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LeanData is seeking a Director of People Operations and Total Rewards to build and strengthen the company's People infrastructure as the business evolves. This is a hybrid role (3 days onsite M/W/Th in Santa Clara) reporting to the Head of People and Culture.
You will own a broad portfolio spanning People Operations, compensation, benefits, and compliance. Key responsibilities include:
**People Operations & Systems:** Set and execute the People Operations roadmap, owning reliable operations across onboarding, offboarding, employee records, leaves, accommodations, and policies. Partner with Finance on payroll processes and establish clear responsibilities and reconciliations. Improve the HR technology stack, integrations, workflows, and data quality using AI and automation. Establish service standards, controls, and escalation paths. Partner with the People Business Partner on performance cycles and organizational changes. Coordinate immigration matters with external counsel.
**Total Rewards:** Develop and evolve compensation and benefits strategy in partnership with the Head of People and Culture, People Business Partner, and Finance. Lead market benchmarking, job architecture, leveling, salary ranges, and pay equity analysis. Advise leaders on offers, promotions, incentives, and retention decisions. Partner with Finance and Legal on equity program administration.
**Benefits & Wellbeing:** Own benefits strategy and delivery, including renewals, plan evaluation, cost modeling, open enrollment, and employee communications. Manage brokers, carriers, and vendors. Use employee feedback and market insights to recommend improvements.
**Compliance & Analytics:** Maintain compliant People practices across California and federal requirements. Own operational audit readiness, records management, and documentation. Build useful reporting on workforce trends, compensation, benefits costs, and operational performance. Measure whether improvements reduce errors, save time, and strengthen controls.
You'll join a small, collaborative People team with the opportunity to shape the function, influence business decisions, and see direct impact. Some systems and processes were built for an earlier stage; your opportunity is to determine what to keep, improve, or reimagine, creating capacity through better systems and thoughtful automation.
The ideal candidate is a builder who turns complexity into practical solutions, brings financial discipline and employee empathy to decisions, and is curious about AI and automation. You're a strong teammate who listens, respects expertise, and works through disagreements directly and respectfully.
**Requirements:**
- 7+ years of progressive experience across People Operations, total rewards, or related HR disciplines, with accountability for a broad portfolio
- Track record of building or improving People infrastructure in a lean, changing environment
- Direct ownership of compensation programs, including benchmarking, salary structures, compensation cycles, and advising leaders on decisions
- Experience owning benefits renewals, broker relationships, program costs, and enrollment
- Strong HR systems and payroll process knowledge, including integrations, reporting, data quality, and controls
- Practical experience managing employment compliance and sensitive operational issues
- Financial and analytical confidence, including building cost models, evaluating market data, and making clear recommendations
- Evidence of delivering measurable process improvements through technology, automation, or simpler ways of working
- Strong communication, prioritization, and cross-functional leadership skills, with willingness to stay hands-on
**Helpful Experience:**
- B2B SaaS or technology company experience
- Experience supporting a primarily California-based workforce with smaller teams in other locations and coordinating immigration matters
- Experience with BambooHR, ADP Workforce Now, Lattice, Pave, Radford, or comparable platforms
- Relevant HR, compensation, or benefits certifications
