Director, People Operations / Human Resources (Hybrid)

About the Role

The Geneva Foundation is seeking an innovative Director of People Operations & Human Resources to help shape how we attract, develop, engage, and retain the people who advance our mission. We are looking for a forward-looking People & Business Partner who understands that people strategy is business strategy. Working closely with the COO and Leadership Team, the Director will translate Geneva's strategic priorities into a scalable workforce strategy, modern people practices, and an employee experience that enables high performance. Geneva operates in the complex environment of federal government contracting, military medicine, research, and nonprofit mission delivery. Our workforce must be prepared to respond to changing customer requirements, program growth, new business opportunities, evolving technology, and a competitive talent market. The successful candidate will think strategically, operate pragmatically, use data to drive decisions, challenge conventional thinking, and get things done.

This full-time hybrid position offers a flexible schedule of 2 in-office days and 3 remote workdays per week. Candidates must be based near one of our corporate offices in Bethesda, MD; Frederick, MD; Tacoma, WA; or Fayetteville, NC and be able to regularly work on site/in office as required. Preference is given to candidates residing in the DMV region. Background check will be administered.

Salary Range

$135,000 - $155,000. Salaries are determined based on several factors including external market data, internal equity, and the candidate’s related knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or related field

8+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience, including leadership responsibility

Demonstrated experience serving as a strategic HR partner to senior leadership

Strong business acumen and the ability to connect workforce decisions to organizational performance, financial sustainability, and growth

Strong knowledge of talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, organizational development, and employment compliance

Experience developing workforce strategies and leading organizational change

Strong analytical, communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills

Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and exercise sound independent judgment

Experience overseeing employee benefits and total rewards programs, including vendor management, benefits strategy, cost analysis, compliance, and employee communications

Experience with Workday

Experience leveraging technology, automation, or AI to modernize HR processes

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in HR, Business, Organizational Development, or related field

SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PHR, or comparable certification

Experience in federal government contracting, defense, military medicine, healthcare, scientific research, or another highly regulated environment

Key Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the COO and Leadership Team on workforce, talent, and organizational matters

Develop and execute a People strategy aligned with Geneva's strategic plan, growth objectives, financial priorities, and evolving workforce needs

Partner with Program and Business Development leaders to anticipate workforce requirements associated with new business, contract growth, and organizational expansion

Lead talent acquisition, workforce planning, retention, succession planning, leadership development, and employee engagement

Build proactive talent pipelines and improve the speed, quality, and effectiveness of recruiting

Strengthen the employee experience from recruitment through career development and retention

Lead the strategy, administration, and continuous improvement of Geneva's employee benefits programs, including group health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, wellness programs, and other employee benefits

Evaluate benefits offerings, costs, utilization, competitiveness, and employee needs; recommend changes that balance employee value, market competitiveness, and organizational affordability

Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, consultants, and other third-party providers and ensure effective vendor performance and service delivery

Oversee benefits enrollment, communications, compliance, and employee education to ensure employees understand and effectively utilize available programs

Lead the evolution of performance management, compensation, benefits, and recognition programs

Use workforce data and analytics to identify trends, measure organizational health, and support better business decisions.

Lead organizational effectiveness, change management, and culture initiatives

Modernize People Operations through technology, automation, and use of AI

Provide guidance on employee relations, employment practices, policies, and compliance, partnering with legal counsel when appropriate

Ensure People Operations practices comply with applicable federal, state, and local requirements and the unique needs of a federal government contractor

Lead, develop, and mentor the People Operations team while establishing clear service expectations and performance measures.

Partner across Finance, Programs, IT, Business Development, Corporate Strategy, and other functions to ensure people strategies support enterprise priorities

The Leader We're Looking For

Strategic but execution-oriented. Can translate strategy into action and measurable results

A business partner. Understands the connection between people, performance, financial sustainability, and organizational growth

Forward-looking. Anticipates workforce challenges and opportunities before they become business issues

Data-driven. Uses meaningful workforce data to inform decisions and measure impact

A trusted advisor. Comfortable advising, influencing, and respectfully challenging senior leaders

Innovative. Looks for smarter, simpler, and more effective ways to work

People-centered. Builds trust, accountability, engagement, and a strong employee experience

Change-oriented. Can lead people and organizations through growth, transformation, and evolving priorities

Mission-driven. Understands the importance of Geneva's mission and the people who make it possible

Why Geneva?

The Geneva Foundation is a mission-driven nonprofit supporting military medicine, research, and innovation. Our people are at the center of that mission. This is an opportunity to join the Leadership Team and help shape how Geneva attracts, develops, engages, and retains the talent needed for its next stage of growth. If you're ready to help build a modern People function and want your work to have a direct impact on both an organization and its mission, we want to hear from you.