Director of People Ops

Menlo Church•Menlo Park, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a pastoral and strategic leader, the Director of People Operations provides leadership for Menlo Church’s people practices, HR operations, and staff experience. This role is responsible for managing the day-to-day operational needs of the HR department while helping shape a healthy, consistent, and mission-aligned staff culture across Menlo’s campuses and central teams. Reporting directly to the Executive Pastor of Operations, the Director of People Operations serves as a trusted partner to the Extended Leadership Team, managers and staff. The role works collaboratively to assess organizational and staffing needs, strengthen leadership development, support employee relations, ensure compliance & benefits, while developing people practices that enable Menlo to grow and serve its mission well. The Director will oversee core HR functions including recruiting and staffing, onboarding and offboarding, employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits, compliance, policies and procedures, staff development, and HR systems and processes. This leader will also identify opportunities to improve and scale HR practices, creating greater clarity, consistency, and efficiency as the organization grows. Beyond HR operations, this role is deeply relational and pastoral. The Director will partner with ministry leaders to care for their teams well. This includes providing coaching and consultation to managers, facilitating difficult or complex conversations, and helping leaders navigate decisions with wisdom, grace, consistency, and appropriate confidentiality. Ultimately, the Director of People Operations serves as both a strategic HR leader and a pastoral partner to the organization, building systems that support sustainable growth while helping create an environment where staff can flourish, leaders can lead well, and people are cared for in a way that reflects Menlo’s mission and values.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field, Advanced degree or HR certification preferred or minimum 10 years of HR experience
Demonstrated leadership skills, with a minimum of 5 years of personnel management experience.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing HR training initiatives, including manager training, staff development, and organizational learning programs.
Strong knowledge of HR practices, employment regulations, and people operations, with the ability to translate them into practical policies and processes.
In-depth knowledge of strategic HR planning, including compensation, organizational development & workforce planning.
Working knowledge of California and federal employment laws, regulations, and compliance requirements; knowledge of requirements applicable to 501(c)(3) religious organizations preferred.
Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and continuously improve HR policies, procedures, and systems.
Strong proficiency with HRIS, office applications, and collaboration tools, including Google Workspace, Asana, and Rippling.
Resourceful and solution-oriented, with the ability to navigate complex situations and develop creative, practical solutions.
Knowledge of HR best practices and experience building engaged, and healthy workplace cultures.
Strong conflict resolution, coaching, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and partner effectively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to plan, implement, and oversee multiple HR programs and initiatives effectively.
Live out their personal relationship with Jesus Christ by growing more in His likeness, eager to share and see others come to know true hope.
Demonstrate active engagement as a member of Menlo Church by: Regularly attending and inviting others to services, connecting in community through groups, volunteering in a ministry, and committing to giving to the mission and vision of Menlo Church.
Holds themself and others accountable to live and love others with integrity and diligence in light of their identity in Christ.
Hold compatible theological beliefs in alignment with the essential tenets of ECO, as outlined on their website (https://eco-pres.org/).

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or HR certification preferred

Responsibilities

Establish workforce planning & recruitment process, including forecasting, organizational design, and pastoral alignment.
Partner with hiring managers to provide strategic recruiting guidance and support while actively managing the hiring process.
Oversee annual performance management and goal-setting processes to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
Identify and support pastoral care and professional growth opportunities for employees and managers.
Lead and develop training initiatives, workshops, and leadership development programs that build core skills, nurture healthy teams, and support career growth.
Develop replicable, customizable templates/plans for Central and Campus use for coaching, onboarding/offboarding comms plans, customized 30-60-90 day plans, PIPs, etc.
Coordinate and organize staff training events (Bi-Annual Alignment & Training Days, Monthly All-Team Tuesdays, Staff Offsites & Conferences).
Develop, communicate, and update HR policies and procedures in line with applicable laws and regulations.
Maintain knowledge of evolving employment laws, best practices, and workforce trends.
Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
Steward Menlo’s culture by fostering employee engagement through recognition, annual survey management, and milestone celebrations, while developing and leading an HR volunteer team to support staff connection, care, and engagement across the organization.
Serve as a trusted pastoral and HR partner, building strong, caring, and inclusive relationships across all staff and campuses.
Work with our Insurance brokers to annually evaluate & implement competitive compensation, total rewards, and benefits programs, including Open Enrollment.
Lead compensation reviews, salary benchmarking, and pay practices to support internal equity, market competitiveness, and organizational strategy.
Manage the HR budget, including benefits, HR programs, vendors, and related operational expenses.
Oversee benefits administration and serve as a primary resource for staff questions.
Oversee and maximize the use of Rippling HRIS to improve HR workflow efficiency, reporting, compliance, data integrity, and employee self-service.
Develop and maintain HR processes, policies, and systems that create consistency, efficiency, and a positive employee experience.
Partner with Finance and organizational leaders on payroll, other HR-related financial processes.
Monitor HR metrics and workforce data to identify trends, inform leadership decisions, and support organizational planning.