Director of People & Operations

Description

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The Director of People & Operations provides leadership for Ayuda’s administrative infrastructure, human resources operations, benefits administration, facilities, technology coordination, internal systems, and organizational policies. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role leads a multi-function team currently consisting of 8 staff, and directly supervises the Intake & Operations Manager, HR Manager, and Tech & Data Manager, providing oversight and support to operations and administrative staff who report through those functions. The role also manages key consultant and vendor relationships, and ensures that Ayuda’s internal systems support staff, clients, and organizational goals effectively.

­­

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

Ayuda is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing direct legal, social and language access services, education, and outreach to low-income immigrants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Since 1973, Ayuda has provided critical services on a wide range of issues, in the process acquiring nationally recognized expertise in several fields including immigration law, language access, domestic violence and human trafficking. Ayuda has office locations in Washington, DC, Silver Spring, MD and Fairfax, VA.

WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?

Because, just like everyone at Ayuda, you believe:

• •In seeing communities where all immigrants succeed and thrive in the United States.
• •In the overall success of our organization and all our programs.
• •That families should be healthy and safe from harm.
• •That all people should have access to professional, honest, and ethical services, regardless of ability to pay or status in this country.
• •That diversity and equality make this country better.

You may also want this job because you are energized by building the internal systems that help mission-driven organizations work well. You believe that strong HR, operations, technology, compliance, communication, and administrative systems are not separate from the mission — they are what allow staff to serve clients effectively, sustainably, and with fewer gaps.

This is a good fit for someone who enjoys both strategy and execution: seeing the big picture, identifying risks and opportunities, creating practical systems, supporting managers and staff, and making sure important behind-the-scenes work actually gets done.

WHAT WILL THIS JOB ENTAIL?

The Director of People & Operations provides leadership, supervision, and oversight across Ayuda’s internal infrastructure functions. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Organizational Leadership & Internal Coordination

• •Serves as a member of Ayuda’s leadership team and partners with the Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director, finance leadership, and program leaders to strengthen organizational systems and operational effectiveness.
• •Translates organizational priorities into clear operational plans, policies, workflows, and staff supports.
• •Leads internal operations communications to ensure staff have timely, accurate, and practical information about policies, procedures, benefits, technology, facilities, and administrative processes.
• •Directly supervises, supports, and develops the Operations Manager, HR Manager, and Tech & Data Manager; provides indirect oversight, guidance, and supports to operations and administrative staff within those functions, including Intake Specialists/Office Managers and the HR & Operations Associate.
• •Builds an organizational culture grounded in clarity, accountability, collaboration, equity, service, and problem-solving.
• •Helps clarify roles, decision rights, backup plans, and escalation points across internal operations functions.

People Operations / Human Resources Oversight

• •Supervises and supports the HR Manager in carrying out core HR functions.
• •Oversees general employment lifecycle processes, including recruitment, onboarding, leave management, performance management, employee relations, offboarding, and HR compliance.
• •Supports Ayuda’s organizational culture and employee experience by helping address employee morale and relations matters in partnership with legal counsel, the human resources consultant, the Chief Operating Officer, and senior management as appropriate.
• •Ensures Ayuda’s Personnel Manual, HR policies, and employee guidance are reviewed, updated, communicated, and implemented consistently.
• •Partners with the HR Manager, benefits broker, legal counsel, HR consultants, and senior leadership on complex HR matters as needed.
• •Provides oversight and guidance to the HR Manager on benefits administration and annual benefits renewal, including medical, dental, vision, paid leave, retirement, life insurance, disability insurance, transportation benefits, FSA, COBRA, and related employee communications.
• •Supports compensation processes, salary guidance, job description review, salary benchmarking, and annual salary scale planning.
• •Provides oversight and guidance to the HR Manager on annual performance review processes and help strengthen supervisor guidance, manager practices, and accountability systems.
• •Supports a healthy, inclusive, and respectful workplace culture, including staff morale, employee relations, and consistent application of policies.

Operations, Facilities & Administration

• •Provides supervision, guidance, and accountability for the Intake & Operations Manager, who leads day-to-day office operations across Ayuda’s DC, Maryland, and Virginia offices.
• •Provides oversight and support to the Intake & Operations Manager to ensure Ayuda has appropriate office space, physical infrastructure, supplies, reception coverage, mail handling, client-facing operational coverage, and administrative support.
• •Provides oversight and support to the Intake & Operations Manager on business insurance, business registrations, licenses, charitable registrations, state tax-exempt certifications, clean hands certificates, and related compliance deadlines.
• •Ensures procurement policies, vendor selection documentation, and administrative purchasing processes are followed.
• •Provides oversight and support to the Intake & Operations Manager to ensure that Ayuda has appropriate emergency response plans, office security systems, alarm response processes, front-desk safety protocols, and incident response procedures, including guidance for unexpected visitors, law enforcement visits, and other sensitive or potentially disruptive situations.

Technology, Data & Systems

• •Supervises or partners closely with the Tech & Data Manager on technology, data, cybersecurity, and systems priorities.
• •Coordinates with Ayuda’s managed IT provider to ensure staff have reliable, secure, and appropriate technology support.
• •Reviews and approves new technology requests, IT spending, and systems changes as appropriate.
• •Supports technology compliance, usage policies, cybersecurity practices, incident response planning, access controls, and staff guidance, working with the Tech & Data Manager and managed IT provider to ensure Ayuda’s systems and practices align with applicable federal, local, funder, and contractual requirements.
• •Helps strengthen shared systems such as Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Monday.com, HR/payroll systems, LegalServer-related operational processes, password management, and other administrative platforms.
• •Partners with program and administrative teams to ensure internal systems are practical, secure, and aligned with organizational needs.

Finance, Budget & Administrative Controls

• •Partners closely with Finance on administrative controls, indirect budget planning, expense approvals, procurement processes, and audit readiness.
• •Develops or supports development of the central administrative/indirect budget.
• •Monitors indirect spending and approves indirect expenses in accordance with Ayuda policies and funder requirements.
• •Reviews and approves disbursem