Head Of People Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Head of People roles in the U.S. typically qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree in HR, organizational psychology, or a related field. Employers across tech, healthcare, and finance regularly sponsor this title, though competition for visas remains high. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout 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 Head Of People Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Head Of People roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Head Of People Jobs
Frame your degree as field-specific
USCIS requires a direct connection between your degree and the role. A degree in human resources, organizational behavior, or industrial-organizational psychology strengthens your H-1B specialty occupation argument far more than a generic business degree.
Target companies with HR leadership hiring history
Companies that have sponsored previous People Operations or CHRO-level roles are more likely to sponsor again. Look for employers with established HR functions and international hiring programs rather than early-stage startups with no sponsorship track record.
Highlight workforce scale and business impact
Sponsoring attorneys build the strongest petitions when the role demonstrates strategic necessity. Quantify the workforce you've managed, programs you've built, and business outcomes you've driven. Revenue impact and headcount growth are especially persuasive to USCIS reviewers.
Understand the H-1B lottery timing before you apply
H-1B registrations open in March for an October 1 start date. If you miss the lottery or aren't selected, explore O-1A as an alternative if you have notable HR achievements, publications, or industry recognition that demonstrate extraordinary ability.
Ask about cap-exempt employers early
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and certain government-affiliated organizations are exempt from the H-1B cap. If you're open to in-house HR leadership roles at these organizations, you can file year-round and skip the lottery entirely.
Prepare for prevailing wage scrutiny at the senior level
Head of People roles typically fall at wage level III or IV under Department of Labor prevailing wage determinations. Confirm your offer aligns with the certified LCA wage before your petition is filed to avoid delays or denials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Head of People role qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, Head of People roles generally qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when they require a bachelor's degree or higher in human resources, organizational psychology, or a closely related field. The key is demonstrating that the theoretical and practical application of specialized HR knowledge is a normal requirement for the role, not that any general degree will do.
What visa types are commonly sponsored for Head of People positions?
H-1B is the most common path. L-1A is available if you're transferring within a multinational company at the managerial or executive level, which most Head of People roles satisfy. O-1A is an option if you have demonstrable recognition in the HR field, such as published research, awards, or a prominent advisory role. Australian citizens should also consider the E-3 visa, which offers the same work authorization as H-1B without the lottery.
Do employers actually sponsor Head of People roles, or is it mostly technical jobs?
Sponsorship is more common in technical roles, but Head of People positions at mid-size and enterprise companies are sponsored regularly, particularly in tech, healthcare, and financial services. Companies that already have international workforces tend to be more comfortable with the sponsorship process for HR leadership. Use Migrate Mate to find employers actively sponsoring this specific title rather than applying broadly.
Will USCIS scrutinize a Head of People petition more than other roles?
HR and people operations roles do receive additional scrutiny because USCIS has historically questioned whether management roles require specialized degree knowledge. The strongest petitions tie the academic discipline directly to the job duties, citing specific HR frameworks, labor law requirements, or organizational design methodologies that a general manager without an HR degree couldn't apply. Attorney quality matters significantly here.
Does my degree field matter if I have extensive HR leadership experience?
For H-1B purposes, USCIS evaluates whether the role normally requires a degree in a specific field, not just any degree. Extensive experience helps, but if your degree is in an unrelated field like engineering or literature, you may need a credential evaluation or to demonstrate equivalent specialized education. A degree in human resources, business administration with an HR concentration, or industrial-organizational psychology is the cleanest path to approval.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Head 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.