Gusto is looking for a Head of People Operations to lead the operational engine of our People function. This leader will own five teams and the systems, processes, and services that 3,000+ employees rely on every day, driving an AI-native transformation.
What You'll Do
- Own and evolve the strategic direction of People Central, translating strategy into operational plans and being accountable for execution.
- Build a best-in-class Employee Relations function, empowering the team to handle complex escalations and investigations with sound, independent judgment.
- Drive compliance across the employee lifecycle, including contractors, immigration, global operations, and extended workforce.
- Own the People Tech roadmap, partnering to drive HR systems strategy (HRIS, ATS, case management, data integrity, 3rd party integrations).
- Transform Shared Services into a world-class shared services function, building self-serve tooling and a service delivery model.
- Empower Invite Operations, setting direction for recruiting operations focused on automation and scale.
- Influence Gusto-wide People policy, reconciling stakeholder views to drive decisions that work for the whole company.
- Be accountable for department financial results, ensuring investments and headcount are deployed effectively.
- Build and develop your team, leading through five managers and developing leadership capability across People Central.
What We're Looking For
- ER and compliance depth: Led an Employee Relations function with genuine independence and strong foundation in employment law, HR compliance, and risk management.
- Operational execution at scale: Built and run tight operations across a large, complex HR function with a policy-based, automation-first mindset.
- People Tech and systems fluency: Comfortable driving an HR systems roadmap (HRIS, ATS, case management, integrations).
- Shared services leadership: Run or transformed a shared services or employee support function.
- Process and AI automation capability: Redesigned HR operational workflows using automation and AI.
- Leadership at scale, through managers: 12+ years progressive HR experience with 5+ years leading HR Operations at scale (1,000+ employees) in high-growth tech.
- Strategic execution: Proven ability to translate business strategy into multi-functional operational plans and guide execution across complex, ambiguous environments.
- Industry: Tech or high-growth company experience required.
Nice to Have
- Familiarity with a late-stage private or public company.
- M&A integration experience.
- Immigration tooling ownership.
- Hands-on AI/automation implementation.
Team & Environment
You will lead five teams: Employee Relations, People Governance, People Solutions, Shared Services and Experience, and Invite Operations. You'll lead through five managers (People Empowerers).
Benefits & Compensation
- Compensation: $188,510 to $225,000 in Denver & most major metro locations, and $221,000 to $265,000 for San Francisco & New York.
Work Mode
This is a hybrid role open to candidates in Denver, San Francisco, New York City, and Scottsdale.
Gusto is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
