Scottsdale-Based Head of People Operations & Strategy

Confidential Careers; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Careers seeks a Director of People Operations in Scottsdale, AZ to lead day-to-day HR operations and act as a strategic partner to leadership. This role owns the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, with a focus on compliance, documentation, and scalable people systems in a fast-growing environment.

The role requires deep HR expertise, strong judgment in complex situations, and the ability to guide and develop the People Ops team while maintaining confidentiality

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2 years in a senior individual contributor or people manager role
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification preferred
• Hands-on experience administering FMLA and ADA accommodation processes required
• Prior experience with setting up a HRIS strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle HR operations including employee relations, performance management, documentation, and compliance across all operations
• Administer and manage FMLA, ADA accommodations, non-FMLA leave, and parental leave programs in accordance with federal and applicable state law, ensuring proper certification, tracking, and communication throughout each leave event
• Lead workplace investigations with consistency and legal soundness, documenting findings and recommending appropriate outcomes in partnership with leadership and legal counsel as warranted
• Manage and continuously improve the progressive discipline process, including coaching leadership through written warnings, PIPs, and terminations in compliance with HR best practices
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for employee relations matters, distinguishing between policy issues, performance issues, and legal risk, and routing appropriately
• Ensure HR policies and the employee handbook remain current, compliant, and clearly communicated; lead the rollout of policy updates to leadership and the broader team
• Oversee HR systems and maintain data integrity across employee files, benefits enrollments, and workflow automation
• Partner with leadership on compensation decisions, promotions, and workforce planning, bringing data and compliance context to every conversation
• Lead and develop the People Ops team, providing direction, accountability, and growth opportunities to build a high-functioning department
• Drive the onboarding and offboarding process end-to-end, ensuring a consistent, compliant, and values-aligned experience at every transition
• Manage the Talent Acquisition team and ensure hiring practices, offer letters, background check processes, and I-9 compliance meet all legal requirements
• Lead internal HR training and communications for managers on topics including documentation, leave management, accommodation processes, and performance tools
• Maintain complete confidentiality across all HR matters regardless of seniority or circumstance

Skills

Employee relations

Compliance

HR operations

FMLA/ADA

People leadership

HRIS systems

Compensation planning

Workforce planning

Onboarding/offboarding

Policy development

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP certification

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Confidential Careers seeks a Director of People Operations in Scottsdale, AZ to lead day-to-day HR operations and act as a strategic partner to leadership. This role owns the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, with a focus on compliance, documentation, and scalable people systems in a fast-growing environment.

The role requires deep HR expertise, strong judgment in complex situations, and the ability to guide and develop the People Ops team while maintaining confidentiality