Associate Director of Talent Operations

About the Role

This role serves as a senior leader within the Equity, Culture & Talent (ECT) function, providing strategic and operational leadership on talent management practices across the organization. The Associate Director of Talent Operations acts as a trusted advisor to Directors and hiring managers, guiding them through the full employee lifecycle with a particular focus on performance management, employee relations, and equitable decision-making.

This role is responsible for strengthening manager effectiveness by translating organizational policies and talent strategies into clear, actionable guidance, and by ensuring consistency, compliance, and equity in how people decisions are made and executed. The Associate Director brings strong judgment and discretion to complex and sensitive employee matters, including performance concerns and terminations, and plays a critical role in upholding organizational standards.

In partnership with ECT colleagues, this role drives the development and implementation of tools, training, and processes that enable managers to lead effectively, while advancing a high-performing, values-aligned, and equitable workplace.

Location: Washington, DC

Reports to: Senior Director of Talent

Positions Directly Reporting to this Position: N/A

This Position Is: Full Time, Exempt, Non-Union

Salary: $90,000- $130,000

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic guidance and hands-on support to managers on performance management processes, including goal setting, developing and retaining top performers, addressing performance challenges, and drafting and implementing Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) or facilitating employee transitions when needed;
• Serve as a point of contact for managers seeking support on employee relations matters, offering guidance grounded in organizational values, policies, best practices, and compliance requirements;
• Support managers in navigating complex or sensitive employee situations, ensuring a thoughtful, compliant, and values-aligned approach;
• Design and deliver training and resources for managers on core people practices, including coaching, feedback, and equitable leadership practices;
• Support the development and standardization of manager-facing tools, templates, and resources to promote transparency, consistency, and operational excellence;
• Support the rollout of new policies, tools, and initiatives by preparing guidance and communications tailored to supervisors;
• Partner with supervisors to assess team needs, identify talent gaps, and support full-cycle hiring to ensure teams are effectively staffed to meet organizational goals;
• Partner with supervisors to draft, review, and refine job descriptions to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with organizational needs and equity standards;
• Collaborate with other ECT team members to ensure alignment across talent processes and equity and culture best practices, including promotions and compensation-related documentation;
• Identify trends or recurring manager challenges and partner with ECT leadership to recommend process improvements, training, or resources;
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity in handling sensitive employee and organizational information;
• Additional duties may be assigned consistent with the responsibilities and qualifications of this role.

Qualifications:

• 6 years of human resources, people operations, or administrative experience. A relevant advanced degree may supplement the required work experience;
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing high-performing teams, with the ability to coach, mentor, and hold staff accountable while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and results-driven work environment;
• Demonstrated experience supporting managers in performance management, employee relations, and/or talent processes;
• Demonstrated experience developing manager training materials and facilitating workshops for managers on core people practices, including performance management, feedback, documentation, and equitable leadership, with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear, actionable guidance;
• Strong understanding of HR best practices, including documentation, compliance, and equitable people management practices;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, thoughtful, and professional documentation;
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and effectively partner with stakeholders at all levels;
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines;
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion;
• Experience with HR systems and tools, or the ability to quickly learn new platforms;
• Demonstrated commitment to Reproductive Freedom for All's mission, values and goals;
• Demonstrated commitment to contributing to a workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion is valued and centered in their work in general;
• Readiness and enthusiasm to make connections with people of different lived experiences; success in managing teams of individuals with diverse backgrounds;
• Experience working with underrepresented communities;
• Demonstrated deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of leadership and decision-making, specifically.

OPTIONAL: Nice-to-haves (or excited-to-learns):

• Experience working in a unionized environment or with collective bargaining agreements;
• Familiarity with project management tools such as Monday.com;
• Familiarity with performance management tools such as Trakstar.