Director, People Operations

Director, People Operations at Dropbox

Dropbox is a Virtual First company. For this role, we are hiring in Zones 2 and 3. Please refer to our Compensation section below to see what neighborhoods fall under each Zone.

Role Description

As Director, People Operations, you will lead a global team delivering scalable, high-impact services across the employee journey. Reporting to the VP, People Operations, Rewards, and Technology (PORT), you will own onboarding, contingent workforce, service delivery, global mobility and immigration, and HR compliance. As a member of the PORT Leadership Team, you will drive business outcomes through operational excellence and deliver a frictionless employee experience. This role requires a strategic, hands-on leader with strong execution and cross-functional influence.

Responsibilities

People Operations Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing global team
• Establish operating models, SLAs, and metrics to improve quality and efficiency
• Own contingent workforce strategy and management and make key decisions as it relates to the business (including vendors, compliance, cost)
• Oversee global onboarding operations to deliver a consistent, high-quality new hire experience
• Guide People Operations workstreams for company-wide initiatives (e.g., M&A)
• Drive strategic priorities in partnership with Finance, Audit, Legal, Procurement, People Technology, Talent Acquisition, Workforce Planning, HR Business Partners, and HR PMO
• Influence decisions and ensure execution; act as a trusted advisor on People Operations
• Lead complex change across People Operations by aligning stakeholders to strategy, and ensuring sustained adoption of new priorities, and ways of working

Global Mobility

• Oversee global mobility and immigration programs
• Serve as escalation point for complex immigration and relocation matters
• Collaborate with Legal to monitor regulations and ensure compliance and program effectiveness

Service Delivery & Innovation

• Own service delivery strategy and continue to modernize our support model in partnership with technology teams
• Simplify and standardize employee-facing processes and knowledge management
• Expand support through automation, self-service, and AI
• Leverage data to identify friction, measure performance, and improve outcomes
• Advance adoption of AI and emerging technologies to enhance the employee experience

Compliance & Governance

• Own the global HR Compliance program (policies, controls, risk, governance)
• Oversee HR risk initiatives (SOX, HRIS data integrity, background checks, work authorization)
• Partner with Legal, Privacy, Trust & Security, and Internal Audit to strengthen controls
• Ensure compliance reporting (e.g., EEO-1, OFCCP) and data accuracy via audits
• Track regulatory changes and adapt programs proactively

Requirements

• 10+ years in People Operations or HR Operations
• Experience leading global teams in complex environments
• Expertise in service delivery and platforms, compliance, contingent workforce, mobility, and immigration
• Track record leading large-scale, cross-functional initiatives
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills; clear communicator
• Data-driven with strong operational rigor
• Balances strategy and execution with strong ownership
• Experience leveraging AI and automation to improve operations
• Strong understanding of US employment law; working knowledge of international HR compliance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a global technology or SaaS company
• Experience transforming People Operations at scale across company stages
• Demonstrated focus on innovation and continuous improvement

Compensation

US Zone 1: This role is not available in Zone 1

US Zone 2: $210,800—$285,200 USD

US Zone 3: $187,300—$253,500 USD

The range(s) listed above is the expected annual salary/OTE (On-Target Earnings) for this role, subject to change. Please note, OTE are for sales roles only.

Salary/OTE is just one component of Dropbox’s total rewards package. All regular employees are also eligible for the corporate bonus program or a sales incentive (target included in OTE) as well as stock in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).

Dropbox takes a number of factors into account when determining individual starting pay, including job and level they are hired into, location/metropolitan area, skillset, and peer compensation. We target most new hire offers between the minimum up to the middle of the range.

Dropbox uses the zip code of an employee’s remote work location to determine which metropolitan pay range we use. Current US Zone locations are as follows:

• US Zone 1: San Francisco metro, New York City metro, or Seattle metro
• US Zone 2: California (outside SF metro), Colorado, Connecticut (outside NYC metro), Delaware, Illinois (Chicago metro), Indiana (Chicago metro), Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan (Chicago metro), New Hampshire, New Jersey (outside NYC metro), New York (outside NYC metro), Oregon, Pennsylvania (D.C. metro), Pennsylvania (outside NYC metro), Texas (Austin metro) Virginia (DC metro), Washington (outside Seattle metro), Washington DC metro, West Virginia (DC metro), Wisconsin (Chicago metro)
• US Zone 3: All other US locations

Company Description

Read more about our Benefits. Dropbox isn’t just a workplace—it’s a living lab for designing a more enlightened way of working. We’re a global community of bold visionaries and resourceful doers shaping the future of Dropbox and, in turn, the future of work. Our Virtual First model combines the autonomy of a distributed workplace with the power of human connection, creating space for meaningful work and lasting relationships. With a startup mindset and enterprise-level opportunities, we expect Dropbox employees to think critically, stay curious, and use modern tools, including AI, to improve how work gets done. Here, you can be who you are and grow into who you’re meant to be. You own your impact, helping make work more intuitive, joyful, and human for yourself and hundreds of millions of people worldwide. If you’re ready to push boundaries and challenge yourself, Dropbox is ready for you.

Team Description

The Dropbox People Team is designing a workplace where every Dropbox employee can thrive. We take a human-centered, HR as a Product approach—treating programs like well-designed products shaped by employee and candidate needs, informed by data, and backed by actionable insights. Our team continuously innovates to attract, develop, and retain world-class talent while building a culture of experimentation, craft, and community. From fostering connection in our Virtual First model to scaling HR systems and offering personalized learning tools and experiences, our work evolves to support the growth and needs of our people. We think big, act fast, and adapt with agility—grounded in outcomes, empathy, and clear communication.

Virtual First

Dropbox’s Virtual First way of working is designed to help people do their best work with flexibility, autonomy, and connection. Day to day, teams work remotely with nonlinear schedules and core collaboration hours that support deep focus and individual working styles. We prioritize asynchronous communication to improve clarity, respect deep work time, and reduce unnecessary meetings. While remote work is the primary experience for our employees, we also prioritize intentional, in-person connection. We bring teams together through regular team gatherings, on-demand workspaces, and Dropbox Neighborhood events in order to strengthen team cohesion, foster creativity, and enhance momentum. Virtual First is built to provide the same access to opportunity, growth, and impact for everyone, regardless of location.

This role requires travel to offsites and various other team gatherings (approximately 5-10% of the year or 2-3 days per quarter). We provide advance notice when possible and encourage candidates to discuss any accommodation needs during the interview process.

AI Fluency

AI fluency is a core part of how we work and grow. It’s not about being an expert—it’s about using these tools thoughtfully and effectively to improve your work and support others.

We Look For Four Key Behaviors In Candidates

• Ownership: You use AI responsibly by protecting data, applying sound judgment, and taking accountability for the quality and accuracy of your work.
• Experimentation: You explore new AI capabilities and apply them to improve workflows within approved tools and practices.
• Leverage: You use AI to enhance thinking, improve efficiency, and increase your impact and your team’s.
• Learning: You stay current on emerging AI tools and trends, continuously build your skills, and share what you learn with others.

Together, these behaviors help build a workforce where technology amplifies human judgment, creativity, and impact.

Dropbox supports responsible use of AI for preparation, but misrepresentation of skills or experience is not permitted. See our AI Principles.

Dropbox is an equal opportunity employer. We are a welcoming place for everyone, and we do our best to make sure all people feel supported and connected at work.

Key skills/competency

• People Operations Leadership
• Global Mobility and Immigration
• Service Delivery and Innovation
• HR Compliance and Governance
• Contingent Workforce Management
• HR Technology and AI
• Change Management
• Stakeholder Management
• US Employment Law
• International HR Compliance