College Essay Guy · 3 days ago
Head of People Operations (US Based) (Full-time, Remote)
United States
Full-time
Remote
Mid, Senior Level
$80K/yr - $110K/yr
3+ years expCollege Essay Guy (CEG) is dedicated to providing practical guidance on the college admission journey. The Head of People Operations will build and refine the HR systems, ensuring that the team feels supported and aligned while fostering a healthy, human-centered culture.
Higher Education
Responsibilities
Create, refine, and maintain HR policies that are clear, compliant, and aligned with our values of Deep Care, Integrity, and Strategic Efficiency
Own payroll and benefits administration, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and a smooth experience for team members
Manage and improve our people operations tools and systems (HRIS, payroll, benefits platforms, etc.) so that information is reliable, accessible, and not living in seventeen Google Sheets
Design and nurture a culture that values both the health of the business and employee wellness and growth —we care about the numbers •and• the nervous systems
Develop and run performance management practices (goal-setting, feedback cycles, reviews) that are supportive, fair, and growth-oriented—not soul-crushing
Partner with leadership to create career pathways, development opportunities, and coaching so team members can grow with us, not out of us
Be the internal “B-Keeper” of our B-Corp Certification and status, and ensure our HR practices align with the B-Corp standards
Help us live our values every day—Deep Care, Integrity, and Strategic Efficiency—through how we hire, onboard, promote, and celebrate
Design and manage end-to-end hiring processes: job descriptions, sourcing, interview flows, candidate communication, and offers
Champion a hiring culture that recognizes that people are our greatest assets, not line items—while still making smart, data-informed decisions
Work with leaders to ensure new roles are clearly scoped, resourced, and aligned with company strategy (and not just “we’re drowning, let’s hire someone?”)
Maintain a consistently positive, professional candidate experience—even for those we don’t end up hiring
Serve as a thought partner to leadership on organizational design, headcount planning, and change management, as well as a voice for the team
Provide support and guidance to managers on coaching, feedback, conflict resolution, and team health
Monitor engagement, retention, and culture indicators and propose concrete steps when something feels “off.”
Help us anticipate and manage people-related risks (compliance, documentation, policies) so future-us is grateful to present-you
Qualification
Required
3–5+ years of experience in People Operations / HR, ideally at a smaller or growing company where you've worn multiple hats
Experience building or meaningfully shaping HR processes (not just following them), with strong opinions on what 'good' looks like
Care about employee well-being and business health in equal measure and don't see them as opposing forces
Energized by high-performing, mission-driven teams and enjoy helping good people do great work
Organized and systems-oriented, with a love for creating structure, well-documented processes, and workflows that make everyone's life easier
Excellent communicator, in writing and in conversation—clear, kind, direct when needed, and able to handle sensitive topics with care and confidentiality
Comfortable with remote work, asynchronous communication, and collaborating across time zones
Values-aligned with Deep Care, Integrity, and Strategic Efficiency
Preferred
Experience supporting California-based employees and familiarity with CA laws and employment practices
Experience in education, edtech, or a mission-driven services organization
Comfort with tools like Google Workspace, Slack, Gusto, or other HRIS platforms, 15Five, and applicant tracking systems (ATS)
A track record of designing or running culture initiatives (retreats, surveys, recognition programs, manager training, etc.)
A sense of humor about HR and People work
Benefits
20 days of PTO/Flex Time Away
7 sick days
11 paid holidays
Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage
401(k) + matching
Company
College Essay Guy
Your go-to resource for practical, step-by-step guides on writing beautiful college essays and putting together an awesome college application.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
J. Cole, MA
Partnership Manager and Senior College Counselor
Company data provided by crunchbase