Director, People Operations

📋 Description

• • As the Director of People Operations at Drata, you will be the architect and steward of the entire employee lifecycle, from the moment a candidate accepts an offer to their final day with the company. This pivotal role is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing the critical programs, systems, and processes that form the backbone of our employee experience. You will be instrumental in building scalable infrastructure that supports our hyper-growth trajectory, ensuring operational excellence across all People functions, and fostering a seamless, efficient, and positive experience for every Drata team member.
• • This is a highly strategic and visible position, perfect for a forward-thinking leader who thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments. You will have the opportunity to shape and refine complex systems, champion data integrity, drive significant workflow automation, and elevate the employee experience to world-class standards. Your work will directly impact our ability to attract, retain, and empower the talent that fuels Drata’s mission to simplify trust.
• • **People Operations Strategy & Leadership:**
• • Develop and execute a comprehensive People Operations roadmap that is intrinsically aligned with Drata’s aggressive scaling objectives and our overarching mission to simplify trust for our customers.
• • Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing People Operations team, overseeing key functional areas including HRIS, compliance, employee lifecycle management, and process optimization.
• • Act as a trusted strategic partner to the Head of People and the executive leadership team, providing critical insights and recommendations on organizational design, workforce planning, and innovative strategies to operationalize and embody “Drata Speed” across the organization.
• • **Systems, Data & Process Optimization:**
• • Take full ownership of our HRIS (specifically Workday), ensuring its optimal performance, data integrity, seamless integration with other critical platforms, and maximizing opportunities for automation.
• • Meticulously optimize all core recruiting, onboarding, internal mobility, promotion, performance management, and offboarding workflows, proactively identifying and preempting potential friction points to ensure a smooth and efficient process for all stakeholders.
• • Design, build, and manage sophisticated People analytics dashboards that provide actionable insights into key metrics such as workforce capacity, headcount trends, attrition rates, hiring velocity, and other vital indicators of organizational health.
• • Uphold the highest standards of compliance with data security, privacy regulations, and relevant legal frameworks, reinforcing Drata’s inherent security-first approach in all People Operations initiatives.
• • **Employee Lifecycle & Experience:**
• • Lead the design and implementation of globally scalable yet deeply personal onboarding and offboarding processes that create positive and lasting impressions.
• • Drive manager enablement through the development and delivery of comprehensive training programs, refined interview designs, and clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are meticulously aligned with Drata’s core leadership expectations and values.
• • Implement standardized global policies and processes for critical functions such as performance reviews, promotions, and transfers, ensuring a balance between necessary structure and the agility required by “Drata Speed.”
• • Actively embed the “Drata Rules” into all People programs and initiatives, transforming them from abstract values into tangible behaviors and ingrained operational norms that define our culture.
• • **Compliance, Risk & Policy Governance:**
• • Build and maintain a robust and comprehensive policy infrastructure, including the employee handbook, global compliance guidelines, and rigorous HR audit processes.
• • Collaborate closely with Legal, Security, and Finance departments to ensure consistent policy enforcement, proactive risk management, and readiness for all regulatory requirements.
• • Support Drata’s industry-leading Trust posture (e.g., SOC2, ISO certifications) by meticulously operationalizing People-related controls and maintaining essential documentation.
• • **Cross-Functional Partnering:**
• • Work hand-in-hand with the Finance team on accurate budgeting, strategic headcount planning, and reliable forecasting.
• • Partner seamlessly with Talent Acquisition to guarantee a frictionless transition from candidate engagement to full employee integration.
• • Collaborate effectively with the IT department on identity and access management, ensuring secure and efficient onboarding processes.
• • Enable the Total Rewards team by providing operational support for benefits administration, global compensation structures, and vendor relationship management.