Head Of People Operations Jobs in California
Head Of People Operations jobs in California are in strong demand, concentrated in technology, entertainment, healthcare, and venture-backed startups, with openings at every level from first-time people ops managers to senior executives overseeing enterprise-wide workforce strategy. The largest hiring markets are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Apple, and Kaiser Permanente maintain significant California footprints. The most sought-after specialties include organizational design, HR technology implementation, and employee experience. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 33+ Head Of People Operations jobs
About Mercor
Mercor's mission is to organize human intelligence to power the AI economy. We partner with leading AI labs and enterprises to provide the human intelligence essential to AI development. Our vast talent network trains frontier AI models in the same way teachers teach students: by sharing knowledge, experience, and context that can't be captured in code alone. Today, more than 30,000 experts in our network collectively earn over $3 million a day.
Mercor is creating a new category of work where expertise powers AI advancement. Achieving this requires an ambitious, fast-paced and deeply committed team. You’ll work alongside researchers, operators, and AI companies at the forefront of shaping the systems that are redefining society. Mercor is a profitable Series C company valued at $10 billion. We work in-person five days a week in our San Francisco, NYC, or London offices.
About The Role
Mercor’s Head of People Ops will own the operational backbone of our people function. This role combines traditional HR leadership with operational problem solving across a global workforce.
You will design and implement the systems, policies, and processes that allow Mercor to scale rapidly while maintaining a high-performance culture. This includes supporting employees across jurisdictions, building compliant employment structures internationally, and ensuring our team has the support needed to operate effectively in a demanding environment.
This role reports directly to the executive team and will work closely with finance, legal, and operations leadership.
Core Responsibilities
- Systems & Infrastructure – manage and optimize Mercor’s HR systems (HRIS, payroll, benefits administration, and internal data infrastructure)
- Own the employee lifecycle – onboarding, offboarding, promotions, role changes, and performance review cycles
- Policies and procedures – establish reliable and scalable HR processes as the company grows
- Reporting & analytics – headcount, retention, attrition, performance, and planning
- Compliance – ensure compliance with local employment laws and requirements; partner with legal and finance on international payroll compliance and immigration matters, manage employment documentation, policies and internal compliance processes
Additional Responsibilities
Mercor is scaling quickly, and focused on building and developing a world-class people organization. This role will support Mercor employees across a number of HR topics while we build the HR team.
- Benefits administration: oversee benefits programs and implementation with Mercor’s benefits partner
- HR business partnership: work with leadership teams on performance management, planning, and organizational design
- Employee relations: serve as point of contact for employee relations matters
What We’re Looking For
- 8 - 10+ years of experience in People Operations, HR, or related operational roles in fast-paced, and hyper-growth technology companies
- Experience supporting international workforces (e.g. India)
- Exceptional ability to manage ambiguity and instituting structure in a dynamic environment with multiple parallel priorities
- Strong understanding of employment compliance and HR operations
- Systems-oriented – you enjoy building processes and infrastructure that scale.
- Possesses high integrity and discretion when managing sensitive employee data and situations
- Strong partner to leadership teams and comfortable operating with significant ownership
Compensation
- Base compensation of $180 - 250k
- Generous equity grant and annual performance bonus
- $15K relocation bonus (for moving to the Bay Area)
- $10K housing bonus (if you live within 0.5 miles of our office)
- $1.5K monthly stipend for meals
- Free Equinox membership
- $200 monthly laundry & cleaning reimbursement
- $200 monthly personal wellness reimbursement
- Health, Dental, Vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
Compensation Range: $180K - $250K
About Mercor
Mercor's mission is to organize human intelligence to power the AI economy. We partner with leading AI labs and enterprises to provide the human intelligence essential to AI development. Our vast talent network trains frontier AI models in the same way teachers teach students: by sharing knowledge, experience, and context that can't be captured in code alone. Today, more than 30,000 experts in our network collectively earn over $3 million a day.
Mercor is creating a new category of work where expertise powers AI advancement. Achieving this requires an ambitious, fast-paced and deeply committed team. You’ll work alongside researchers, operators, and AI companies at the forefront of shaping the systems that are redefining society. Mercor is a profitable Series C company valued at $10 billion. We work in-person five days a week in our San Francisco, NYC, or London offices.
About The Role
Mercor’s Head of People Ops will own the operational backbone of our people function. This role combines traditional HR leadership with operational problem solving across a global workforce.
You will design and implement the systems, policies, and processes that allow Mercor to scale rapidly while maintaining a high-performance culture. This includes supporting employees across jurisdictions, building compliant employment structures internationally, and ensuring our team has the support needed to operate effectively in a demanding environment.
This role reports directly to the executive team and will work closely with finance, legal, and operations leadership.
