VP, People Services

Propeller Industries•New York, NY

11h•$210,000 - $250,000•Remote

About The Position

Propeller is seeking a senior people leader to guide its internal People function and build a People Services practice. The role partners with the CEO and leadership team to shape workforce planning, talent strategy, career architecture, compensation, and performance systems for a professional services firm. It leads the recruiting, HR, and compliance leads, setting strategy and standards while those leaders manage day-to-day execution. The VP, People Services will lead the people side of Propeller’s transformation into an AI-enabled firm. This includes redesigning roles as AI changes the work, building AI fluency, managing adoption and change, and redefining performance expectations. The role also partners with the Transformation practice to support change management for client implementations. The position owns the People Services practice end to end, including its offering, pipeline, delivery, and P&L. Payroll is the foundation, with additional services planned for small and growth-stage companies, such as policies and handbooks, multi-state compliance, onboarding and offboarding, compensation benchmarking, benefits guidance, and fractional HR leadership. The role will package, price, sell, and deliver these services, develop a lean team, and use AI and automation to scale delivery. Propeller is a professional services firm with more than 250 full-time professionals across three continents, serving emerging companies in Consumer, Technology, Blockchain, and Business Services. The position is remote-flexible in the United States, with travel for team leadership, client meetings, and conferences. Compensation includes a base salary of $210,000–$250,000, variable compensation tied to practice performance and new business, and equity participation.

Requirements

15+ years in HR and People leadership, including at least 7 years as a head of HR or senior strategic HR partner in a professional services firm.
A strong, articulated point of view on transforming a professional services business and why people change is harder than technology change; ability to explain a transformation led, including what worked, what broke, and what would be done differently.
Direct experience building or running an HR services offering for small companies, such as fractional HR, HR consulting, payroll, or a PEO provider, including pricing, selling, and delivery.
Experience leading HR functions through other leaders, including recruiting, HR, and compliance leads.
Deep working knowledge of payroll operations, multi-state payroll and tax, benefits administration, and major small-business payroll and HRIS platforms.
Command of US employment law and multi-state compliance.
Experience designing compensation, career paths, and performance systems for client-facing professionals.
Demonstrated AI fluency, including current use of AI in personal HR workflows and the ability to explain how it changes work output.
Commercial instinct and comfort owning a P&L, building a pipeline, and closing business.
Executive presence and credibility with senior leadership and delivery teams, including comfort delivering difficult messages clearly.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a finance, accounting, or advisory firm.
Experience supporting employees across multiple countries.
SPHR or SHRM-SCP certification.
Experience in a finance and accounting firm, Big 4, or advisory practice.
Experience serving small and growth-stage companies as clients.

Responsibilities

Serve as strategic advisor to the CEO and leadership team on organization design, workforce planning, and talent strategy.
Lead and develop the internal People team, including recruiting, HR, and compliance leads, by setting strategy, standards, and priorities.
Design career architecture, compensation, and performance systems for client-facing professionals across practices.
Shape strategies to attract, develop, and retain talent in partnership with the recruiting lead.
Ensure Propeller's internal HR, payroll, benefits, and employment compliance are effective and best-in-class.
Lead the people side of Propeller's AI transformation, including role redesign, AI fluency training, change management, and adoption measurement.
Redefine role expectations as work shifts from producing outputs to exercising judgment.
Partner with practice leaders and the Transformation practice to provide change management on client engagements.
Own the People Services practice's financial performance, including revenue, margins, client retention, and profitability.
Grow payroll services and launch complementary HR offerings for small and growth-stage clients.
Drive business development with the GoToMarket team, embedded client teams, and referral partners.
Apply AI and automation to service delivery and codify effective practices so the business can scale without linear headcount growth.

Benefits

Base salary of $210,000–$250,000 plus significant variable compensation tied to People Services practice performance and new business.
Equity participation.
Investment in professional development, including AI and automation training, executive coaching, and access to Propeller's network.
Remote-flexible work with travel for team leadership, client meetings, and conferences.
Generous paid time off and holiday pay.
Comprehensive health benefits, including dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance.
HSA contribution.
Paid family leave.
401(k) match.
Remote work.