North America People Operations Leader

About the role

This role sits in the People Organization (HR) and is the point of contact for all areas of People Operations. The North America People Operations Leader is the strategic owner of people operations delivery across the region, leading teams, processes, and platforms that ensure consistent, efficient, and data-driven HR operations at scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage end‑to‑end HR operational processes, including hiring, job and data changes, benefits & rewards administration, employee relations ops support, and exits/retirements.
• Plan and manage team capacity, work allocation, and coverage across multiple processes and queues, ensuring support for peak periods, regional time zones, and urgent or sensitive matters.
• Support cyclical HR activities (e.g., performance and compensation cycles, benefits renewals and enrollment, engagement initiatives) from an operational execution and readiness perspective.
• Ensure that new or evolving HR services can be successfully transitioned into regional People Operations, including defining scope, processes, controls, knowledge content, and success measures.
• Design, implement, maintain, and assess performance of benchmarks, SLAs, and operating standards that define expectations for quality, timeliness, and colleague experience.
• Oversee HR operational knowledge bases and colleague‑facing content (e.g., HR portal, FAQs, standard communications) in partnership with the People Org, ensuring content is current, clear, and operationally feasible.
• Partner with HR Technology, Data & Analytics, and global Ops to standardize processes and leverage tools, digitization, and automation where possible.
• Coordinate with Internal Audit, Compliance, and other control functions as needed to prepare for and respond to audits and reviews.
• Oversee relationships with third‑party providers supporting regional People ops, working with Procurement and HR to assess performance, conduct regular service reviews, resolve critical issues, and assess opportunities for improvement or change.
• Lead or support transition and change activities when new work, new processes, or new tools are introduced into People Operations (including operational readiness planning, UAT, training, and cutover support).
• Oversee service recovery for escalated issues or service failures, ensuring root causes are addressed and takeaways are embedded into processes and controls.

Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in HR operations/Operations or a related shared services environment, preferably with regional or multi‑country scope.
• Demonstrated experience leading operational teams across multiple HR process areas and through periods of change or growth.
• Proven ability to design and manage SLAs, KPIs, and SOPs, and to use data and metrics to drive performance and decision‑making.
• Experience working with HR systems, case management, and workflow tools, and comfort with introducing and embedding new technologies and processes.
• Strong people leadership skills, including coaching, performance management, and building high‑performing teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across geographies, cultures, and functions.
• Strong process and continuous improvement mindset, with a track record of simplifying, standardizing, and automating processes.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required; PHR Certification or equivalent desired.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $140,000 – $155,000 annually. The actual salary will vary based on applicant’s education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary may also be adjusted based on applicant’s geographic location.

Benefits

• 401(k) savings plan with employer contributions.
• Employee stock purchase plan; consideration for long-term incentive awards at Aon’s discretion.
• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Various types of leaves of absence, paid time off, including 12 paid holidays throughout the calendar year, 15 days of paid vacation per year, paid sick leave as provided under state and local paid sick leave laws.
• Short-term disability and optional long-term disability.
• Health savings account; health care and dependent care reimbursement accounts.
• Employee and dependent life insurance and supplemental life and AD&D insurance.
• Optional personal insurance policies, adoption assistance, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and an employee assistance program that includes free counseling sessions.

Schedule

This is a hybrid position with the flexibility to work from home and in our Chicago office three days per week.