Senior Director, Global People Operations

Description

Sprout Social is looking to hire a Senior Director of Global People Operations for the People Operations team.

Why join Sprout’s People Operations team?

As members of the Sprout People Operations team, we are champions of Sprout’s unique culture. Doing our jobs effectively means every candidate has an incredible experience with Sprout Social, every team member is successful from day one, and every business unit has the talent and support needed to meet and exceed aggressive goals. As we continue to grow and innovate, we’re looking for a bold, forward-thinking leader to drive transformation and elevate our people operations to new heights.

What You’ll Do

As the Senior Director of Global People Operations, reporting to the Chief People Officer and a key member of the People Leadership Team, you will lead the charge in redefining how we deliver exceptional employee experiences while driving operational excellence. You will oversee critical areas such as AI-driven strategy, People Analytics, Shared Services, HRIS and tech stack optimization, and the People Team PMO. Your leadership will help shape the future of our global people operations, ensuring they align with our evolving business needs and ambitious goals.

In this role, you will:

• Develop and Own the AI and People Analytics Strategy: Lead the adoption of AI-driven tools and leverage advanced analytics to generate actionable insights, shape organizational strategies, and enhance employee experiences.
• Oversee Shared Services and Operational Excellence: Scale and refine global shared services to deliver seamless, efficient, and compliant people processes. Direct the management of key processes, including global onboarding, mobility, compliance, and terminations. Ensure the team is trained and equipped to manage all operational aspects effectively, from addressing employee inquiries to overseeing regulatory compliance.
• Lead HRIS and Tech Stack Innovation: Drive the strategic management of Workday and other HR technologies, enhancing automation, scalability, and global alignment while integrating cutting-edge tools to future-proof our HR tech ecosystem.
• Drive the People Team PMO: Establish and lead the People Team Program Management Office to execute high-impact initiatives that align with business priorities and deliver measurable results.
• Champion Global HR Compliance: Serve as the owner of global HR compliance, shaping policies related to remote work, time and absences, and security. Oversee the maintenance of employment-related records (e.g., I-9, EEO-1 reports) and ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met across jurisdictions.
• Challenge the Status Quo: Foster a disruptor mindset by questioning norms, driving innovation, and implementing transformative solutions that simplify and elevate the employee experience.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
• Lead Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with senior leaders across functions to align people operations strategies with business goals, streamline processes, and deliver scalable global solutions.
• Foster a Culture of Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for process enhancements, operational efficiencies, and creative solutions that transform how we operate and engage with our employees.
• Mentor and Develop Your Team: Lead and inspire the Global People Operations, HRIS, and PMO teams, building a high-performing, inclusive, and innovative culture that aligns with our values and drives impact.

What You’ll Bring

You are a visionary HR leader with a disruptor mindset, unafraid to challenge the status quo and reimagine traditional approaches to people operations. You bring deep expertise in global people operations, technology, and data-driven decision-making, paired with the creativity and boldness to design and execute innovative solutions. Known for balancing strategic vision with flawless execution, you thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments and consistently deliver transformative outcomes that drive business success.

The minimum qualifications for this role include:

• 10+ years of progressive HR operations experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Expertise in AI-driven solutions and People Analytics to support strategic decision-making.
• Proven success managing HRIS platforms, especially Workday, with a strong background in implementation and optimization.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, global teams and drive cross-functional collaboration.

Preferred qualifications for this role include:

• Experience in a high-growth, multinational organization.
• Proven track record in large-scale HR transformations, including operational scalability and system integration.

How You’ll Grow

Within 1 month, you’ll plant your roots, including:

• Completing Sprout’s in-depth onboarding program to gain a deep understanding of our mission, values, and the value we deliver to customers.
• Establishing a clear plan with the Chief People Officer, setting initial priorities, aligning expectations, and defining success metrics for your role.
• Building relationships with key stakeholders across the People Leadership Team and other cross-functional leaders.
• Getting to know your team through one-on-one meetings to understand their roles, goals, and current challenges.

Within 3 months, you’ll start hitting your stride by:

• Developing and presenting a comprehensive plan for enhancing People Operations, including strategies for shared services, HRIS, compliance, and People Analytics.
• Establishing a robust data practices framework and defining a roadmap for leveraging People Analytics to drive actionable insights and inform decision-making.
• Leading initial improvements in onboarding and global shared services to drive efficiency and elevate the employee experience.
• Identifying quick wins for optimizing Workday and other HR technologies to improve automation and scalability.

