Director, People Operations

Job description

ABOUT SANITY At Sanity.io http://Sanity.io, is the Content Operating System for the AI era — the intelligent backend that lets companies model how their business works, automate everything, and power any experience, from websites to AI agents, from a single structured source of truth. Companies like Figma, Spotify, PUMA, Riot Games, Anthropic, and Nordstrom trust us to power their content operations. We're backed by GP Bullhound, ICONIQ Growth, Threshold Ventures, and founders of companies like Vercel, Netlify, and Heroku. We're growing fast, and we're just getting started. We take the work seriously. Ourselves, a little less so. ABOUT THE ROLE We're looking for a Director, People Operations to scale and sharpen the operational foundation of our People function as we grow. The groundwork is laid — now we need someone to make it faster, smarter, and more resilient as we add headcount, complexity, and geography. You'll own how People Ops runs at Sanity: our HR tech stack, compliance posture, people data and reporting, and the employee experience end-to-end. You’ll use AI to automate the transactional and repeatable work so the team's time goes to judgement, coaching and strategic partnership. This role sits on our People team, reports directly to the Chief People Officer, and leads a small team. WHAT YOU'LL DO Lead People Operations strategy and execution Own the strategy, architecture, and evolution of People operation, technology and analytics. Design end-to-end workflows across hiring, HRIS management, and the employee lifecycle so they’re simple, scalable, auditable, and built to last. Own the operating model for People Ops — from onboarding and offboarding to HRIS management — and keep our processes efficient and scalable as we grow across geographies and headcount. You'll improve and evolve what's working, and fix what isn't. Manage and optimize our PEO relationships Serve as the strategic owner of our PEO partnerships, overseeing payroll and benefits execution while holding the vendor accountable for quality and accuracy. Identify where the PEO adds leverage and where Sanity needs to build its own capability — and make smart calls on both. Drive compliance and risk management Own our HR compliance posture. Keep policies current, ensure we're audit-ready, and know when to escalate — you're not the legal authority, but you're the operational owner who makes sure nothing falls through the cracks. Own and evolve our HR tech stack Own our HRIS and connected platforms, driving improvements that reduce manual work and improve data accuracy. Set the roadmap for systems, reporting, integrations, automation and AI-enabled workflows. Turn People data into decisions Own headcount reporting, attrition analysis, and the core metrics leadership relies on. Keep the data clean, surface what matters, and bring enough context that stakeholders can act on it — without needing a dedicated analyst to get there. Build and lead a high-performing team Manage and develop a small People Ops team. Create the systems and programs — not just tribal knowledge — that make the entire People org more effective and scalable as we grow. Shape policy and culture Develop and maintain HR policies that reflect Sanity's values, communicate them clearly across the org, and ensure they evolve alongside the business. Be a trusted partner to employees and managers Navigate complex people situations with empathy, good judgment, and discretion. You're the person others turn to when things get complicated — and you make them feel like they're in good hands. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - 10+ years of HR/People Operations experience, including demonstrated leadership of a team or function - Track record of embedding automation and AI into People lifecycle work — automating the transactional while amplifying human judgment, coaching, and leadership — with attention to controls, accuracy, privacy, and employee experience - A strategic operator — someone who can zoom out to set direction and zoom in to get things done - Experience managing PEO relationships (e.g., Rippling, TriNet) as well as Global EORs (e.g., OysterHR, Deel) - Deep knowledge of employment law and HR compliance across multiple states; international experience is a strong plus - Hands-on experience owning and optimizing modern HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, Rippling, or similar), including vendor evaluation and implementation - A track record of building scalable processes and programs from scratch — growth-stage or high-growth tech experience strongly preferred - Strong communication skills; you can translate complex compliance or operational topics into plain language for any audience - High integrity and sound judgment when handling sensitive employee information - Comfort with ambiguity and a bias toward action WHAT WE CAN OFFER: - A highly-skilled, inspiring, and supportive team - Positive, flexible, and trust-based work environment that encourages long-term professional and personal growth - A global, multi-culturally diverse group of colleagues and customers - Comprehensive health plans and perks - A healthy work-life balance that accommodates individual and family needs - Competitive salary and stock options program WHY SANITY We're at an exciting inflection point — growing fast, building something that genuinely changes how the world works with content, and investing in the team and culture to do it right. As Director of People Ops, you'll have real ownership, a direct line to leadership, and the opportunity to define how this function scales for years to come. If you want to build something that lasts at a company that's going places, we'd love to talk. Sanity.io http://Sanity.io pledges to be an organization that reflects the globally diverse audience that our product serves. We believe that in addition to hiring the best talent, a diversity of perspectives, ideas, and cultures leads to the creation of better products and services. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or gender identity.