Our client, a growing professional services firm in the greater New York City area, is seeking an experienced, hands-on Director of People & Business Operations to lead its people strategy, internal operations, and organizational systems.
Reporting directly to the President and partnering closely with senior leadership, this person will help build the infrastructure needed to support continued growth. The role combines strategic people leadership with hands-on execution across recruiting, employee development, HR administration, business operations, workforce planning, and internal process improvement.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys building systems, improving the employee experience, and serving as a trusted partner to leadership in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.
Key Responsibilities
People and Talent
Lead recruiting from candidate sourcing through offer and onboarding.
Build a consistent, engaging onboarding experience, including 30-, 60-, and 90-day check-ins.
Coordinate performance reviews, goal setting, and career development processes.
Coach managers on employee relations, performance management, and employee development.
Conduct exit interviews and identify trends that can improve retention.
Partner with leadership on succession planning and leadership development.
Oversee benefits administration, compensation benchmarking, and other core HR programs.
Learning and Professional Development
Develop an annual learning and professional development program.
Identify relevant conferences, workshops, certifications, and training opportunities.
Coordinate internal training sessions, lunch-and-learns, and leadership development programs.
Partner with managers to create individualized employee development plans.
Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.
Business Operations
Improve internal workflows, standard operating procedures, and business processes.
Manage office operations, vendors, facilities, and general business administration.
Oversee onboarding and offboarding from an operational and technology perspective.
Evaluate and implement technology and AI tools that improve efficiency.
Ensure operational systems continue to evolve as the organization grows.
Organizational Planning
Partner with senior leadership on organizational design, team structure, staffing, and resource planning.
Maintain staffing, utilization, and capacity dashboards.
Develop reporting on recruiting, onboarding, retention, engagement, training, and other key people metrics.
Recommend solutions that improve workload balance, manager effectiveness, employee development, and operational efficiency.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and senior leadership team.
Culture and Employee Experience
Plan company meetings, retreats, and employee events.
Administer employee engagement surveys and recommend meaningful improvements.
Oversee employee recognition and workplace culture initiatives.
Help create an environment where strong employees can build long-term careers.
Support a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing workplace.
HR Administration and Compliance
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.
Maintain employee files, HR documentation, and required employment records.
Prepare and manage offer letters, employment agreements, and independent contractor agreements.
Coordinate compliance training and employee certifications.
Maintain and update the employee handbook, policies, and procedures.
Benchmark benefits and recommend enhancements.
Partner with outside employment counsel, payroll providers, benefits brokers, accountants, and other external advisors.
Ensure HR and operational processes are documented, compliant, and consistently followed.
Ideal Candidate
7–10+ years of experience in People Operations, Human Resources, Business Operations, or a similar leadership role.
Experience supporting a growing professional services organization, such as an agency, consulting firm, architecture firm, accounting firm, or similar business.
Strong experience with recruiting, onboarding, performance management, employee development, benefits, and HR administration.
Demonstrated ability to build systems, improve processes, and bring structure to a growing organization.
Experience supporting employees and managers across multiple generations.
Excellent judgment, discretion, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Highly organized, proactive, practical, and collaborative.
Comfortable moving between strategic planning and hands-on execution.
Interested in technology and AI and how they can improve the way teams work.
Able to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment where priorities continue to evolve.
Success in the Role
During the first 12–18 months, this person will be expected to:
Create a stronger employee experience from recruiting through career development.
Build consistent onboarding, training, performance, and people-management processes.
Improve manager effectiveness, employee engagement, and retention.
Increase operational efficiency through better systems, technology, and documentation.
Strengthen policies, benefits, and internal programs.
Give leadership better visibility into staffing, utilization, capacity, and organizational needs.
Free senior leadership to focus more of its time on clients, growth, innovation, and strategic initiatives.
Why Consider This Role?
This is a high-impact opportunity to help shape the next stage of a successful, growing professional services organization. The Director of People & Business Operations will have significant autonomy, close access to senior leadership, and the ability to build programs and systems that have an immediate and visible effect on the business and its employees.