Senior Director, People Operations

ABOUT THE POSITION
As the Senior Director of People Operations, your charge is to build, manage and enhance talent
infrastructure, systems + processes to support Breakthrough NY’s full and seasonal staff. You will lead on all aspects of HR strategy and operations, including but not limited to recruiting/retention, benefits, hiring/onboarding, performance management, compliance, training and development. In partnership with the Executive Director, you will oversee the creation + maintenance + enhancement of our systems, policies, and processes to support the employee experience, aligned to our core values and strategic priorities. For FY27, this means fully owning the staff development work, from people manager support to utilizing the role clarity document across the org, to thoughtfully rolling out the idea of core competencies and aligning PDs.

You provide strategic oversight and final accountability for excellent organizational operations. Your team oversees the people and operational strategies related to AmeriCorps, while the Manager, Operations & AmeriCorps leads on execution. You set priorities; approve key systems, vendors, policies, and risk responses; and supervise and coach the Manager, Operations & AmeriCorps.

The Manager owns day-to-day operations and AmeriCorps administration, including office operations, purchasing, technology and access, hiring and onboarding logistics, and ongoing compliance. You oversee the New York State Commission relationship in collaboration with the Chief Development Officer, major compliance and strategic decisions, and escalated issues, while ensuring the Manager has the direction, support, and accountability needed to deliver high-quality, timely work.

In addition to these individual responsibilities, the SDPO is an important part of a larger team of passionate, dedicated individuals. The full team rolls up their sleeves to support all-hands-on-deck initiatives, and honors the strengths and experiences of staff, students and families both in internal work and external communications.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE
Talent Acquisition & Development: 60%
Support hiring managers in all aspects of the hiring processes - job description review, recruitment, interview guides + materials, offer letters and more
Oversee the rollout of the annual scorecard updates and performance management systems, including but not limited to people management support, 2x2 and feedback guidance, and the annual performance review process
Design and deliver high quality professional development experiences for staff X times per year
Partner with team leads and people managers to assess the current talent on their team(s), identify gaps and/or stretch opportunities, provide direct coaching and feedback, and determine who needs to be exited and who needs to be retained
Administer bi-annual staff engagement survey and provide recommendations on area(s) of focus
Forecast current and future talent needs, aligned to our organizational mission and vision

Orgwide Operations, HR Systems, Payroll, & Compliance: 30%
Ensure all state and city compliance expectations are met annually
Track/mitigate organizational risk related to staff experience, in partnership with the Chief of Staff
Oversee the Employee Handbook, potential leaves of absence, and employee relations issues to ensure operational excellence across the organization
Ensure strong, accurate payroll, including part-time staff payroll processing, and benefits administration via JustWorks
Manage annual open enrollment process for staff
Ensure staff members have the materials and equipment necessary to do their job at the highest level, in partnership with the Manager, Operations & Americorps, including but not limited to technology needs (hardware, software), systems access, supplies (office and off-site), etc

Organizational Leadership (20%)
Model organizational leadership for others on the team, including operating as an owner: using data to inform decisions, in the best interest of the organization; attentiveness to how choices and actions impact the broader organization; the ability to make those decisions with limited information while investing others in their role in bringing said decisions to life; seeking to understand before drawing conclusions; and setting an example as a culture leader
Coach and develop the Manager, Operations and Americorps while managing the Operations team towards meeting or exceeding their KPIs
Monitor Operations budget and tools to ensure sound fiscal and systems management
Meet regularly with heads of departments to review their team needs related to our Talent Philosophy, notably talent development and engagement
Oversee ad hoc staff-led committees, including participation on the Culture Committee
Contribute to the development and execution of BTNY's organizational strategy as an integral member of BTNY's Leadership Team

QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree required
8+ years of work experience, including 3+ years of HR, Talent Recruitment, or People Operations experience, in a non-profit setting
Ability to manage complex, confidential employee relations issues
Knowledge of federal, state, and local employment law (or willingness to learn quickly) preferred
Experience with PEO benefits and payroll systems preferred
Experience in leading hiring practices across a range of title bands preferred
Proficiency in Salesforce or comparable data systems preferred