Director, Global People Operations – Total Rewards

Role Overview

• Design, build, and govern Sonatype’s human capital infrastructure.
• Transform the People Operations function into an automated, high-fidelity business utility.
• Lead the evolution of the global People Operations operating model to improve scalability, consistency, operational leverage, and employee experience.
• Drive simplification and standardization of global HR processes, policies, workflows, and service delivery models.
• Reduce manual operational dependency through automation and self-service enablement.
• Support the development of scalable operating practices that reduce organizational friction while increasing speed.
• Oversee global payroll, benefits administration, and core People Operations processes across regions.

Requirements

• Experience leading global People Operations, Total Rewards, HR systems, and operational infrastructure in a complex, global environment.
• Demonstrated experience modernizing, scaling, or rebuilding HR operational architecture, systems, workflows, and service delivery models.
• Deep compensation expertise required, including experience leading compensation strategy, job architecture, leveling, salary structures, market benchmarking, and annual compensation planning processes.
• Must be capable of operating as the senior compensation subject matter expert for the organization, including providing strategic guidance, analytical modeling, governance, and operational leadership without a dedicated internal compensation team.
• Strong experience leading HR technology strategy, HRIS optimization, systems implementation, workflow automation, operational process redesign, and data governance initiatives.
• Experience driving automation, AI enablement, self-service strategies, or digital transformation initiatives within HR or enterprise operations strongly preferred.
• Strong operational leadership experience across payroll, benefits, compliance, employee lifecycle operations, and global service delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to simplify complexity, reduce operational friction, and build scalable operational models in growing organizations.
• Strong analytical, systems-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management skills across executive, technical, and operational teams.
• Experience operating in high-growth, transformation-oriented, or rapidly scaling environments preferred.
• Strong program management, prioritization, and execution leadership skills.
• Ability to balance strategic transformation work with operational execution and day-to-day delivery accountability.

Benefits

• Company Wellness Week
• We shut down company operations for a week to enable all employees to pursue personal growth and enjoy a much-needed and deserved rest.
• Paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
• Parental leave
• Diversity and inclusion working groups
• Flexible working practices