Director of People Operations
MO Studio
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: Phoenix • Arizona • 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteSalary
💰 $155,000 - $190,000 per year
Job Level
Lead
About the role
- Build, operate, and continuously execute the core people operations required to support rapid growth and day-to-day business performance.
- Own end-to-end employee lifecycle execution including recruiting coordination, onboarding, performance management, development processes, and offboarding.
- Build and operate scalable, compliant people operations to support rapid headcount growth across delivery, technology, product, and corporate functions.
- Design, implement, and maintain people policies, playbooks, and SOPs that are practical, compliant, and aligned to MO’s values, operating model, and Quality Management System.
- Ensure people operations function effectively across multiple states, client environments, and regulatory contexts.
- Own benefits administration and execution, including vendor management and the company’s PEO relationship, ensuring compliance, cost-effectiveness, and strong employee experience.
- Partner with finance and operations leaders to manage benefit costs, vendor performance, and operational trade-offs.
- Support MO’s EOS-based operating cadence by executing people-related processes tied to goal-setting, performance tracking, and quarterly planning.
- Maintain accurate, audit-ready people records and documentation to support contracts, audits, and compliance requirements.
- Partner with the CEO, executives, and directors to improve hiring quality, role clarity, performance expectations, and leadership effectiveness.
- Support leaders through growth-driven change, including role evolution, team scaling, and organizational transitions.
- Help establish clear performance standards, feedback rhythms, and accountability practices across the organization.
- Contribute to leadership development and succession planning as MO grows.
- Own HR compliance across federal, state, and local employment regulations, including government contracting requirements.
- Ensure alignment with labor laws, pay transparency requirements, background checks, and clearance-related obligations.
- Partner with finance, legal, and operations leaders to ensure people practices align with contracts, audits, and risk posture.
- Reinforce MO’s values through systems, leadership expectations, and everyday people practices.
- Identify and address engagement, performance, or retention risks proactively.
- Support a high-trust, high-accountability environment where people are challenged, supported, and able to do their best work.
Requirements
- 10+ years of progressive experience in people operations, HR leadership, or talent operations roles.
- Demonstrated experience scaling teams in professional services and/or technology-driven organizations.
- Strong working knowledge of government contracting environments, compliance requirements, and regulated clients.
- Experience supporting rapid growth (e.g., doubling headcount or similar scale).
- Proven ability to partner with senior leaders and influence outcomes without unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Practical, execution-oriented mindset with strong judgment, discretion, and integrity.
- Comfort leveraging modern HR technologies and AI-enabled tools to streamline workflows, improve insight, and scale people operations responsibly.
- Experience operating in remote first companies and across multi-state employment environments.
- Experience operating within a structured operating system (e.g., EOS or similar) and comfort working in environments with clear goals, metrics, and accountability.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or professional certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP/SCP, SPHR) a plus.
- Government, civic tech, or public sector experience strongly preferred.
Benefits
- A dynamic, high-trust environment with a diverse, mission-driven team
- Competitive compensation commensurate with experience
- Meaningful opportunities for career growth and learning
- Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, and vision)401(k) with company match
- Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Company-sponsored short- and long-term disability, plus life insurance
- Company-sponsored parental leave
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
people operationsemployee lifecycle executionrecruiting coordinationperformance managementbenefits administrationvendor managementHR compliancegovernment contractingscaling teamsperformance tracking
Soft skills
leadership effectivenessstrong judgmentdiscretionintegritycommunication skillscollaborationaccountabilityengagementproactive problem-solvingadaptability
Certifications
SHRM-CPSHRM-SCPSPHRBachelor's degreeadvanced degree