Vice President, Global People Operations

Location: USA (any state) Reports to: President & COO Team: ~20 globally About Athena Athena is a 4,000-employee, multi-country organization generating approximately $100M in annual revenue and continuing to grow. As we’ve scaled, our people systems and processes have not kept pace with our global footprint. Historically, HR ownership was distributed across multiple executives — payroll and compensation under Finance, talent processes under Operations, and HR systems under Technology. We are now consolidating People Operations under a single leader to modernize our infrastructure, unify governance, and build a scalable employee lifecycle experience. This is a rare opportunity to step into VP-level scope and architect a global People Operations function at scale. The Opportunity We are seeking a high-impact, systems-oriented People leader — likely at the Director or Senior Director level today — who is ready to step into enterprise VP scope. You will lead a global team of approximately 20 and own the operational backbone of the employee lifecycle across multiple countries. This role does not oversee Talent Acquisition or Learning & Development. Instead, it focuses on: People Operations strategy & governance Compensation and organizational design infrastructure Workforce planning and analytics HR systems (including WorkDay optimization) Global process standardization End-to-end employee lifecycle execution If you are energized by building structure, modernizing systems, and scaling operational excellence — this role is for you.

What You Will Do

Lead Global People Operations Consolidate and unify People Operations under a clear model Define KPIs, dashboards, and executive reporting Establish governance, standards, and accountability across regions Lead and develop a 25-person global team located primarily in the Philippines, Kenya, and Guatemala Modernize Infrastructure Optimize and expand WorkDay adoption Ensure clean data architecture and reporting rigor Identify automation opportunities and eliminate inefficiencies Build scalable, repeatable processes Elevate Compensation & Org Design Standardize global leveling frameworks Renovate compensation structures and pay architecture Improve span-of-control discipline and org modeling Partner with Finance on workforce planning alignment Strengthen the Employee Lifecycle Redesign onboarding and offboarding processes Standardize performance management governance Institutionalize succession planning infrastructure Lead engagement measurement and action planning Ensure consistent employee experience across countries What Success Looks Like (First 18 Months) A unified and clearly defined global People Operations model Stabilized and optimized WorkDay ecosystem Standardized compensation and leveling architecture Embedded workforce planning discipline Clear, measurable People Operations KPIs Improved operational efficiency and employee experience metrics What We’re Looking For Experience 10–15+ years progressive HR / People Operations leadership Currently Director or Senior Director (or equivalent) in a global organization Experience leading HR Operations, Total Rewards, or People Infrastructure Direct experience with enterprise HRIS implementation (WorkDay preferred) Compensation architecture and org design exposure Experience managing multi-country processes Capabilities Systems thinker who builds scalable infrastructure Strong financial and workforce planning acumen Data-driven and analytically rigorous Experienced people leader comfortable managing distributed teams Strong cross-functional partner with Finance and Technology Builder mindset — comfortable operating in evolving environments Why This Role Is Compelling True VP scope with enterprise visibility Lead a global team of ~20 Opportunity to build — not inherit — a mature system Direct exposure to executive leadership Chance to modernize People Operations for a 4,000-person organization This is an opportunity to move from functional leadership into enterprise impact. If you are ready to step into VP-level responsibility and build something enduring, we would love to meet you. At Athena, work actually works for you. Weekly pay, comprehensive benefits that fit your life (yes, even pet perks), and real growth opportunities with global reach. You'll work on an international stage with world-class leaders where your ideas matter. This isn't about ticking boxes or following scripts—you're here to make a meaningful impact while building skills that transform your career trajectory. Greatness is contagious, and you'll be surrounded by curious, ambitious people who challenge the norm and grow together. Athena is a community of unconventional thinkers where success is mutual. From day one, you’ll be supported through intensive onboarding, hands-on mentorship, and targeted development programs designed to accelerate your growth. Our high-performance culture is fueled by collaboration, feedback, and a shared commitment to excellence, and we invest deeply in your development. Ready to take the next step? Fill out the form below to share your details with one of our recruiters. We’ll reach out if there’s a role that aligns with your experience and career goals. At Athena, we’re always looking for top talent to join our growing team, and we’d love to explore how you can contribute to our success. Apply To This Job