Head of People Operations and Rewards

Role Overview

We are seeking a Head of People Operations and Rewards to architect and lead the operating system behind our People organization by connecting strategy, talent, programs, processes, data and technology so the function operates as one integrated system.

This is not a traditional People Operations or Shared Services role. It is an enterprise transformation leadership role with the mandate to rethink how work gets done across People: where work should sit, how it should flow, what should be automated, how decisions get made and where we invest capacity.

As the horizontal integrator across the People organization, this leader will connect People Business Partners, Talent, Operations, Programs, Systems, Insights and business leaders by breaking down traditional functional boundaries and turning a collection of People programs into a cohesive operating model.

The role will lead a multidisciplinary organization spanning People Operations, People Programs & PMO and Total Rewards, with a mandate to simplify work, strengthen accountability and use AI, automation and data to fundamentally improve how People operates. Ultimately, this leader will build the infrastructure that allows the People organization to move faster and create greater business impact without adding organizational complexity.

What You'll Own

Architect the People operating system. Design how the People organization works end to end by connecting strategy, processes, decision rights, governance, systems, data, technology, service delivery and employee experience. Eliminate fragmented ownership and create an operating model where work moves seamlessly across functions.

Redesign how work gets done. Continuously challenge where work sits, how it flows and whether it should exist at all. Simplify processes, remove unnecessary handoffs and layers, clarify accountability and leverage technology to scale capacity.

Increase organizational metabolism. Build the planning, prioritization and execution mechanisms that allow the People organization to move with greater speed. Connect business priorities, the People roadmap, capacity and dependencies so leaders can make deliberate decisions about what to accelerate, simplify, automate, defer or stop.

Build an AI-first People function. Move beyond layering AI onto existing processes to fundamentally redesigning work around AI and automation. Identify opportunities to eliminate transactional work, increase self-service, augment decision making and materially improve productivity and employee experience.

Transform People Operations. Build scalable global operations across the employee lifecycle. Create an operating backbone that delivers exceptional service while continuously reducing friction, manual intervention and complexity.

Modernize People Programs & Total Rewards. Ensure critical People programs, from compensation and benefits to enterprise-wide talent initiatives, are designed as integrated business systems with clear ownership, disciplined execution and measurable outcomes.

Build exceptional execution capability. Develop leaders and Drivers who can take ambiguous, cross functional business problems from strategy through implementation. Raise the bar for systems thinking, program leadership, AI fluency, data fluency, financial acumen and accountability.

What Success Looks Like

Within 6 months, the People Team operates as one connected system with clear decision rights, seamless handoffs and shared priorities. Leaders have visibility into capacity, investments and outcomes. Manual and transactional work has been materially reduced through AI, automation and self-service. Programs are simpler, faster and increasingly measurable.

The Ideal Leader

• Led a broad People Operations/People Transformation/Total Rewards organization in a complex, global technology company at meaningful scale.
• Combines the strategic range of a transformation leader with the operating depth to bring the change to life.
• Has deep systems thinking, strong business and financial acumen, and experience using AI, automation and modern People technology to redesign work.
• Strong portfolio/PMO discipline with a track record of managing competing priorities, capacity and cross-functional dependencies.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including the ability to evaluate investments based on ROI.
• Executive presence and the ability to operate credibly with senior business leaders while also going deep enough to drive execution.

Pay Range (Base Pay): $200,000 - $300,000

Other Types of Pay: Based on level and role the employee may be eligible for long term incentives in the form of equity and short term incentives of either bonus or commission. 

Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Retirement Benefits: 401(k) plan

Paid Time Off: Talkdesk offers an uncapped paid time off program for exempt employees and an accrual-based program for non-exempt employees; both are subject to manager approval and consistent with business needs.

Paid Holidays: Talkdesk offers 14 paid holidays each year. 

Paid Sick Leave: Exempt employees have uncapped paid time off and non-exempt sick leave follows accrual standards; both are subject to manager approval and consistent with business needs.

Method of Application: Apply online.

Application Window: The application window is expected to close at least 10 days from the posting date. The application was posted on 09/23/2026

Benefits and perks listed above may vary based on the nature of your employment with Talkdesk.

All questions or concerns about this posting should be directed to the Talent team at  [email protected].

Talkdesk is pioneering a new era of Customer Experience Automation (CXA), redefining how the world’s most admired brands interact with their customers through AI. Our global team of courageous innovators is customer-obsessed, building AI-first solutions that put empathy, trust, and transparency at the center of every interaction. We foster an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives drive our success and every voice belongs. Combining the stability of a global leader with the agility of a disruptor, Talkdeskers are empowered with the autonomy to drive meaningful impact, while giving back to the communities and environment around us.

Talkdesk has been recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) and in the G2 Overall Grid® Reports for AI Agents and Contact Center. With seven consecutive years on the Forbes Cloud 100 and multiple AI Breakthrough awards, there has never been a more exciting time to join us as we shape the future of customer experience automation!

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

Primarily office-environment work, extended periods of sitting or standing, computer-based work. Limited lifting, and equipment usage limited to computer-related equipment (keyboards, mouse, etc.)

The Talkdesk story hinges on empathy and acceptance. It is the shared goal among all Talkdeskers to empower a new kind of customer hero through our innovative software solution, and we firmly believe that the best path to success for our mission is inclusivity, diversity, and genuine acceptance. To that end, we will hire, promote, work along, cheer for, bond with, and warmly welcome into the Talkdesk family all persons without regard to ethnic and racial identity, indigenous heritage, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.