Head Of People Operations Jobs in New Jersey
Head Of People Operations jobs in New Jersey are in steady demand across the state's pharmaceutical, financial services, and technology sectors, with openings for professionals from early-career HR generalists through senior vice president level. The most active hiring markets are Newark, Princeton, and Parsippany, where anchors like Johnson & Johnson, Prudential Financial, and Cognizant maintain significant workforce footprints. Talent development, workforce planning, and total rewards strategy are among the most sought-after specialties in New Jersey head of people operations roles. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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What We're Looking For
At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners.This opportunity entails being responsible managing assigned project(s) throughout their full lifecycle including developing the scope and technical sections of proposal and procurement documents to participating in contract negotiations and overseeing the delivery of the project plan to successfully accomplish HNTB’s 4 for 4 performance: delivery of quality work, on time, on budget and to the client’s satisfaction on every project. This position proactively manages the budget, schedule, technical requirements, contractual obligations, and client communications in support of the project’s objectives. Provides high level technical tasks while managing and reviewing design related specifications, calculations, reports and plans. Coordinates with internal and external partners including cross-discipline and functional teams to address and problem solve design related issues or concerns. The Project Manager II – Engineering typically manages multi-disciplinary project team(s) for one or more strategic (<$1M) or mini-mega ($1M to <$5M) projects, or may lead and/or work as a discipline lead on a mega ($5M to < $25M) project management team.
The Project Manager will be a full-time role collocated with the PANYNJ at Newark Airport. The PM responsibilities shall include:
- The Project Manager will report to the HNTB Lead Project Manager to provide a range of project delivery support services for the EWR AirTrain Projects.
- Contract management, review, and oversight of discrete aspects of the design for the guideway structure, stations, civil, and roadway designs to ensure compliance with the Contract Documents. The PM will coordinate with other project managers supporting various project components along with providing oversight of construction and change management activities with the design-build contractor; and
- Working directly with the Program Integration team to ensure the design and construction is coordinated with the interface requirements provided by the System Technology.
- Working with the assistant project managers, HNTB project managers, Port Authority, and other Subject Matter Expert (SME) staff to review, coordinate and oversee the design work.
- Develop a thorough understanding of the contractual (technical/commercial) requirements of the design-build contract and be able to review various submittals in accordance with the contract requirements.
- Distribute and review various designs and consolidate review comments from team and others to ensure consistency and compliance with the design-build contract.
- Support the PANYNJ’s Construction Management Division (CMD) to support the construction phase ensuring interfaces and contract requirements are understood and implemented.
- Support the PANYNJ’s Project Controls group with the administration of the contract and development of changes and response to contractor claims/disputes
- Support the Project Team in testing and commissioning of the guideway structure and other fixed facilities in order to achieve first passenger service for the new AirTrain system.
The PM shall have at a minimum:
- 10-15+ years of experience.
- Professional Engineering License (NJ preferred)
- Experience with the design of rail, roadway bridge structures, or transit infrastructure.
- Experience with heavy civil infrastructure construction.
- Experience in design-build contracts in design, construction, or implementation.
What You'll Do:
- Responsible for development of the project scope and fee quotation and assists in the preparation of technical proposals and contracts in accordance with HNTB's Sophisticated Contracting Approach (SCA). Leads or actively participates in client contract scoping and negotiations.
- Serves as the primary client liaison and manages the project team to deliver the scope, schedule and budgets to completion and to the client’s satisfaction. Leads client contract scoping and negotiations.
- Performs technical discipline tasks including analysis, reports, design, specification, and production for assigned projects.
- Implements the firm’s project delivery plan using HNTB's Sophisticated Delivery Approach (SDA) on each project. Leads the development and the execution of the project management plan. Supervises and mentors team to overall project objectives.
- Responsible for/oversees project staffing, including, but not limited to; recruitment, development, retention, and succession of project staff; development of plan for project staff reporting; and support for performance and compensation reviews.
- Partners with Client Service Leaders and pursuit champions to assist with business development, building client relationships, and pursuit efforts for mini-mega and mega projects in accordance with HNTB's Sophisticated Sales Approach (SSA). Works with the project team and marketing resources to prepare appropriate proposal and presentation materials. Leads proposal development and interview presentations for strategic, mini-mega, and mega projects to the client as well as general presentations within the industry and community.
- May be responsible for the recruitment, hiring, development and retention of staff, including development of plan for staff reporting, performance and compensation reviews, and succession.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
What You'll Need:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 10 years of relevant experience
- 2 years of successful management of engineering projects
What You'll Bring:
- Winning, contracting, and successfully delivering 4for4 (on-time, on-budget, quality, client satisfaction) on multi-disciplined projects. Identifying and handling risk and change management with guidance from more experienced staff.
- Leading a team on mid-sized and/or moderately complex projects inside and outside of HNTB using sub-consultants.
- Using system tools to manage, monitor, and deliver mid-sized and/or moderately complex projects.
- Leading with minimal assistance from the Office Management Team in implementing HNTB Sophisticated processes as applicable to the project.
- Serving as the lead interface with the client on moderately complex projects.
- Developing successors to work with same client on other work.
What We Prefer:
- PANYNJ experience
- Experience overseeing design-build contracts for the Owner.
- Automated People Mover experience
Additional Information
Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards
Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. #AS #Aviation.
Locations:
Newark, NJ.
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The approximate pay range for New Jersey is $180,600.19 - $288,491.20. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state..
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NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES:
HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant's resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees.
See All 308+ Head Of People Operations Jobs in New Jersey
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Where New Jersey roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Of People Operations Job Market in New Jersey
A snapshot from current New Jersey openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Amazon12

