[Remote] Director of People Operations

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non-partisan, non-profit dedicated to fostering constructive dialogue across differences in American colleges and universities. They are seeking a Director of People Operations to manage and enhance their HR systems, support employee experience, and maintain their mission-driven culture during a period of rapid growth.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships across the organization and maintain a deep understanding of employee experience, organizational health, and team dynamics
• Lead initiatives that strengthen CDI’s culture and employee experience, including onboarding, trainings, team gatherings, and org-wide rituals
• Build and evolve the systems, feedback channels, and people practices that help CDI maintain a strong, connected, and mission-driven culture as we scale
• Lead all-hands meetings and internal communications that build clarity, alignment, and connection across the organization
• Serve as a trusted thought partner to staff and managers by helping navigate team dynamics, challenges, and complex people situations before they become larger organizational issues
• Coach managers on feedback, communication, accountability, and difficult conversations
• Build and improve performance and development practices that support clear expectations, strong feedback, accountability, and employee growth
• Partner with managers and leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness and team health across CDI
• Own CDI’s compensation framework and annual compensation review processes, ensuring practices are equitable, competitive, and aligned with organizational values
• Oversee CDI’s core HR operations, systems, and compliance processes across a multi-state workforce (in partnership with our PEO, JustWorks)
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and evolving HR best practices
• Develop and maintain HR policies, employee handbook materials, and internal practices that reflect CDI’s values and operational needs
• Evaluate and manage HR vendors, benefits brokers, and external service providers
• Manage and support the People Operations Generalist, including coaching, prioritization, professional development, and partnership on recruiting strategy and complex hiring processes
• Help evolve CDI’s hiring practices, candidate experience, and talent systems as the organization grows
• Partner with leadership to strengthen organizational planning, team structure, capacity planning, workflows, and people systems that support sustainable growth

Skills

• 7+ years of progressive HR or People Operations experience, including at least 3 years in a senior generalist or leadership role
• Experience supporting organizations through significant growth and increasing organizational complexity
• Strong generalist experience across core HR disciplines, including employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, compliance, and talent acquisition
• Experience directly managing and developing employees or small teams
• Build trust and relationships quickly and navigate sensitive situations with strong judgment, maturity, empathy, and discretion
• Care deeply about employee experience, organizational culture, and helping managers and leaders build strong teams, especially during periods of rapid growth
• Balance strategic thinking with practical execution and are comfortable moving between organizational planning and day-to-day people operations
• Are proactive, systems-oriented, and highly organized; you anticipate challenges and help build processes and practices that scale effectively
• Feel energized by CDI's mission and aligned with our values: Embrace our Common Humanity, Practice Intellectual Humility, Prioritize Research, Deliver Excellence, Keep Improving, Stay Adaptable

Benefits

• A Mission-Driven Culture — our work culture genuinely reflects our mission, characterized by intellectual humility, continuous improvement, and open-mindedness
• Remote-First — CDI was founded as a remote-first organization, and we work hard to maintain a strong team culture across vast distances
• Unlimited PTO — as well as 13 company holidays
• Remote Work Support — up to $500 reimbursed for home office equipment (like desks, chairs, or webcams) and up to $50/month reimbursed for home internet or cell phone expenses
• Other Benefits — employer-supported health, vision and dental plans, subsidized parental leave, 3% 401k match, short- and long-term disability insurance, life and AD&D insurance, $1,000 annual professional development budget

Company Overview