Director, People Operations / Human Resources (Hybrid)

The Geneva Foundation•Bethesda, MD

4d•$135,000 - $155,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Geneva Foundation is seeking an innovative Director of People Operations & Human Resources to help shape how we attract, develop, engage, and retain the people who advance our mission. We are looking for a forward-looking People & Business Partner who understands that people strategy is business strategy. Working closely with the COO and Leadership Team, the Director will translate Geneva's strategic priorities into a scalable workforce strategy, modern people practices, and an employee experience that enables high performance. Geneva operates in the complex environment of federal government contracting, military medicine, research, and nonprofit mission delivery. Our workforce must be prepared to respond to changing customer requirements, program growth, new business opportunities, evolving technology, and a competitive talent market. The successful candidate will think strategically, operate pragmatically, use data to drive decisions, challenge conventional thinking, and get things done. This full-time hybrid position offers a flexible schedule of 2 in-office days and 3 remote workdays per week. Candidates must be based near one of our corporate offices in Bethesda, MD; Frederick, MD; Tacoma, WA; or Fayetteville, NC and be able to regularly work on site/in office as required. Preference is given to candidates residing in the DMV region. Background check will be administered.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or related field
8+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience, including leadership responsibility
Demonstrated experience serving as a strategic HR partner to senior leadership
Strong business acumen and the ability to connect workforce decisions to organizational performance, financial sustainability, and growth
Strong knowledge of talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, organizational development, and employment compliance
Experience developing workforce strategies and leading organizational change
Strong analytical, communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills
Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and exercise sound independent judgment
Experience overseeing employee benefits and total rewards programs, including vendor management, benefits strategy, cost analysis, compliance, and employee communications
Experience with Workday
Experience leveraging technology, automation, or AI to modernize HR processes

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in HR, Business, Organizational Development, or related field
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PHR, or comparable certification
Experience in federal government contracting, defense, military medicine, healthcare, scientific research, or another highly regulated environment

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the COO and Leadership Team on workforce, talent, and organizational matters
Develop and execute a People strategy aligned with Geneva's strategic plan, growth objectives, financial priorities, and evolving workforce needs
Partner with Program and Business Development leaders to anticipate workforce requirements associated with new business, contract growth, and organizational expansion
Lead talent acquisition, workforce planning, retention, succession planning, leadership development, and employee engagement
Build proactive talent pipelines and improve the speed, quality, and effectiveness of recruiting
Strengthen the employee experience from recruitment through career development and retention
Lead the strategy, administration, and continuous improvement of Geneva's employee benefits programs, including group health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, wellness programs, and other employee benefits
Evaluate benefits offerings, costs, utilization, competitiveness, and employee needs; recommend changes that balance employee value, market competitiveness, and organizational affordability
Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, consultants, and other third-party providers and ensure effective vendor performance and service delivery
Oversee benefits enrollment, communications, compliance, and employee education to ensure employees understand and effectively utilize available programs
Lead the evolution of performance management, compensation, benefits, and recognition programs
Use workforce data and analytics to identify trends, measure organizational health, and support better business decisions.
Lead organizational effectiveness, change management, and culture initiatives
Modernize People Operations through technology, automation, and use of AI
Provide guidance on employee relations, employment practices, policies, and compliance, partnering with legal counsel when appropriate
Ensure People Operations practices comply with applicable federal, state, and local requirements and the unique needs of a federal government contractor
Lead, develop, and mentor the People Operations team while establishing clear service expectations and performance measures.
Partner across Finance, Programs, IT, Business Development, Corporate Strategy, and other functions to ensure people strategies support enterprise priorities