Core Responsibilities
- Systems & Infrastructure – manage and optimize Mercor’s HR systems (HRIS, payroll, benefits administration, and internal data infrastructure)
- Own the employee lifecycle – onboarding, offboarding, promotions, role changes, and performance review cycles
- Policies and procedures – establish reliable and scalable HR processes as the company grows
- Reporting & analytics – headcount, retention, attrition, performance, and planning
- Compliance – ensure compliance with local employment laws and requirements; partner with legal and finance on international payroll compliance and immigration matters, manage employment documentation, policies and internal compliance processes
Additional Responsibilities
Mercor is scaling quickly, and focused on building and developing a world-class people organization. This role will support Mercor employees across a number of HR topics while we build the HR team.
- Benefits administration: oversee benefits programs and implementation with Mercor’s benefits partner
- HR business partnership: work with leadership teams on performance management, planning, and organizational design
- Employee relations: serve as point of contact for employee relations matters
What We’re Looking For
- 8 - 10+ years of experience in People Operations, HR, or related operational roles in fast-paced, and hyper-growth technology companies
- Experience supporting international workforces (e.g. India)
- Exceptional ability to manage ambiguity and instituting structure in a dynamic environment with multiple parallel priorities
- Strong understanding of employment compliance and HR operations
- Systems-oriented – you enjoy building processes and infrastructure that scale.
- Possesses high integrity and discretion when managing sensitive employee data and situations
- Strong partner to leadership teams and comfortable operating with significant ownership
Compensation
- Base compensation of $180 - 250k
- Generous equity grant and annual performance bonus
- $15K relocation bonus (for moving to the Bay Area)
- $10K housing bonus (if you live within 0.5 miles of our office)
- $1.5K monthly stipend for meals
- Free Equinox membership
- $200 monthly laundry & cleaning reimbursement
- $200 monthly personal wellness reimbursement
- Health, Dental, Vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
Compensation Range: $180K - $250K
See All 33 Head Of People Operations Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsHead Of People Operations Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Of People Operations Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Genentech2
- Intuit2
- Notion2
- AbbVie1
- BlackLine1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software21
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3
- Medical Devices2
- Retail2
- Science & Research2
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of people operations jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field
- Seven or more years of progressive HR or people operations experience
- Demonstrated experience leading HR teams and managing full-cycle people programs
- Deep knowledge of California employment law, including CFRA, FEHA, and AB5
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms such as Workday, BambooHR, or Rippling
- Experience partnering with executive leadership on workforce planning and organizational design
Head Of People Operations Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a head of people operations in California?
Most heads of people operations in California reach the role by building a decade or more of progressive HR experience, often starting in generalist or business partner roles and moving into director-level positions before stepping into a top people ops seat. A bachelor's degree in human resources or business is the standard baseline, and many California employers favor candidates who hold the SHRM-SCP or SPHR designation. Fluency in California-specific employment law, including CFRA, FEHA, and wage-and-hour compliance, is a practical requirement that separates qualified candidates from the field.
How much do head of people operationses make in California?
Head of people operationses in California earn a median of about $170,080 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $96,430 for the lowest 10% to over $307,600 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire head of people operationss in California?
Employers hiring head of people operationss in California right now include Genentech, Intuit, and Notion, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of technology companies, healthcare systems, and growth-stage startups means demand is especially consistent for candidates who understand both scaling culture and the state's complex employment compliance requirements.
Which California cities have the most head of people operations jobs?
San Francisco, Mountain View, and Irvine lead California for head of people operations openings. San Francisco's density of technology and venture-backed companies drives the largest share of postings, Los Angeles generates strong demand across entertainment, media, and healthcare, and San Diego's life sciences and biotech sector creates a steady pipeline of senior people ops roles tied to rapidly scaling organizations.
Are there remote head of people operations jobs in California?
Yes, and more than many senior leadership roles, given that much of the strategic and analytical work in people operations translates well to distributed environments. About 27% of head of people operations openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how broadly California technology and professional services companies have embraced flexible work. The functions most commonly offered remotely include HR technology oversight, workforce planning, and people analytics, while roles that require frequent onsite presence tend to focus on culture, employee relations, or multi-site operations.
How can I get hired as a head of people operations in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is to join a California employer in an HR coordinator or people operations associate role and build toward the title over several years. Large California technology companies and health systems often run structured HR development programs that rotate early-career professionals across recruiting, compensation, and HR business partner functions. Earning the SHRM-CP credential demonstrates seriousness to California hiring managers before your experience fully speaks for itself. Lateral moves from talent acquisition, total rewards, or HR business partnering at mid-size Bay Area or Los Angeles companies are among the most common ways candidates transition into broader people ops ownership.
Where can I find and apply to head of people operations jobs in California?
You can find and apply to head of people operations jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated on an ongoing basis. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 33 Head Of People Operations Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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