Jobs and Careers
HI
Director, People Operations
Highwire Public RelationsSan Francisco, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 10 Jul 2025
About the role
About us
Highwire is a modern strategic communications and digital marketing agency designed for disruptive companies. We work with high-growth technology companies and established brands looking to reinvent themselves.
At Highwire, we believe that storytelling fuels transformation. And the most impactful stories represent all voices and perspectives. As a values-driven agency, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone—regardless of age, race/ethnicity, size, shape, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and different abilities–can feel safe, celebrated and worthy.
We ensure every Highwire Walker has unique support to climb to success. Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging is permanent and foundational to our business and culture. We aspire to change our industry and build a better future for all.
Our people-first culture is driven by four core values:• Team Empowerment • Growth Mindset• Inclusion Always• Fierce Distinction
We’re looking for individuals with big ideas, strong opinions, and the energy to bring them to life. If you thrive in an environment that values personal accountability, high standards, and boundless motivation, this is the opportunity for you. Be part of our award-winning culture and contribute to an exciting and growing business where you can make a real impact.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯The Opportunity
At Highwire, we believe that People Operations should not just support the business but elevate it. As we continue to scale, we are looking for a Director, People Operations to build and optimize the infrastructure that ensures our policies, processes, and systems enable business success while delivering a seamless employee experience.
This business partner role requires a balance of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, overseeing performance management, employee relations, people operations, compliance, and staffing operations/workforce planning. The Director will report directly to the Head of People and guide the careers of a People Operations Specialist and People Analyst (who manages payroll), ensuring strong execution across all people operational functions.
If you thrive on improving processes, optimizing People systems, and using data to drive smarter decisions while delivering an award-winning employee experience, this is an opportunity to make a real impact in a high-growth, people-first environment.
Highwire is a modern strategic communications and digital marketing agency designed for disruptive companies. We work with high-growth technology companies and established brands looking to reinvent themselves.
At Highwire, we believe that storytelling fuels transformation. And the most impactful stories represent all voices and perspectives. As a values-driven agency, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone—regardless of age, race/ethnicity, size, shape, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and different abilities–can feel safe, celebrated and worthy.
We ensure every Highwire Walker has unique support to climb to success. Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging is permanent and foundational to our business and culture. We aspire to change our industry and build a better future for all.
Our people-first culture is driven by four core values:• Team Empowerment • Growth Mindset• Inclusion Always• Fierce Distinction
We’re looking for individuals with big ideas, strong opinions, and the energy to bring them to life. If you thrive in an environment that values personal accountability, high standards, and boundless motivation, this is the opportunity for you. Be part of our award-winning culture and contribute to an exciting and growing business where you can make a real impact.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯The Opportunity
At Highwire, we believe that People Operations should not just support the business but elevate it. As we continue to scale, we are looking for a Director, People Operations to build and optimize the infrastructure that ensures our policies, processes, and systems enable business success while delivering a seamless employee experience.
This business partner role requires a balance of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, overseeing performance management, employee relations, people operations, compliance, and staffing operations/workforce planning. The Director will report directly to the Head of People and guide the careers of a People Operations Specialist and People Analyst (who manages payroll), ensuring strong execution across all people operational functions.
If you thrive on improving processes, optimizing People systems, and using data to drive smarter decisions while delivering an award-winning employee experience, this is an opportunity to make a real impact in a high-growth, people-first environment.
What You’ll Do
- Performance Management & Employee Relations
- Drive Highwire’s performance management strategy, ensuring it fosters growth, accountability, and clear career pathways.
- Partner with managers and leaders to create 100 day plans for each role at the agency and Sr. level integration plans for strategic hires to ensure clear understanding of what success looks like.
- Partner with leadership to create a structured yet flexible feedback culture that enhances engagement, development, and retention.
- Provide employee relations support, coaching managers and employees on conflict resolution, policy interpretation, and workplace issues.
- Develop and implement manager enablement initiatives, equipping leaders with the tools to coach, support, and develop high-performing teams.
- Serve as the HR Liaison for the intern program, assisting new managers and interns.
- People Operations & Compliance
- Build and scale efficient, tech-enabled HR processes that enhance both productivity and the employee experience.
- Oversee the day-to-day execution of People Operations functions, including onboarding, learning and development, performance management, and people analytics.
- Ensure compliance with employment laws, data privacy regulations, and Highwire’s hybrid work policies.
- Maintain and update HR policies and governance, ensuring they remain clear, compliant, and aligned with business needs.
- Manage vendor relationships for HR systems, payroll, benefits, and compliance tools, ensuring top-tier service.
- Staffing Operations and Workforce Planning
- Oversee workforce planning and staffing operations in partnership with Talent Strategy, ensuring alignment with business needs, headcount forecasts, and agency growth priorities.
- Track and analyze team utilization and capacity data to inform staffing decisions, identify resourcing gaps, and optimize team deployment across client work.
- Lead cross-functional staffing processes, driving clarity and accountability between client leads, finance, and recruiting to support effective workload distribution and service delivery.
- Maintain real-time visibility into staffing and headcount, partnering with practice leads and senior leadership t
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