People Operations Specialist Jobs in Maryland
People Operations Specialist jobs in Maryland concentrate heavily in federal contracting, healthcare administration, biotechnology, and higher education, with demand ranging from coordinator-level roles to senior HR business partners. Baltimore, Bethesda, and Rockville are the largest hiring metros, anchored by employers like Johns Hopkins Medicine, Northrop Grumman, and Booz Allen Hamilton, all of which maintain substantial people operations functions in the state. The most in-demand specialties are HRIS administration, employee relations, and benefits program management. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
In this role the Human Resources Manager 3 will have the unique opportunity to lead projects at the sector level that will impact over 10,000 engineers. This position will be located in Linthicum, MD. This individual will consult on and assist in the implementation of HR strategy, programs and policies across client groups, including talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, compensation, employee engagement and retention initiatives, succession planning, organization and staff development, leadership/bench strength development, staffing, EEO and other areas within the HR domain. The partnership with the business will be imperative to ensure compliance with company, state/federal and host country laws/requirements. In addition, the selected candidate will be responsible for supporting the development and deployment of key strategic initiatives within the Sector Engineering including workforce planning, retention plans, and employee development initiatives to maintain skilled pipeline. This individual must demonstrate the ability to plan, organize, implement, and close multiple projects simultaneously on various topics.
The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate leadership and relationship building skills, a commitment to ethics and integrity, and the capability to innovate while challenging traditional ways of doing business. Skillful verbal and written communication talents are required, and the ideal candidate will have prior success in building or enhancing a collaborative, supportive and understanding work environment. The incumbent will understand how to successfully navigate in a matrix organization and proactively identify information and resources to resolve various inquiries and situations; with proven ability to manage complex employee relations matters. The successful candidate will demonstrate how they have supported their prior teams through organization, self-motivation, and task ownership skills, with the ability to accomplish complex duties in a high-impact, fast-paced, and time sensitive environment.
The individual will be responsible for the lead of all phases of Engineering & Science (E&S) HR projects from inception through completion; oversees and manages the operational aspects of ongoing projects and serves as liaison between project management and planning, project team, and the E&S HRBL. Reviews status of projects; manages schedules and prepares status reports.
Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Establish intimate understanding of the business, build and expand relationships with client leadership teams, and create close partnerships across HR, centers of excellence (COE’s), finance, and P&L organizations
Support and partner with HR colleagues in operations, talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, employee relations, diversity and inclusion and organizational effectiveness to support talent strategies
Support sector level workstreams across topics such as workforce planning, hiring, onboarding and technical development to include project management of activities across various sector stakeholders.
Identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the organization and develop solutions in partnership with division and matrix leadership, COE and regional/division HR business leadership
Advise leadership on new ideas and winning practices in the areas of talent acquisition, assessment, development, compensation, organizational effectiveness, strategy, on-boarding, employee engagement and retention, change management and communications
Analyze and concisely present information to the management team to enable business growth and sound decision making
Provide business insight through data analysis, research and benchmarking
Play a key leadership role in the company’s transformation by reinforcing a culture of growth, innovation and calculated risk taking through the application of human capital strategy, tools and processes
Partner with business leaders on leadership development to build leadership depth to support the succession planning process
Support and enable leaders to make informed decisions about talent and to hold their organizations accountable for business results
This position requires senior leadership contact, and the ideal candidate will possess a track record of leadership and decision-making skills with the ability to realize results in an environment of ambiguity. The incumbent must have cross-cultural awareness and communication skills to be able to effectively interact with a geographically disbursed senior leadership team.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree required plus a minimum of 10 years of experience in HR or related field OR Master’s degree with a minimum of 8 years of experience
An understanding employment law and working knowledge of HR policies and practices
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with and influence others
Proficient in Microsoft office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects to completion, ability to organize, prioritize, plan, schedule, and follow up on concurrent tasks and elevating issues or obtaining additional resources when necessary
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to be flexible and change directions when needed
Ability to work independently and make independent decisions, ensuring high levels of collaboration with stakeholders and subject matter experts
Proven ability to review and properly address complex employee relations matters
Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced degree preferred in Business, Human Resource management, Organization Development, Industrial Organizational Psychology, or related field
Working knowledge of HRIS platforms and technology, with preferred applications experience in Workday
Proficient in AI technology
Advanced problem-solving skills and the ability to be flexible and adjust direction when needed
Leadership consulting experience, coaching skills and knowledge of human and adult learning principles a plus
Experience in proactive HR assessment and diagnosis of business challenges and ability to craft effective solutions
Ability to navigate cultural and business nuances/sensitivities to promote top performance
See All 63 People Operations Specialist Jobs in Maryland
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Find JobsPeople Operations Specialist Jobs by City in Maryland
Where Maryland roles are concentrated, by current openings.
People Operations Specialist Job Market in Maryland
A snapshot from current Maryland openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Retail
- Construction & Real Estate
What Maryland Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in people operations specialist jobs across Maryland.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a closely related field
- Two or more years of HR generalist or people operations experience in a professional setting
- Hands-on experience with HRIS platforms such as Workday, ADP, or BambooHR
- PHR or SHRM-CP certification recognized by the HR Certification Institute or SHRM
- Demonstrated knowledge of Maryland employment law and federal labor regulations
- Strong data analysis skills applied to workforce metrics, turnover, and headcount reporting
People Operations Specialist Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a people operations specialist in Maryland?
Most Maryland employers require a bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field as the baseline qualification. Maryland does not issue a state license for this role, but earning the PHR through the HR Certification Institute or the SHRM-CP through SHRM significantly improves hiring odds. Many candidates break in through HR coordinator or recruiting associate roles at Maryland's large federal contractors, hospital systems, or universities before moving into a people operations specialist title.
How much do people operations specialists make in Maryland?
People operations specialists in Maryland earn a median of about $83,910 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $54,410 for the lowest 10% to over $139,400 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire people operations specialists in Maryland?
Employers hiring people operations specialists in Maryland right now include Northrop Grumman, Sephora, and FutureCare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Maryland's concentration of federal contractors, major health systems, and biotech firms means people operations roles here often require familiarity with government compliance requirements alongside standard HR functions.
Which Maryland cities have the most people operations specialist jobs?
Baltimore, Rockville, and Columbia have the most people operations specialist openings in Maryland. Baltimore drives volume through its dense cluster of hospital systems, universities, and corporate headquarters, while Bethesda and Rockville reflect the high concentration of federal agencies, contractors, and life sciences companies anchored in Montgomery County.
Are there remote people operations specialist jobs in Maryland?
Yes, and more than most fields, since much of the work involves systems, documentation, and communication that translates well to remote settings. About 53% of people operations specialist openings tied to Maryland are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting employer flexibility across the region. Tasks most likely to remain remote include HRIS administration, benefits coordination, and policy development, while employee relations and onboarding often still require some in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a people operations specialist in Maryland with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an HR coordinator or HR assistant role at one of Maryland's large employers, particularly health systems like University of Maryland Medical System or federal contractors such as Leidos or SAIC, which regularly bring on early-career HR staff. Completing an internship through a Maryland university's business or HR program and earning a SHRM student membership credential gives candidates a concrete edge. Adjacent roles in payroll, recruiting coordination, or office administration are common lateral moves that employers in Maryland accept as equivalent starting experience.
Where can I find and apply to people operations specialist jobs in Maryland?
You can find and apply to people operations specialist jobs in Maryland on Migrate Mate, which lists current Maryland openings across industries and experience levels. Search the available roles, identify the ones that fit your background and location, and apply directly to the positions that match.
See All 63 People Operations Specialist Jobs in Maryland
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