Senior Manager of People Operations

Motive; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Motive is seeking a Senior Manager, People Operations to lead the strategy, design, and execution of scalable people programs for a global workforce. You will oversee core employee lifecycle operations, strengthen processes, and ensure excellent service delivery across People Operations.

You will establish the operating model, lead a global team, and own a scalable onboarding experience across regions, partnering with HR, Finance, Legal, IT, and vendors to resolve complex issues and drive

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience leading People teams or global operational functions.
• Strong knowledge of HR systems, payroll, benefits administration, compliance, and lifecycle processes.
• Ability to influence stakeholders across functions and levels.
• Experience applying AI and automation to scale People Ops programs.

Responsibilities

• Establish operating model and strategic priorities for People Operations.
• Lead and develop the global People Operations team, and onboarding across regions.
• Design tiered support model with self-service, Tier 1/2 teams, and escalation to HR Business Partners and Centers of Excellence.
• Oversee complex cross-functional programs spanning employee lifecycle operations, HR systems, payroll, benefits, compliance, and policy administration.
• Own the People compliance program, keeping policies, processes, documentation, and controls current and audit-ready.
• Use people data and operational insights to identify opportunities and communicate progress to senior leadership.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, IT, and external vendors to resolve operational issues.

Skills

People Operations

HR systems

Payroll and benefits

Cross-functional leadership

Data analytics

Job description

• As Senior Manager, People Operations, you will lead the strategy, design, and execution of scalable people programs that support Motive’s global workforce. You will oversee core employee lifecycle operations and shared services, strengthening processes, systems, controls, and service delivery across People Operations. You will report into the VP, HR
• This role is ideal for an experienced People Operations leader who can translate business needs into practical, scalable solutions; lead complex cross-functional initiatives; and build an exceptional employee and manager experience in a fast-paced, global environment
• Establish the operating model and strategic priorities for People Operations
• Lead and develop the global People Operations team, and own the strategy and end-to-end delivery of a consistent, engaging onboarding experience across regions
• Design and implement a tiered support model (for example, self-service and knowledge base, Tier 1 and Tier 2 specialist teams, and escalation to HR Business Partners and Centers of Excellence), defining the roles, workflows, handoffs, and escalation paths for each tier
• Lead complex, cross-functional programs spanning employee lifecycle operations, HR systems, payroll, benefits, compliance, and policy administration
• Own the People compliance program, keeping policies, processes, documentation, and controls current, audit-ready, and consistently applied
• Design scalable processes, service standards, controls, and performance metrics that improve accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team while setting clear goals, allocating resources, and planning for future capability needs
• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, IT, and external vendors to resolve complex operational issues and drive informed decisions
• Use people data and operational insights to identify opportunities, recommend improvements, and communicate progress to senior leadership

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience leading People teams, managers, or global operational functions
• Strong knowledge of HR systems, payroll, benefits administration, compliance, and employee lifecycle processes
• Sound judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across functions and levels
• Proven track record of identifying opportunities to apply AI and automation to reduce manual work, improve the employee experience, and scale People Ops programs
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional programs from strategy through execution
• Demonstrated ability to establish operational metrics, strengthen controls, and use data to guide decisions
• Experience designing and scaling global HR operations across multiple geographies and employee populations
• 8+ years of experience in People Operations, HR shared services, HR operations, or a related field