People Operations Leader, U.S. and Canada

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Role Summary The People Operations Leader, U.S. and Canada is responsible for leading and evolving all core People Operations functions across both regions, supporting approximately 2,500 employees. This role ensures operational excellence, strong governance, data integrity, scalable service delivery strategy, and a seamless employee experience across the full employee lifecycle. The Leader partners closely with the Regional Chief People Officers, People Business Partners, Global People Operations Leadership, People Technology, People Analytics, Program Delivery, IT, and other Centers of Excellence to deliver regionally standardized, scalable, responsive and compliant processes. Balancing operational rigor with digital enablement and AI adoption, this role ensures People Operations serves as a strategic enabler of business performance while maintaining a human-centered service model. Core Responsibilities People Support & Service Delivery Lead the U.S. and Canada People Operations team to drive our service delivery model and people experience goals, especially for our Level 1 and Level 2 inquiries Responsible for case management strategy, processes, SLAs, and service standards including maintain standard operation procedures and alignment with global policies and practices Oversee daily inquiry management through ServiceNow ensuring consistent and timely resolution Ensure consistent, high-quality employee and manager support Monitor key performance indicators, service metrics, and employee feedback to drive continuous improvement. Employee Lifecycle Management Oversee end-to-end onboarding, employee changes and offboarding processes across U.S. and Canada Ensure process alignment across stakeholders including, but not limited to, People Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, IT, Payroll, and Global People Operations Maintain compliant, consistent documentation and workflows Continuously improve employee lifecycle touchpoints to enhance employee experience AI, Automation & Digital Enablement Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through AI and automation tools. Partner with Global People Technology to pilot and implement AI-driven solutions Drive adoption of digital tools to reduce manual workload and enhance employee experience. Train the team in new technologies and embed digital-first ways of working. Balance automation with human-centered service delivery. People Data & Reporting Partner with Global People Analytics to provide regular insights and ad hoc reporting needed for the team and for the region Ensure compliance with local regulations and data privacy requirements Leadership Responsibilities Lead, coach and develop the U.S. and Canada People Operations team Drive direction for service delivery, standardization, simplification, operational maturity and continuous improvement Provide direction, coaching, performance management and capability development Ensure operational alignment with global standards while addressing regional needs Partner closely with Centers of Excellence and People Business Partners to ensure seamless execution of projects or across the employee lifecycle People Systems, Workday & Data Governance Serve as regional lead for Workday and ServiceNow operational excellence Partner with Global People Technology and IT on system enhancements, testing, user experience improvements and optimization Ensure ... (truncated, view full listing at source)