Director of People Operations (Lakewood)

*On site in Lakewood, NJ - Only local applicants will be considered

Position: Director of People Operations

Role Overview

We're seeking a hands-on Director of People Operations to run Montium's People function day to day across New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Reporting to the President and leading the People Operations Specialist and People Operations Generalist, this role owns HR infrastructure, payroll and benefits, compliance, and employee relations, and serves as a trusted partner to property and corporate leaders.

Core Responsibilities

• Own the HRIS as the system of record for HR, payroll, timekeeping and benefits, driving adoption, reporting and continuous improvement
• Oversee accurate, on-time payroll across NJ, PA and DE, including multi-state tax registrations, garnishments and year-end processing, in partnership with Finance
• Maintain clean employee data, personnel files and audit-ready documentation
• Build and refine core workflows, including onboarding, offboarding, job changes, PTO and leave tracking, and IT provisioning with our managed IT vendor
• Keep policies and practices compliant with federal, NJ, PA and DE employment law, including FLSA classification, NJ Earned Sick Leave, pay transparency, and jury duty and leave statutes
• Administer leaves of absence, including FMLA and NJ Family Leave Act coordination, and manage workers' compensation claims
• Manage EPLI and workers' compensation renewals, required postings, filings and recordkeeping, and keep the employee handbook current
• Investigate and resolve workplace concerns through fair, documented and legally defensible processes, engaging outside counsel when needed
• Coach property and corporate managers on performance management, corrective action and terminations
• Run open enrollment and day-to-day benefits administration, and manage carrier and broker relationships
• Maintain compensation bands and job architecture that meet NJ pay transparency requirements, and support recognition programs and field career ladders
• Manage full-cycle recruiting for field and corporate roles, including job postings, offer letters and temp agency partnerships
• Lead and develop the People Operations team, setting priorities, service levels and clear ownership
• Report people metrics, including headcount, turnover, time to fill, and leave and claims activity, to the President and leadership team

Key Requirements & Skills

• 8+ years of progressive HR experience, including 3+ years leading HR operations or a small HR team
• Hands-on ownership of an HRIS and payroll platform
• Working knowledge of multi-state employment law, with New Jersey experience strongly preferred
• Proven judgment handling employee relations investigations and leave administration, with thorough documentation
• Comfort with data, including building reports, reconciling payroll and benefits, and working closely with Finance
• Clear, warm communication with field employees and executives alike
• Experience in multifamily, property management or another multi-site, hourly workforce preferred
• Bachelor's degree in HR, business or a related field; SHRM-SCP, SPHR or equivalent certification preferred