor to organizational leadership.
• Proven success in recruitment, employee relations, performance management, compliance, and compensation administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle recruitment and onboarding processes (sourcing, interviewing, selection, pre-employment screening).
• Lead employee recognition and wellness initiatives to support a positive work environment.
• Partner with leaders to foster accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as primary resource for employee relations, coaching, and conflict resolution.
• Lead investigations and resolution of workplace concerns following policies and laws.
• Administer compensation programs, maintain job descriptions, and perform market analyses for pay practices.
• Manage bi-weekly payroll processing to ensure timely accuracy.
• Advise leadership on workforce trends, organizational effectiveness, and talent management strategies.
• Support growth by aligning people strategies with mission and long-term goals.

Skills

Talent management

Organizational development

Employee relations

Recruitment

Performance management

Compensation

Payroll

Culture initiatives

Workforce planning

HR policy

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Job description

Our client, a mission-driven organization offering a comprehensive special needs education program, is hiring a Director of People Operations. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this position leads all aspects of the employee and volunteer experience, including talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, culture, compliance, compensation, payroll, and workforce planning.

As the leader of a department of one, the Director of People Operations serves as the sole owner of the people function, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution. This role partners closely with school leadership to attract, develop, engage, and retain exceptional talent while supporting the operational needs of a growing school community.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full-cycle recruitment and hiring process, including sourcing, interviewing, candidate selection, pre-employment screening, and onboarding.
• Lead employee recognition, appreciation, and wellness initiatives that support a positive improvement.
• Partner with leaders to foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as the primary resource for employee relations matters, providing guidance, coaching, conflict resolution, and support.
• Lead investigations and resolution of employee concerns and workplace issues in accordance with organizational policies and employment laws.
• Administer compensation programs, maintain accurate job descriptions, and conduct market analyses to ensure competitive pay practices.
• Manage payroll administration and ensure timely, accurate bi-weekly payroll processing.
• Advise leadership on workforce trends, organizational effectiveness, culture initiatives, and talent management strategies.
• Support organizational growth by aligning people strategies with the mission and long-term goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field preferred.
• 7–10 years of progressive experience in human resources, people operations, talent management, organizational development, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing workforce strategies, policies, and programs that support organizational growth, employee engagement, and organizational.
• Experience serving as a strategic advisor to organizational leadership while simultaneously
• Proven success in recruitment, employee relations, performance management, compliance, compensation administration, and organizational culture initiatives.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or similar professional certification preferred.