Director of People Operations

Joining McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC means becoming part of a team that values your voice, your growth, and your impact on clients, colleagues, and the communities we serve. Since 1935, McNees has been a trusted, client-focused law firm delivering practical, results-driven legal solutions with integrity and a client-first philosophy. We are a full-service firm with more than 170 attorneys and 350 professionals, committed to excellence across a wide range of practice areas and industries.

At McNees, we are guided by our core values of authentic relationships, excellence, growth, and balance to foster collaboration and innovation. We support your success through mentorship, leadership development, and continuous learning opportunities. Our commitment to community runs deep, with a strong tradition of stewardship through pro bono work, charitable initiatives, and civic engagement. We also prioritize flexibility and well-being with a family-focused culture, reasonable revenue hour expectations, and technology that drives efficiency.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work with people who value integrity and collaboration, you’ll feel at home at McNees.

We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Director of People Operations to lead and evolve our people operations function. This role is responsible for ensuring our HR practices are compliant, efficient, and aligned with the needs of a growing, high-performing professional services organization.

You will oversee a multi-functional HR team and play a critical role in strengthening HR operations, driving consistency across processes, and managing complex employee relations matters. You will partner closely with firm leadership to enhance the employee experience across attorneys, timekeepers, and staff.

This role is pivotal in shaping how HR operates across the firm – bringing structure, consistency, and strong governance to people processes while ensuring leaders and employees receive high-quality support. You will have the opportunity to build scalable systems, strengthen employee relations practices, and directly impact the firm’s operational effectiveness and culture.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Lead HR Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and internal policies

Maintain and audit HR processes, documentation, and employment practices to reduce risk

Partner with leadership on compliance matters, investigations, and policy interpretation

Oversee areas such as employee records, wage & hour practices, leave administration, and lifecycle compliance

Own Employee Relations Strategy

Serve as a senior escalation point for complex employee relations issues

Advise leaders on performance management, corrective action, and workplace concerns

Lead or oversee investigations and ensure fair, consistent outcomes

Identify trends and implement proactive solutions to strengthen workforce management

Drive HR Operations & Process Excellence

Build scalable, consistent HR processes across the employee lifecycle

Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, improve data integrity, and enhance service delivery

Establish clear procedures for onboarding, job changes, payroll coordination, and recordkeeping

Leverage data, metrics, and reporting to support decision-making and continuous improvement

Lead and Develop the HR Team

Provide leadership across HR business partnership, employee relations, HRIS/payroll, compensation & benefits functions

Clarify roles, streamline workflows, and strengthen collaboration across the team

Coach and develop team members to enhance capability in compliance, operations, and client service

Provide oversight and strategic direction for Legal Assistant leadership to ensure alignment in staffing models, performance expectations, and operational support for attorneys and timekeepers

Oversee HR Systems, Time & Attendance, & Total Rewards

Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant time and attendance monitoring across the organization

Lead HRIS operations, including data integrity, reporting, and system optimization

Assume ownership of the firm’s newly implemented HRIS (Paylocity), ensuring a successful post-launch transition and long-term optimization of the system

Drive adoption, process alignment, and continuous improvement of the HRIS, including refining workflows, enhancing reporting capabilities, strengthening data governance, and maximizing system functionality

Collaborate with compensation and benefits resources to ensure smooth administration of compensation programs, benefits, and employee communications

Employee Engagement & Culture

Partner with firm leadership to assess engagement levels, identify trends, and develop targeted strategies to improve retention, satisfaction, and organizational effectiveness

Oversee employee engagement initiatives, including surveys, feedback mechanisms, and action planning, ensuring follow-through and measurable impact

Equip leaders with tools, guidance, and best practices to enhance team engagement, communication, and performance management

Partner with Leadership

Collaborate with the COO and firm leaders on workforce planning and organizational needs

Translate business priorities into effective HR operations and people practices

Provide data-driven insights to inform planning, engagement, and organizational design

What We’re Looking For

Required Experience

8+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on operations, compliance, and employee relations

3+ years of experience leading HR teams or multi-functional HR operations

Demonstrated success improving HR processes, workflows, and service delivery models

Core Capabilities

Deep knowledge of employment law and HR compliance

Strong employee relations and investigation experience

Experience overseeing HRIS, payroll, compensation, and benefits functions

Excellent judgment, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive issues

Strong communication, coaching, and problem-solving skills

Preferred

Experience in a professional services or legal environment

HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR)

Experience supporting attorneys, timekeepers, or similar professional populations

Strong background in HR systems, reporting, and process improvement

#LI-HYBRID

#LI-DNP About McNees

Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., McNees operates offices across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., giving our team a broad regional footprint and diverse opportunities for collaboration. We are ranked among the NLJ 500, Best Law Firms, and Best Lawyers, and nationally recognized for excellence in areas such as construction litigation and energy law.

Our attorneys deliver tailored strategies to businesses, individuals, and organizations across industries, including real estate, energy, healthcare, banking and finance, insurance, construction, and technology. We also have a strong presence in public sector law, advocating for clients in regulatory and legislative matters at all levels of government.

Our services span corporate law, real estate and construction, labor and employment, litigation, tax, intellectual property, energy and environmental, estate planning, and public sector law, complemented by affiliated businesses like Apollo Communications (strategic marketing and PR), Keystone Municipal Solutions (municipal consulting), and Pine Street Land Company (title and settlement services).

McNees offers an engaging work environment, robust opportunities for professional development, challenging and rewarding career paths, and competitive compensation. McNees is an Equal Opportunity Employer . Employment decisions are made without regard to any trait protected by law.