People Operations Specialist Jobs in Michigan
People Operations Specialist jobs in Michigan are steadily active, concentrated in automotive manufacturing, healthcare systems, and technology services, with openings at every level from coordinator through senior specialist. Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor account for the largest share of postings, anchored by employers such as General Motors, Trinity Health, and Ford Motor Company. Compensation strategy, HR information systems administration, and employee experience design are among the most in-demand specialties across Michigan's market. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 198+ People Operations Specialist jobs
Are you an experienced HR leader looking for a role where you can shape culture, lead labor relations, and support essential public services? If so, read on!
About Metro
Metro is the public transportation provider serving Kalamazoo County, with a history that stretches back to 1900. Over the past 50 years, we’ve evolved into a modern, accessible, and community‑focused transit system. Metro operates 21 fixed‑route bus lines across the Kalamazoo area, including the cities of Kalamazoo, Portage, and Parchment, as well as major institutions like Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Our fleet includes 46 fixed‑route buses. We also operate Metro Connect, a federally mandated, county‑wide ADA paratransit service that provides curb‑to‑curb transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
About the Opportunity
The Human Resources Director serves as the senior executive leader responsible for developing and leading the agency’s people-focused strategies, culture, labor relations, and workforce programs. This role ensures the transit authority attracts, develops, and retains a skilled, diverse, and engaged workforce to support safe and reliable public transportation. The Human Resources Director provides strategic leadership in labor relations, organizational development, employee experience, benefits, and workforce compliance.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, providing strategic guidance on organizational structure, workforce planning, and cultural development.
- Develop and implement long-term HR strategies to support the organizational mission, operational goals, and fiscal sustainability.
- Lead workforce modernization initiatives, including technology adoption, training, and organizational development.
- Oversee HR operations including talent acquisition, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, and compliance.
- Ensure HR policies and procedures reflect industry best practices and comply with federal, state, and local employment laws.
- Serve as a negotiator or executive leader in collective bargaining with represented employee groups.
- Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with union leadership while ensuring adherence to collective bargaining agreements.
- Manage grievance procedures, arbitration preparation, and contract administration.
- Foster an organizational culture of respect, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee leadership development, training programs, and succession planning to ensure a resilient workforce pipeline.
- Ensure compliance with FTA regulations related to workforce, drug and alcohol programs, safety-sensitive positions, and training requirements.
About You
- Demonstrated progressive HR leadership experience, including experience in a senior leadership role.
- Experience working in a unionized environment with responsibility for labor negotiations and grievance resolution.
- Strong knowledge of federal and local labor and employment laws.
- Demonstrated experience improving organizational culture and employee engagement.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint).
- Ability to act with a sense of urgency and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills and proven track record of success in working with cross-functional teams. 
- Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to explain complex ideas to different audiences.
- Proven ability to inspire, coach, and develop effective relationships with all members of a team.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
- Experience in public transportation, municipal government, or other regulated public-sector environments preferred.
Work Location: In person
Are you an experienced HR leader looking for a role where you can shape culture, lead labor relations, and support essential public services? If so, read on!
About Metro
Metro is the public transportation provider serving Kalamazoo County, with a history that stretches back to 1900. Over the past 50 years, we’ve evolved into a modern, accessible, and community‑focused transit system. Metro operates 21 fixed‑route bus lines across the Kalamazoo area, including the cities of Kalamazoo, Portage, and Parchment, as well as major institutions like Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Our fleet includes 46 fixed‑route buses. We also operate Metro Connect, a federally mandated, county‑wide ADA paratransit service that provides curb‑to‑curb transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
About the Opportunity
The Human Resources Director serves as the senior executive leader responsible for developing and leading the agency’s people-focused strategies, culture, labor relations, and workforce programs. This role ensures the transit authority attracts, develops, and retains a skilled, diverse, and engaged workforce to support safe and reliable public transportation. The Human Resources Director provides strategic leadership in labor relations, organizational development, employee experience, benefits, and workforce compliance.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, providing strategic guidance on organizational structure, workforce planning, and cultural development.
- Develop and implement long-term HR strategies to support the organizational mission, operational goals, and fiscal sustainability.