- West Windsor Plainsboro Regional School District11W
- RWJBarnabas Health6

- Wolfoods5

- JPMorganChase5

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Retail
- Consumer Goods
- Banking & Financial Services
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
What New Jersey Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of people operations jobs across New Jersey.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a closely related field
- Seven or more years of progressive HR leadership experience in a New Jersey or tri-state employer
- Demonstrated expertise in full-cycle talent acquisition, retention strategy, and workforce planning
- Experience partnering with C-suite executives on organizational design and change management
- Working knowledge of New Jersey employment law, including NJFLA, NJLAD, and earned sick leave
- SHRM-SCP or HRCI SPHR certification strongly preferred by New Jersey employers
Head Of People Operations Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a head of people operations in New Jersey?
There is no state-issued license required to work as a head of people operations in New Jersey, but most employers expect a bachelor's degree in human resources or business alongside substantial progressive HR leadership experience. A SHRM-SCP or HRCI SPHR certification carries significant weight with New Jersey employers, particularly in the pharmaceutical and financial services sectors. Candidates typically advance through HR business partner or director roles before stepping into a head of people operations position.
How much do head of people operationses make in New Jersey?
Head of people operationses in New Jersey earn a median of about $172,440 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $108,040 for the lowest 10% to over $294,570 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire head of people operationss in New Jersey?
Employers hiring head of people operationss in New Jersey right now include Amazon, West Windsor Plainsboro Regional School District, and RWJBarnabas Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. New Jersey's concentration of pharmaceutical headquarters, financial services firms, and global technology companies means consistent demand for senior HR leadership across the state throughout the year.
Which New Jersey cities have the most head of people operations jobs?
The New Jersey cities with the most head of people operations openings are Jersey City, Newark, and Princeton. This distribution reflects the concentration of large corporate headquarters and regional offices in the Newark metro and the Route 1 corridor through Princeton and Parsippany, where major employers in life sciences, financial services, and professional services anchor the market for senior HR talent.
Are there remote head of people operations jobs in New Jersey?
Yes, and more than most fields, since people operations leadership work is largely strategic, advisory, and desk-based rather than requiring daily on-site presence. About 51% of head of people operations openings tied to New Jersey are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader corporate flexibility among the state's major employers. Strategic functions like workforce planning, compensation design, and HR technology oversight are the most commonly offered in remote or hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a head of people operations in New Jersey with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as an HR coordinator or HR generalist at one of New Jersey's large pharmaceutical, financial services, or logistics employers, then building toward a business partner role before pursuing people operations leadership. Employers like Merck, Becton Dickinson, and Cognizant run structured rotational HR development programs for early-career candidates. Earning a SHRM-CP certification and gaining experience with HRIS platforms such as Workday gives candidates a competitive edge in New Jersey's corporate hiring market.
Where can I find and apply to head of people operations jobs in New Jersey?
You can find and apply to head of people operations jobs in New Jersey on Migrate Mate, which lists current New Jersey openings updated in real time. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your experience and target industry, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 308+ Head Of People Operations Jobs in New Jersey
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