Director of People Operations (Human Resources)

Exos•Phoenix, AZ

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Company: Exos is a 30-year-old, privately owned global coaching and consulting business operating across sport, military readiness, fitness center management, and workplace performance. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona—home to our largest elite athlete facility—we work with organizations and individuals around the world to elevate human performance. Recently, we acquired Biocore Inc., a leader in biomechanics, data engineering, and applied sports science supporting elite athletes and military populations. With these combined capabilities, Exos operates across four distinct businesses: Sports Coaching & Consulting, Fitness Center Management, Military Readiness, and Workplace Consulting & Solutions. Our purpose is simple and ambitious: to elevate human performance through science, coaching, and technology to expand what is possible. The Position: We are seeking a Director of People Operations to serve as the primary People partner for our Sport business and one of our largest strategic clients—a Fortune 10 technology company. This role functions as a senior HR business leader with deep ownership of employee relations, coaching managers, resolving complex and sensitive issues, and conducting workplace investigations. The role will lead employee engagement and organizational effectiveness, while partnering closely with our People Operations Shared Services team across Talent, Total Rewards, and HR Operations. This position supports approximately 400 team members across the U.S., ranging from elite performance coaches to fitness center staff, in fast-growing, highly visible parts of our business. Success in this role requires a true general manager mindset—someone who can move fluidly from strategic workforce planning and executive-level presentations to hands-on employee relations and complex investigations. These businesses are evolving rapidly, and this leader must continuously reassess people strategies while building trusted relationships with leaders and team members alike. This is a hybrid role, based in our Phoenix office three days per week, with occasional travel. The role reports to the Chief People Officer and partners closely with senior leaders across the supported businesses. Our Culture: We are proud to be a Great Place to Work organization and place a strong emphasis on the employee experience. Our leaders balance advocacy for team members with sound business judgment. We believe greatness is a team sport—and we operate as a team of coaches who value curiosity, humility, and continuous growth. The Profile: We are looking for a confidently humble People leader—someone who isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves, ask hard questions, and do the work required to support both the business and its people. Leaders who thrive at Exos are: Curious and growth-oriented Comfortable operating in ambiguity Grounded in both empathy and accountability Team-first, with low ego and high standards A passion for sport, fitness, or high-performance environments is a strong plus.

Requirements

7+ years of relevant HR experience in a multi-site, geographically dispersed, service-based environment
Experience operating at a senior HR business partner or Director level (title not required)
Demonstrated strength in employee relations and organizational problem-solving
Bachelor’s degree preferred
PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification preferred
Experience working with large, diverse employee populations
Proficiency with HRIS platforms (Workday experience preferred)
Strong communication and influencing skills
Ability to adapt quickly and remain effective in complex or high-pressure situations
Willingness to travel periodically
Proven success in fast-paced, loosely structured environments
Experience supporting organizational change and policy rollout

Nice To Haves

A passion for sport, fitness, or high-performance environments is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Partner with People Operations leadership to develop and execute HR strategies aligned to business needs
Lead employee relations, including coaching managers, resolving complex issues, and conducting workplace investigations
Shape people analytics and lead strategic workforce planning efforts
Serve as the primary People partner to business leaders, influencing and owning talent and organizational decisions
Quarterback HR Centers of Excellence activities (Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Talent Development, Total Rewards, and HR Operations) in partnership with Shared Services
Develop, interpret, and administer policies, programs, and procedures
Ensure compliance with all federal and state employment laws, including wage and hour regulations
Identify, assess, and mitigate people-related risk in collaboration with cross-functional partners
Support change management initiatives at both the site and enterprise levels
Facilitate and track required training programs
Support succession planning and long-term talent strategies
Lead or contribute to special projects as needed