- Lead workforce modernization initiatives, including technology adoption, training, and organizational development.
- Oversee HR operations including talent acquisition, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, and compliance.
- Ensure HR policies and procedures reflect industry best practices and comply with federal, state, and local employment laws.
- Serve as a negotiator or executive leader in collective bargaining with represented employee groups.
- Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with union leadership while ensuring adherence to collective bargaining agreements.
- Manage grievance procedures, arbitration preparation, and contract administration.
- Foster an organizational culture of respect, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee leadership development, training programs, and succession planning to ensure a resilient workforce pipeline.
- Ensure compliance with FTA regulations related to workforce, drug and alcohol programs, safety-sensitive positions, and training requirements.
About You
- Demonstrated progressive HR leadership experience, including experience in a senior leadership role.
- Experience working in a unionized environment with responsibility for labor negotiations and grievance resolution.
- Strong knowledge of federal and local labor and employment laws.
- Demonstrated experience improving organizational culture and employee engagement.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint).
- Ability to act with a sense of urgency and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills and proven track record of success in working with cross-functional teams. 
- Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to explain complex ideas to different audiences.
- Proven ability to inspire, coach, and develop effective relationships with all members of a team.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
- Experience in public transportation, municipal government, or other regulated public-sector environments preferred.
Work Location: In person
See All 198+ People Operations Specialist Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsPeople Operations Specialist Jobs by City in Michigan
Where Michigan roles are concentrated, by current openings.
People Operations Specialist Job Market in Michigan
A snapshot from current Michigan openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Automotive
- Insurance
- Food & Beverage
- Electronics & Hardware
What Michigan Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in people operations specialist jobs across Michigan.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field
- Two or more years of experience in HR operations, people programs, or a generalist role
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms such as Workday, ADP, or BambooHR
- Working knowledge of Michigan employment law and federal labor regulations
- Experience managing benefits administration, onboarding workflows, or employee data integrity
- Strong written communication skills for policy documentation and employee-facing materials
People Operations Specialist Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a people operations specialist in Michigan?
Most Michigan employers expect a bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, organizational psychology, or a closely related field as the starting point. Michigan does not require a state-issued license to work in people operations, but earning a Professional in Human Resources credential through HRCI or a SHRM Certified Professional designation strengthens your application considerably. Michigan State University and the University of Michigan both offer HR-focused programs that are well regarded by in-state employers.
How much do people operations specialists make in Michigan?
People operations specialists in Michigan earn a median of about $69,520 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $46,580 for the lowest 10% to over $110,710 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire people operations specialists in Michigan?
Employers hiring people operations specialists in Michigan right now include Target, Flex-N-Gate, and Roskam Foods, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Michigan's large automotive, healthcare, and financial services sectors consistently generate the steadiest volume of people operations openings across the state.
Which Michigan cities have the most people operations specialist jobs?
Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Flint lead Michigan for people operations specialist openings. Detroit drives the largest share because of its concentration of corporate headquarters in automotive, finance, and logistics, while Grand Rapids draws demand from a growing healthcare and life sciences corridor anchored by large hospital systems, and Ann Arbor benefits from the University of Michigan's institutional footprint and a cluster of technology and research employers.
Are there remote people operations specialist jobs in Michigan?
Yes, and more than most fields, because much of the work involves digital workflows, HRIS platforms, and policy documentation that travel well outside an office. About 42% of people operations specialist openings tied to Michigan are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of the role. Tasks tied directly to onboarding in-person employees or managing physical locations tend to require at least some on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a people operations specialist in Michigan with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an HR coordinator or HR assistant role, which gives you direct exposure to the systems and processes people operations teams run. Large Michigan employers such as Henry Ford Health, Consumers Energy, and Stellantis regularly hire at the associate level and offer structured development programs for early-career HR professionals. Completing a SHRM student membership, contributing to a university HR club, or building hands-on experience through internships at Michigan-based manufacturers or hospital systems can close the experience gap quickly.
Where can I find and apply to people operations specialist jobs in Michigan?
You can find and apply to people operations specialist jobs in Michigan on Migrate Mate, which lists current Michigan openings across industries and experience levels. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 198+ People Operations Specialist Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs