Director Of People Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Director of People roles attract H-1B visa, O-1 visa, and EB-2 NIW sponsorship from mid-to-large employers scaling their HR functions. These are senior leadership positions, so sponsorship approval rates are strong when your degree and management track record align with USCIS specialty occupation standards. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The People Systems Director will lead the strategy, optimization, and ongoing management of the Workday Human Resources Information System (HRIS). This role is responsible for ensuring that the Workday platform supports HR processes, complies with regulatory requirements, and drives efficiency and accuracy in workforce data management. The director will collaborate with HR COE teams, IT, and business leaders to optimize system functionality and enhance user experience.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the strategy and roadmap for the Workday HRIS platform, ensuring alignment with overall HR and business objectives.
- Manage Workday system optimization, upgrades, configurations, and integrations with other enterprise applications.
- Oversee HR data governance, security, and system compliance with relevant regional and regulations.
- Partner closely with HR business partners, IT teams, and external vendors to deliver seamless HRIS support and innovations.
- Develop and enforce best practices, policies, and procedures related to HRIS operations and data integrity.
- Direct a team of HRIS analysts and Workday product owners, providing mentorship and ensuring high performance.
- Analyze complex HR processes and data requirements to configure Workday modules effectively, including core HR, talent management, compensation, benefits, absence, payroll, time and attendance, learning, and listening.
- Drive user training, adoption, and support initiatives across diverse global regions.
- Monitor system performance, identify improvement opportunities, and lead continuous improvement efforts.
- Manage budgets and vendor relationships related to Workday HRIS services.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Extensive experience leading Workday HRIS implementations and global operations, preferably as a director.
- In-depth knowledge of Workday HCM modules and experience with global HR systems integrations.
- Strong understanding of international HR processes, compliance requirements, and data privacy laws.
- Proven leadership skills with experience managing multicultural teams and multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent project management capabilities with a track record of delivering large-scale technology initiatives on time and within budget.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration across global teams.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Workday certification(s) and/or relevant HRIS certifications.
- Experience working in a multinational corporation with complex organizational structures.
- Familiarity with related areas such as payroll systems, benefits administration, and talent management software.
GPC conducts its business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. GPC's policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons.
INTRODUCTION
The People Systems Director will lead the strategy, optimization, and ongoing management of the Workday Human Resources Information System (HRIS). This role is responsible for ensuring that the Workday platform supports HR processes, complies with regulatory requirements, and drives efficiency and accuracy in workforce data management. The director will collaborate with HR COE teams, IT, and business leaders to optimize system functionality and enhance user experience.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the strategy and roadmap for the Workday HRIS platform, ensuring alignment with overall HR and business objectives.
- Manage Workday system optimization, upgrades, configurations, and integrations with other enterprise applications.
- Oversee HR data governance, security, and system compliance with relevant regional and regulations.
- Partner closely with HR business partners, IT teams, and external vendors to deliver seamless HRIS support and innovations.
- Develop and enforce best practices, policies, and procedures related to HRIS operations and data integrity.
- Direct a team of HRIS analysts and Workday product owners, providing mentorship and ensuring high performance.
- Analyze complex HR processes and data requirements to configure Workday modules effectively, including core HR, talent management, compensation, benefits, absence, payroll, time and attendance, learning, and listening.
- Drive user training, adoption, and support initiatives across diverse global regions.
- Monitor system performance, identify improvement opportunities, and lead continuous improvement efforts.
- Manage budgets and vendor relationships related to Workday HRIS services.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Extensive experience leading Workday HRIS implementations and global operations, preferably as a director.
- In-depth knowledge of Workday HCM modules and experience with global HR systems integrations.
- Strong understanding of international HR processes, compliance requirements, and data privacy laws.
- Proven leadership skills with experience managing multicultural teams and multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent project management capabilities with a track record of delivering large-scale technology initiatives on time and within budget.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration across global teams.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Workday certification(s) and/or relevant HRIS certifications.
- Experience working in a multinational corporation with complex organizational structures.
- Familiarity with related areas such as payroll systems, benefits administration, and talent management software.
GPC conducts its business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. GPC's policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons.
See all 5,456+ Director Of People Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Director Of People Jobs
Emphasize your degree-to-role alignment
USCIS requires a specific bachelor's degree for specialty occupation approval. A degree in Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, or Business Administration directly supports a Director of People petition. Unrelated degrees make approval harder and require additional evidence.
Document your executive scope clearly
Sponsoring employers need to show the role requires specialized knowledge, not just general management. Highlight workforce strategy, organizational design, and HR technology oversight in your job description to distinguish this from a general manager position.
Target companies with 500 or more employees
Larger organizations are far more likely to have established immigration programs and in-house or retained immigration counsel. They also have the HR infrastructure to manage LCA filings, PERM labor certifications, and multi-year sponsorship commitments without disruption.
Understand the PERM timeline if you want a green card
EB-2 or EB-3 sponsorship for a Director of People starts with PERM labor certification, which typically takes 18 to 36 months. Employers must demonstrate no qualified U.S. workers were available. Start this conversation early in your employment relationship.
Consider the O-1A if you have a strong track record
Directors of People with speaking engagements, published HR thought leadership, or industry awards may qualify for the O-1A extraordinary ability visa. This bypasses the H-1B lottery entirely and can be filed at any point in the year.
Negotiate sponsorship terms before signing an offer
Confirm whether the employer covers attorney fees, filing fees, and premium processing before accepting an offer. Some companies cover all costs; others split them. Getting this in writing protects you if leadership or HR priorities change after you join.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Director of People role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases, but the petition needs to show the role requires a specific bachelor's degree rather than any degree in any field. HR, Organizational Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, or Business Administration are the strongest degree matches. USCIS has historically scrutinized HR leadership roles more than technical positions, so a well-documented job description that emphasizes specialized knowledge is critical to approval.
Which visa types do employers typically use to sponsor a Director of People?
H-1B visa is the most common path for cap-subject sponsorship. Candidates already in H-1B status can transfer to a new employer quickly via portability. Senior candidates with extraordinary ability in people operations or HR leadership may qualify for the O-1A, which has no lottery and no annual cap. Green card sponsorship typically follows the EB-2 route through PERM labor certification.
How can I find Director of People jobs that offer visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for roles that sponsor work visas, which saves significant time compared to filtering general job boards manually. Director of People roles with sponsorship are most common at funded startups scaling quickly and at established enterprises with international hiring programs. Searching Migrate Mate by role title and visa type surfaces the most relevant opportunities.
Will my foreign HR credentials and experience count toward an H-1B petition?
Yes. USCIS accepts foreign degrees that are the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in a relevant field. A credential evaluation from a NACES-approved evaluator documents equivalency. Foreign work experience in HR leadership also strengthens the petition by demonstrating the specialized expertise the role requires, particularly when the experience aligns directly with the job duties being sponsored.
Can a Director of People self-petition for a green card without employer sponsorship?
Potentially, through the EB-2 National Interest Waiver. NIW requires demonstrating that your work has substantial national importance and that waiving the PERM job requirement serves U.S. interests. HR executives with documented impact on workforce development, organizational research, or labor policy have succeeded with NIW petitions, though approval is less predictable than employer-sponsored PERM-based petitions. An immigration attorney can assess your specific profile.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Director Of People jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.