VP, People Operations

Driscoll’s•Watsonville, CA

14h

About The Position

The VP of People Operations is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for designing, delivering, scaling, and continuously improving the global employee service model, the HR technology ecosystem, and the people analytics capability. This role leads the strategy, governance, and execution required to deliver excellent employee and manager experiences, trusted people data, and technology-enabled HR processes at global scale. The role serves as a key partner to the Chief People Officer, People Leadership Team, Finance, IT, Legal, and regional teams to translate business priorities into practical operating models, service delivery standards, systems roadmaps, data insights, and measurable outcomes. Equally important, the role requires strong people leadership, change leadership, sound judgment, and a strong commitment to building internal capability across service delivery, HR systems, and analytics.

Requirements

12+ years of progressive experience across HR operations, shared services, HR technology, and/or people analytics, including significant experience leading complex global transformations and operations, including the evaluation and adoption of new technologies such as AI, automation and digital solutions to improve efficiency and employee experience.
8+ years of people leadership experience, including leadership of managers, matrixed teams, and external partners / vendors.
Deep experience with Workday and related HR service delivery, case management, and employee experience platforms; and emerging AI-enabled capabilities (e.g. automation, virtual agents, intelligent workflows) experience with reporting and dashboard enablement strongly preferred.
Strong business acumen with experience influencing senior leaders and presenting recommendations, tradeoffs, and insights to executive audiences.
Experience designing and implementing global processes, governance models, service models, and scalable support structures.
Demonstrated success in building or maturing a people analytics capability, including metric governance, self-service reporting, and insight generation.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences.
English language required, Spanish is a plus.
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree and/or relevant certifications such as PMP, Prosci, Workday, or analytics-related credentials are a plus.
Demonstrated experience leading global or multi-region teams across shared services / people operations, HR Technology, and people analytics or reporting functions.
Ability to operate effectively in a complex, cross-functional, global environment; resolve issues; influence without direct authority; and foster strong collaboration.
Strong knowledge of HR processes, HR service delivery models, HR systems, employee data governance, case management, and reporting / analytics practices.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize, organize, and track multiple strategic and operational initiatives with varying timelines, dependencies, and stakeholders.
Advanced understanding of operating model design, project and program management, vendor management, process excellence, and change management methodologies.
Ability to translate business needs into service models, technical requirements, data requirements, scalable processes, and pragmatic solutions.

Nice To Haves

Spanish is a plus.
advanced degree and/or relevant certifications such as PMP, Prosci, Workday, or analytics-related credentials are a plus.

Responsibilities

Set the strategic direction and operating model for Global People Services, HR Technology, and People Analytics, ensuring alignment to organizational priorities, people strategy, and the needs of employees, managers, and HR stakeholders globally.
Lead the global people services model, including service delivery standards, case management, employee-facing knowledge and content, process governance, operational controls, escalation paths, and continuous improvement.
Own the HR technology strategy and roadmap in partnership with HR, IT, and vendors, including Workday and related platforms, employee service delivery tools, system architecture governance, release management, and major enhancements.
Lead the People Analytics capability, including the people data strategy, reporting governance, dashboard development, metric standardization, data quality practices, and delivery of actionable workforce insights to leaders.
Together with HR Leadership, define and analyze business requirements, prepare business cases, prioritize work, and ensure those needs are translated into effective operating systems, and analytics solutions.
Establish governance for intake, prioritization, investment decisions, vendor utilization, project execution, and change management across the global portfolio of GPS, HR Technology, and analytics work.
Ensure data integrity, process discipline, and appropriate controls across employee transactions, organizational data, position data, security roles, integrations, and critical annual HR cycles.
Partner closely with IT, Finance, Payroll, Total Rewards, Talent, Legal, and regional HR teams to deliver integrated solutions and a reliable, compliant, and scalable people infrastructure.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, clarifying roles and accountabilities across shared services operations, systems administration, employee experience platforms, project management, and analytics / reporting expertise.
Oversee annual planning, budget management, vendor contracts / statements of work, resource planning, and performance tracking for the function.
Develop and sustain the annual global HR planning calendar and support model for major people programs and change initiatives.
Champion simplification, automation, self-service, and service innovation that meaningfully improve employee experience, manager effectiveness, operational efficiency, and decision quality.