Director of People Operations

<h2><em><span style="color: #5158FF">About CDI</span></em></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non-partisan, non-profit dedicated to equipping the next generation of Americans with the skills to communicate and collaborate across lines of difference. We work with U.S. colleges and universities by providing co-curricular programming for students, professional development for faculty and staff, and strategic guidance to leadership. Our goal is to foster constructive dialogue at every level of the institution and to create the conditions for lasting organizational change. CDI was co-founded by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, the bestselling author of The Righteous Mind and The Anxious Generation.</span></p><h2><em><span style="color: #5158FF">About the Role</span></em></h2><p><span style="color: #000000">CDI is growing quickly. In 2025, our team doubled in size to 30 employees, and we expect to grow to 50 within the next year. As the organization grows, we want to ensure our people practices, systems, and culture grow with </span>it.</p><p style="min-height: 1.7em;"></p><p>We<span style="color: #000000"> are looking for a Director of People Operations with strong HR generalist foundations and experience supporting organizations through rapid growth and increasing complexity. This person will help strengthen and scale CDI’s people systems while maintaining the thoughtful, collaborative, and mission-driven culture that defines our organization.</span></p><p style="min-height: 1.7em;"></p><p><span style="color: #000000">This role includes managing and supporting a People Operations Generalist who leads CDI’s talent acquisition work and supports broader people operations processes. You’ll partner closely on talent strategy — especially for complex or senior searches — but your primary focus will be supporting employee experience, organizational culture, manager effectiveness, and the systems that help a growing organization function effectively.</span></p><p style="min-height: 1.7em;"></p><p><span style="color: #000000">You’ll report to and work closely with the VP of Operations and partner with managers and leaders across the organization. This is a highly collaborative role for someone who enjoys building strong relationships, supporting teams, and helping organizations grow thoughtfully.</span></p><h2><em><span style="color: #5158FF">Responsibilities</span></em></h2><h4><strong><span style="color: #5158FF">Culture & Engagement  —  Your Primary Depth Area</span></strong></h4><p><span style="color: #000000">CDI's culture is one of our most important assets and one of our greatest responsibilities during this growth phase. You'll be the person who actively tends to it.</span></p><ul><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Build strong relationships across the organization and maintain a deep understanding of employee experience, organizational health, and team dynamics</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Lead initiatives that strengthen CDI’s culture and employee experience, including onboarding, trainings, team gatherings, and org-wide rituals</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Build and evolve the systems, feedback channels, and people practices that help CDI maintain a strong, connected, and mission-driven culture as we scale</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Lead all-hands meetings and internal communications that build clarity, alignment, and connection across the organization</span></p></li></ul><h4><strong><span style="color: #5158FF">Manager Support & Employee Development</span></strong></h4><ul><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Serve as a trusted thought partner to staff and managers by helping navigate team dynamics, challenges, and complex people situations before they become larger organizational issues</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Coach managers on feedback, communication, accountability, and difficult conversations</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Build and improve performance and development practices that support clear expectations, strong feedback, accountability, and employee growth</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Partner with managers and leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness and team health across CDI</span></p></li></ul><h4><strong><span style="color: #5158FF">HR Operations & Compliance</span></strong></h4><ul><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Own CDI’s compensation framework and annual compensation review processes, ensuring practices are equitable, competitive, and aligned with organizational values</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Oversee CDI’s core HR operations, systems, and compliance processes across a multi-state workforce (in partnership with our PEO, JustWorks)</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and evolving HR best practices</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Develop and maintain HR policies, employee handbook materials, and internal practices that reflect CDI’s values and operational needs</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Evaluate and manage HR vendors, benefits brokers, and external service providers</span></p></li></ul><h4><strong><span style="color: #5158FF">Talent & Growth Strategy</span></strong></h4><ul><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Manage and support the People Operations Generalist, including coaching, prioritization, professional development, and partnership on recruiting strategy and complex hiring processes</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Help evolve CDI’s hiring practices, candidate experience, and talent systems as the organization grows</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Partner with leadership to strengthen organizational planning, team structure, capacity planning, workflows, and people systems that support sustainable growth</span></p></li></ul><br><br><h2><em><span style="color: #5158FF">About You</span></em></h2><h4><strong><span style="color: #5158FF">Experience</span></strong></h4><ul><li><p><span style="color: #000000">7+ years of progressive HR or People Operations experience, including at least 3 years in a senior generalist or leadership role</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Experience supporting organizations through significant growth and increasing organizational complexity</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Strong generalist experience across core HR disciplines, including employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, compliance, and talent acquisition</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Experience directly managing and developing employees or small teams</span></p></li></ul><h4><strong><span style="color: #5158FF">You’ll thrive in this role if you…</span></strong></h4><ul><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Build trust and relationships quickly and navigate sensitive situations with strong judgment, maturity, empathy, and discretion</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Care deeply about employee experience, organizational culture, and helping managers and leaders build strong teams, especially during periods of rapid growth </span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Balance strategic thinking with practical execution and are comfortable moving between organizational planning and day-to-day people operations</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Are proactive, systems-oriented, and highly organized; you anticipate challenges and help build processes and practices that scale effectively</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Feel energized by CDI’s mission and aligned with our values:</span></p><ul><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Embrace our Common Humanity</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Practice Intellectual Humility</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Prioritize Research</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Deliver Excellence</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Keep Improving</span></p></li><li><p><span style="color: #000000">Stay Adaptable</span></p></li></ul></li></ul><p style="min-height: 1.7em;"></p><h2><em><span style="color: #5158FF">Benefits</span></em></h2><ul><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Compensation </span></strong><span style="color: #000000">— $120,000 - 140,000 annually</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">A Mission-Driven Culture</span></strong><span style="color: #000000"> — our work culture genuinely reflects our mission, characterized by intellectual humility, continuous improvement, and open-mindedness</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Remote-First</span></strong><span style="color: #000000"> — CDI was founded as a remote-first organization, and we work hard to maintain a strong team culture across vast distances </span></p></li><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Unlimited PTO</span></strong><span style="color: #000000"> — as well as 13 company holidays</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Remote Work Support</span></strong><span style="color: #000000"> — up to $500 reimbursed for home office equipment (like desks, chairs, or webcams) and up to $50/month reimbursed for home internet or cell phone expenses</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Other Benefits</span></strong><span style="color: #000000"> — employer-supported health, vision and dental plans, subsidized parental leave, 3% 401k match, short- and long-term disability insurance, life and AD&D insurance, $1,000 annual professional development budget</span></p></li></ul><h2><em><span style="color: #5158FF">Role Specs</span></em></h2><ul><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Reports to</span></strong><span style="color: #000000">: VP of Operations</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Direct Report(s): </span></strong><span style="color: #000000">People Operations Generalist</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Schedule:</span></strong><span style="color: #000000"> Full-time, flexible within U.S. time zones</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Target Start Date: </span></strong><span style="color: #000000">ASAP</span></p></li><li><p><strong><span style="color: #000000">Location: </span></strong><span style="color: #000000">Remote, must be based in the U.S.</span></p></li></ul>

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