Director, People Operations – Human Resources

Jobtailor; Maryland; On-site; USD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Geneva is seeking a senior People Operations leader to partner with the COO and Leadership Team. You will shape and execute a comprehensive People strategy aligned to the company’s growth, financial priorities, and workforce needs.

This role requires building talent pipelines, guiding succession planning, and leading high-impact employee engagement initiatives. Responsibilities include directing compensation and benefits programs, leveraging Workday and HR tech, and driving organizational change

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience, including leadership responsibility.
• Experience serving as a strategic HR partner to senior leadership.
• Strong business acumen connecting workforce decisions to organizational performance, financial sustainability, and growth.
• Knowledge of talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, organizational development, and employment compliance.
• Experience developing workforce strategies and leading organizational change.
• Strong analytical, communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and exercise sound independent judgment.
• Experience overseeing employee benefits and total rewards programs, including vendor management, benefits strategy, cost analysis, compliance, and employee communications.
• Experience with Workday.
• Experience leveraging technology, automation, or AI to modernize HR processes.
• Ability to regularly work onsite/in office as required.
• Successful completion of a background check.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the COO and Leadership Team on workforce, talent, and organizational matters.
• Develop and execute a People strategy aligned with Geneva's strategic plan, growth objectives, financial priorities, and workforce needs.
• Partner with Program and Business Development leaders to anticipate workforce requirements for new business, contract growth, and organizational expansion.
• Lead talent acquisition, workforce planning, retention, succession planning, leadership development, and employee engagement.
• Build talent pipelines and improve recruiting speed, quality, and effectiveness.
• Strengthen the employee experience from recruitment through career development and retention.
• Lead the strategy, administration, and continuous improvement of employee benefits programs.
• Evaluate benefits offerings, costs, utilization, competitiveness, and employee needs; recommend changes.
• Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, consultants, and third-party providers.
• Oversee benefits enrollment, communications, compliance, and employee education.
• Lead performance management, compensation, benefits, and recognition programs.
• Use workforce data and analytics to identify trends, measure organizational health, and support business decisions.
• Lead organizational effectiveness, change management, and culture initiatives.
• Modernize People Operations through technology, automation, and AI.
• Provide guidance on employee relations, employment practices, policies, and compliance.
• Ensure People Operations practices comply with federal, state, and local requirements and federal contractor needs.
• Lead, develop, and mentor the People Operations team while establishing service expectations and performance measures.
• Partner across Finance, Programs, IT, Business Development, Corporate Strategy, and other functions.

Skills

Strategic HR Partnership

Talent Acquisition

Employee Benefits Management

Workforce Analytics

Organizational Change Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/OD

Tools

Workday

HR Technology

Automation

AI

Job description

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the COO and Leadership Team on workforce, talent, and organizational matters
• Develop and execute a People strategy aligned with Geneva's strategic plan, growth objectives, financial priorities, and workforce needs
• Partner with Program and Business Development leaders to anticipate workforce requirements for new business, contract growth, and organizational expansion
• Lead talent acquisition, workforce planning, retention, succession planning, leadership development, and employee engagement
• Build talent pipelines and improve recruiting speed, quality, and effectiveness
• Strengthen the employee experience from recruitment through career development and retention
• Lead the strategy, administration, and continuous improvement of employee benefits programs
• Evaluate benefits offerings, costs, utilization, competitiveness, and employee needs; recommend changes
• Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, consultants, and third-party providers
• Oversee benefits enrollment, communications, compliance, and employee education
• Lead performance management, compensation, benefits, and recognition programs
• Use workforce data and analytics to identify trends, measure organizational health, and support business decisions
• Lead organizational effectiveness, change management, and culture initiatives
• Modernize People Operations through technology, automation, and AI
• Provide guidance on employee relations, employment practices, policies, and compliance
• Ensure People Operations practices comply with federal, state, and local requirements and federal contractor needs
• Lead, develop, and mentor the People Operations team while establishing service expectations and performance measures
• Partner across Finance, Programs, IT, Business Development, Corporate Strategy, and other functions

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or related field
• 8+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience, including leadership responsibility
• Experience serving as a strategic HR partner to senior leadership
• Strong business acumen connecting workforce decisions to organizational performance, financial sustainability, and growth
• Knowledge of talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, organizational development, and employment compliance
• Experience developing workforce strategies and leading organizational change
• Strong analytical, communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and exercise sound independent judgment
• Experience overseeing employee benefits and total rewards programs, including vendor management, benefits strategy, cost analysis, compliance, and employee communications
• Experience with Workday
• Experience leveraging technology, automation, or AI to modernize HR processes
• Ability to regularly work onsite/in office as required
• Successful completion of a background check

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in developing and executing People strategies that align with organizational goals, focusing on talent acquisition, employee engagement, and benefits management. Proven ability to leverage data analytics and technology to enhance HR processes and drive organizational effectiveness.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Strategic HR Partnership
• Talent Acquisition
• Employee Benefits Management
• Workforce Analytics
• Organizational Change Leadership

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Workforce Planning
• Performance Management
• Compensation Strategy
• Employee Relations
• Organizational Development
• Compliance Management
• Benefits Strategy
• Cost Analysis
• Vendor Management
• Workday

Soft Skills

• Analytical Skills
• Communication Skills
• Relationship-Building
• Problem-Solving
• Discretion

Industry Keywords

• People Operations
• Talent Management
• Employee Engagement
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Change Management

Tools & Technologies

• HR Technology
• Automation
• AI