Director, People Operations

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution • Woods Hole, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is seeking a Director of People Operations to lead and optimize the compliance, transactional, and operational functions of HR while advancing key People Ops initiatives and programs. WHOI is a leading nonprofit research institution dedicated to advancing impactful ocean science. More than 1,000 tenured scientists, engineers, technical specialists, marine crew staff, and administrative staff work together across WHOI’s campus in Woods Hole, Massachusetts to support our mission of driving ocean science research, discovery, and education. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this critical leadership role ensures HR services are delivered with consistency, efficiency, and regulatory alignment, while supporting organizational goals. As a key member of the People Operations Leadership Team (POLT), the Director partners with functional leaders to translate strategy into scalable practices, drive systems optimization, and champion process improvements that enhance the overall employee experience. This role is hybrid. It does require a weekly presence in Woods Hole, but the specific on-site schedule will be determined in coordination with the successful candidate and allows for flexibility.

Requirements

• BS/BA degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with significant expertise in HR operations, compliance, and transactional processes.
• Broad knowledge of core HR functions, including Compensation & Benefits, Talent Management, Employee Relations, and operational best practices.
• Advanced proficiency in benefits administration and employee relations, with a proven ability to resolve complex issues.
• Experience leading or partnering on HRIS/HCM initiatives; Workday experience strongly preferred.
• Track record of driving process improvements and implementing scalable, efficient systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence across all levels.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Business or HR
• SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, SPHR, and/or PHR
• Experience in higher education strongly preferred
• Experience in nonprofit, higher education, science, engineering, and/or technology industry
• Experience with Workday HRIS

Responsibilities

• Serve as the operational and strategic partner to People Ops Leadership Team functional leaders, supporting the planning, execution, and optimization of HR programs and initiatives.
• Champion continuous improvement, strong customer service, and operational excellence across People programs, by identifying and implementing process improvements, automation opportunities, and SOPs.
• Partner closely with Payroll, Legal, Finance, and IT on cross-functional initiatives and issue resolution.
• Act as a steward of the institution’s People Operations policies and procedures.
• Ensure HR operational processes meet internal standards and external regulatory requirements (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, EEO, I-9, ACA).
• Support the Director of Employee Experience in resolving complex employee relations issues, providing guidance to managers and employees to ensure fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes.
• Collaborate with People Ops leadership to leverage workforce analytics, dashboards, and HR metrics to inform decision-making, track performance, and drive data-driven improvements.
• Bring deep expertise in benefits administration to partner with the Director of Total Rewards, acting as a thought partner and providing hands-on support to ensure seamless delivery of health, retirement, and wellness programs.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, strong customer service, and operational excellence across all People Operations functions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director