Within 6 months, you’ll be making a clear impact through:

• Executing high-impact initiatives aligned with your strategic roadmap, delivering measurable results in areas like compliance, analytics, and operational excellence.
• Championing process improvements and creative solutions that simplify workflows and enhance the employee experience globally.
• Establishing yourself as a trusted partner for cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment between People Operations and organizational goals.
• Leading your first team performance reviews, celebrating achievements, and setting development goals for the future.
• Partnering with your team to launch the foundational elements of the People Team PMO, ensuring alignment with broader business objectives.

Within 12 months, you’ll make this role your own by:

• Building a legacy of innovation, leading transformative changes in People Operations that support Sprout’s continued growth and success.
• Driving measurable improvements in employee experience, operational scalability, and global compliance.
• Serving as a key advisor to the People Leadership Team and senior stakeholders, influencing strategies and decisions with actionable insights and expertise.
• Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high performance within your team, ensuring they feel empowered, supported, and inspired to achieve their goals.
• Bringing innovative ideas and bold solutions to the table that redefine what’s possible for Sprout’s People Operations.

Of course, this timeline is a guide, and priorities may shift based on business needs. Other projects and responsibilities may be added at the discretion of your manager.

Our Benefits Program

We’re proud to regularly be recognized for our team, product and culture. Our benefits program includes:

• Insurance and benefit options that are built for both individuals and families
• Progressive policies to support work/life balance, like our flexible paid time off and parental leave program 
• High-quality and well-maintained equipment—your computer will never prevent you from doing your best
• Wellness initiatives to ensure both health and mental well-being of our team
• Ongoing education and development opportunities via our Grow@Sprout program and  employee-led diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• Growing corporate social responsibility program that is driven by the involvement and passion of our team members
• Beautiful, convenient and state-of-the-art offices in Chicago’s Loop and downtown Seattle, for those who prefer an office setting

Whenever possible, Sprout wants to provide our team with the flexibility to work in the location that makes the most sense for them. Sprout maintains a remote workforce in many places in the United States. However, we are not set up in all states, so please look at the drop-down box in our application to see whether your state is listed. Few roles require an office setting. If your position requires a physical presence in a Sprout office, it will be evident in the job listing and your offer letter.

The base pay range for this role is $211,950.00 - $259,050.00 USD annually. Individual base pay is based on various factors, including relevant experience and skills, the responsibility of the role, and job duties/requirements. In addition to base pay, some Sales and Success roles can earn sales incentives. 

Sprout’s compensation ranges are intentionally broad to allow for our team members' growth within their role. These ranges were determined by a market-based compensation approach; we used data from trusted third-party compensation sources to set equitable, consistent and competitive ranges. We also evaluate compensation bi-annually, identify any changes in the market and make adjustments to our ranges and existing employee compensation as needed.

Base pay is only one element of an employee's total compensation at Sprout. Every Sprout team member has an opportunity to receive restricted stock units (RSUs) under Sprout’s equity plan. Employees (and their dependents) are covered by medical, dental, vision, basic life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance, and Modern Health (a wellness benefit).  Employees are able to enroll in Sprout’s company’s 401k plan, in which Sprout will match 50% of your contributions up to 6% with a maximum contribution. Sprout offers “Flexible Paid Time Off” and ten paid holidays. We have outlined the various components to an employee’s full compensation package here to help you to understand our total rewards package.

Sprout Social is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate based on identity- race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex (including sexual identity), age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, order of protection status, citizenship status, arrest record or expunged or sealed convictions, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our latest DEI Report.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. We'll do all we can to ensure you're set up for success during our interview process while upholding your privacy, including requests for accommodation. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please click here (1) Equal Opportunity Employment Poster  (2) Sprout Social's Affirmative Action Statement (3) Pay Transparency Statement. 

When you apply for employment with Sprout Social, we will process your job applicant data, including your employment and education history, transcript, writing samples, and references as necessary to consider your job application for open positions. Your personal data will be shared with Greenhouse Software, Inc., and Crosschq, Inc., cloud services providers located in the United States of America and engaged by Sprout Social to help manage its recruitment and hiring process on Controller’s behalf. Accordingly, if you are located outside of the United States, by clicking “Submit Application” on this site, you consent to the transfer of your personal data to the United States. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our Privacy Policy. California residents have additional rights and should review the Additional Disclosures for California Residents section in our Privacy Policy.

Additionally, Sprout Social participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. 

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