Director, People Operations

Saatva • New York City, NY

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Saatva is seeking a strategic, process-driven Director, People Operations to lead the people operations function and ensure a seamless, compliant, and positive experience across the employee lifecycle. The Director supervises and mentors the People Operations Specialist and provides strategic direction across compliance, compensation and benefits, and HR systems and technology.

The role oversees HR policies and regulatory compliance, annual compliance filings, and audit readiness. It owns compensation review and benchmarking, pay equity and transparency audits, payroll oversight, benefits enrollment and reconciliation, and leave administration. The Director also drives HRIS data integrity and optimization, introduces HR technologies and automation, and develops labor cost and tax liability reporting for executive leadership.

This hybrid position is based in the NYC Metro area and requires approximately three days of in-person collaboration per week. Candidates must live within commuting distance of the NYC Hub. Tuesday attendance is required at Saatva’s Whitestone, Queens headquarters, plus two additional days per week at an NYC Metro Area Viewing Room.

Requirements

• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in HR Operations, Compensation, Payroll, or Benefits Administration.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing direct reports.
• Advanced proficiency in HRIS platforms and Excel.
• Deep understanding of federal, state, and local labor laws, compensation benchmarking, payroll tax regulations, and benefits administration.
• Exceptional ability to explain complex pay, compliance, or benefits issues clearly and empathetically to stakeholders at all levels.
• High attention to detail and a strong commitment to discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive, confidential data.
• Must be located within commuting distance of the NYC Hub and able to attend in person approximately three days per week, including Tuesdays at the Whitestone, Queens headquarters and two additional days at an NYC Metro Area Viewing Room.

Nice To Haves

• A strong drive to identify opportunities for automation and technological efficiencies.
• Interest in championing AI.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, mentor, and develop the People Operations Specialist, fostering accuracy, empathy, and continuous improvement.
• Support initiatives that enhance workplace culture, engagement, employee wellness, and an inclusive employee experience.
• Oversee HR policy management and ensure practices align with federal, state, and local labor laws, including state-specific regulations.
• Direct annual compliance filings, including EEO-1 and ACA reporting, and maintain audit readiness for SOC-1/SOC-2 reports and personnel files.
• Own the annual compensation review process, including merit increases, market adjustments, and incentive pay allocations.
• Conduct job pricing, benchmarking, and market analysis using industry salary surveys to establish compensation bands and pay structures.
• Partner with talent acquisition and hiring managers to provide competitive, equity-aligned compensation recommendations for new hires and promotions.
• Audit pay practices for internal pay equity and compliance with state pay transparency laws.
• Provide strategic oversight for full-cycle payroll administration, ensuring accuracy in pay, deductions, and tax withholdings.
• Lead strategy and vendor coordination for annual open enrollment, benefit invoice reconciliation, and leave of absence administration.
• Optimize HRIS platforms and maintain data integrity, including the current ADP Workforce Now system.
• Champion integration of HR technologies and use automation and AI to streamline manual workflows.
• Generate labor cost and tax liability reporting for executive leadership.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with coverage available for the employee and family.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Paid vacation.
• Eligibility for company performance-based bonuses.
• Flexible spending account (FSA).
• Health savings account (HSA).
• Commuter benefits.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Employee referral bonus program.
• Discounts on Saatva products for employees, friends, and family.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed