Director of People Operations

Job Title:

Director of People Operations

Position Summary:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Director of People Operations. Reporting to the SVP, Head of Talent & Org Effectiveness, this position is responsible for leading the end-to-end execution of the employee lifecycle with consistency, quality, and compliance. As a key leader within the People & Culture function, this role plays a foundation‑building part in scaling the People Operations function during a period of significant organizational evolution and growth.

This position operates as both a system‑builder and execution leader, establishing the operational infrastructure, service delivery model, and team capabilities required to support the Foundation efficiently and equitably at scale.

This role is ideal for a highly operational leader who is energized by building scalable systems, leading through growth and change, and evolving high‑quality operations alongside a rapidly scaling organization.

This is a hybrid‑flex position that will require in‑person attendance at The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s headquarters in New York City.

• Own and lead the People Operations function, ensuring high‑quality, consistent execution across the employee lifecycle (onboarding through offboarding)
• Oversee operational execution of performance cycles, compensation processes, and employee lifecycle changes
• Ensure delivery of services aligns with organizational priorities and capacity
• Ensure compliance with employment laws, policies, and internal standards
• Oversee accurate and complete employee records and documentation
• Oversee the mitigation of operational and compliance risks through strong systems and controls
• Lead and oversee the intake and triage system for all in‑scope People & Culture requests
• Establish clear prioritization based on urgency, risk, and complexity
• Ensure timely acknowledgment and resolution of requests with clear communication of timelines and expectations
• Manage key partner relationships (e.g., PEO and other platforms) and collaborate with them to ensure operational excellence, compliance and a high‑level of customer service
• Partner closely with Employee Experience and Talent & Org Effectiveness teams to ensure seamless execution of People & Culture priorities
• Provide operational feasibility input into new programs and initiatives
• Ensure alignment between strategy, design, and execution

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable, standardized People Operations processes in partnership with the Senior Process Improvement Specialist (People & Culture)
• Identify and resolve operational inefficiencies, duplication, and process breakdowns
• Drive continuous improvement through process redesign, automation, and simplification
• Ensure consistency, fairness, and quality of service delivery at scale

• Partner with technical and data teams to optimize HR systems, workflows, dashboards and reporting
• Partner with People & Culture subject matter experts to ensure the HRIS and other platforms are fit for purpose
• Identify and implement opportunities for automation and self‑service
• Ensure people systems and technology support efficiency, scalability, and a strong employee experience

• Lead, coach, and develop the People Operations team
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Build a high‑performing team focused on accuracy, responsiveness, and continuous improvement

• Significant HR/People Operations experience with management responsibility
• Relevant experience leading end-to-end HR operations in a complex, scaling organization
• Experience building and optimizing scalable systems, processes, and service delivery models (e.g., shared services, intake/triage)
• Demonstrated leadership and team development capabilities
• Strong operational and systems‑thinking mindset, with a focus on process efficiency and scalability
• Deep knowledge of HR compliance, policies, and full employee lifecycle management
• Experience with HR…