Associate Director of HR Operations at McAlister Institute

El Cajon, California, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

24 Jul, 26

Salary

135000.0

Posted On

25 Apr, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

HR Operations, Leadership, Mentorship, Compliance, Process improvement, Project management, HRIS administration, Data analysis, Change management, Organizational development, Policy administration, Talent acquisition, Communication, Critical thinking, Stakeholder management, Payroll knowledge

Industry

Description

Description Join McAlister Institute, a 48-year beacon in San Diego's Recovery Community. McAlister Institute is looking for an Associate Director of HR Operations to lead the optimization of HR operational functions across the employee lifecycle, ensuring efficient, compliant, and high-quality service delivery. In this role, you’ll drive process improvement, policy administration, compliance, and data-informed decision-making, while serving as a key partner in organizational development, change management, and cross-functional initiatives. This position will also provide strong mentorship and leadership to the HR team, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and a high-performing culture. Benefits for YOU: 13 paid annual holidays, including your birthday; 12 paid vacation days, paid sick leave Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility 403(b) Retirement Plan + up to 6% Employer Match Health Insurance available the first of the month following 30 days of employment (Sharp) EAP Key Responsibilities: Supervisory Responsibilities Manage and develop HR staff, providing coaching, mentorship, and performance feedback Establish team priorities, workflows, and accountability standards Build team capability through training, process documentation, and knowledge sharing Ensure team alignment with organizational goals and HR service standards HR Operations & Service Delivery Oversee day-to-day HR operations and employee lifecycle processes Design, document, and continuously improve HR workflows and service delivery standards Establish and monitor service-level expectations for HR processes Serve as an escalation point for complex HR operational issues Policy Administration & Compliance Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies and procedures Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and internal policies Manage incident-specific compliance and risk issues Oversee the maintenance of accurate employee records, audits, and reporting requirements HR Systems, Data & Reporting Oversee HRIS administration, data integrity, and system optimization Develop and maintain HR dashboards, reports, and metrics Conduct turnover analysis, risk analysis, and workforce insights to inform decision-making Ensure data governance, security, and reporting accuracy Talent Acquisition Operations Develop and oversee policies, procedures, and workflows supporting talent acquisition Partner with hiring managers and leadership to improve recruitment processes and outcomes Change Management & Organizational Development Lead change management initiatives and support organizational development efforts Develop and execute communication plans to support HR and organizational initiatives Partner with Learning & Development as the primary HR liaison Track initiative effectiveness and recommend adjusted strategies based on outcomes Project Management & Continuous Improvement Lead and manage HR operational and cross-functional projects from initiation through completion Identify process improvement opportunities and implement scalable solutions Drive automation, standardization, and efficiency across HR functions Ensure strong prioritization and execution of multiple concurrent initiatives Cross-Functional Partnership Collaborate with Finance, IT, and other departments to ensure seamless HR service delivery Partner with leadership to align HR operations with organizational strategy Provide guidance on appropriate ownership of responsibilities across departments Requirements Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required Minimum of 6–8 years of progressive HR experience, including HR operations or generalist roles with strong operational focus Prior experience managing or mentoring HR staff preferred Experience in multi-site and/or nonprofit environments preferred Required Skills and Abilities Strong leadership and mentorship capabilities with a hands-on management approach Demonstrated expertise in HR operations, compliance, and process improvement Excellent project management and prioritization skills Ability to drive initiatives to completion with accountability and ownership Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, identify root causes, and develop practical, well-reasoned solutions Exceptional attention to detail, with a high degree of accuracy in data management, compliance, and documentation Ability to interpret HR data and trends to inform decision-making Demonstrates strong communication and stakeholder management skills, consistently exercising professionalism, tact, and sound judgment; remains composed under pressure, follows through on commitments Addresses challenging situations with managerial courage, including providing direct, respectful feedback and making difficult decisions when needed High level of discretion, judgment, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving ability Knowledge of payroll processes sufficient to guide improvements Experience with HRIS platforms, preferably Paylocity Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and initiatives Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish strongly preferred Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including the ability to independently create professional PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, and Word templates Ability to pass all pre-employment screening, including references, a criminal background check with at least one year clear of probation or parole, a drug test, and a negative TB test. Equal Opportunity Employer: McAlister Institute is committed to creating a diverse environment and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, any other non-job-related factors, and other characteristics protected by local, state, or federal anti-discrimination law covering employment. Reasonable Accommodations: McAlister Institute is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the jobs@mcalisterinc.org., for more information. Please include your name and position you are applying for. Work Authorization Requirement: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. McAlister Institute does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas. Pre-Employment: All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from McAlister Institute employment as we are subject to County of San Diego contractual hiring requirements). A pre-employment physical examination, and post-offer background check is required. Candidates must have at least one year clear of probation or parole, a drug test, and a negative TB test. General Information & Considerations: Placement on the pay range is based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, relevant years of experience and qualifications. Current McAlister Institute employees may receive priority consideration for positions when they meet essential qualifications. To Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: We do not solicit staffing or agency contacts for our recruitment needs. Our careers site is only for individuals seeking a job at McAlister. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes. Any such submissions will be considered unsolicited and will be ignored to prioritize our own process. We are sure you do amazing work and can give us data to support your sell. We, however, are a non-profit, and are mindful agents of our resources. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes or email us individually. McAlister Institute is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.

Responsibilities

The Associate Director of HR Operations will lead HR operational functions, including process improvement, policy administration, and compliance across the employee lifecycle. They will also provide mentorship to the HR team and partner with leadership on organizational development and cross-functional initiatives.