YLabs, a globally recognized design and research organization dedicated to empowering young people through innovative technologies and youth-centered solutions, is currently recruiting a Deputy Director, People Operations. This exciting leadership opportunity offers experienced human resources and people operations professionals the chance to shape the future of a rapidly growing international nonprofit organization.
The role is fully remote, open to candidates worldwide, with a preference for professionals based in Africa. The successful candidate will play a critical role in developing and overseeing YLabs’ global people strategy, compensation systems, compliance infrastructure, talent acquisition frameworks, and organizational culture as the organization expands across Africa and Asia.
About YLabs
Founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs has become a leading global organization specializing in the design and implementation of technologies that amplify youth agency, opportunity, and wellbeing.
YLabs collaborates directly with young people to co-create innovative solutions that address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through its unique youth-centered design methodology, the organization ensures that young people actively shape the programs and technologies intended to improve their lives.
The organization operates globally with headquarters in Rwanda and the United States and has successfully implemented projects across 18 countries.
YLabs focuses on three major impact areas:
- Optimum Health and Wellness
- Improved Economic Opportunity
- Increased Climate Resilience
Their multidisciplinary team includes experts in:
- Human-centered design
- Adolescent health
- Climate resilience
- Livelihood development
- Behavioral science
- Digital product innovation
- Epidemiology
- Research and evaluation
Position Overview
The Deputy Director, People Operations will serve as a senior leader responsible for building and strengthening YLabs’ global human resources and operations systems during a critical period of organizational growth.
This is not merely an HR management role. The successful candidate will function as a department head and strategic advisor to the Senior Leadership Team, helping to ensure that YLabs remains equitable, compliant, efficient, and people-centered as it scales internationally.
The position involves designing systems that support a globally distributed workforce while promoting employee wellbeing, organizational effectiveness, and legal compliance across multiple countries.
Job Details
Position Title
Deputy Director, People Operations
Department
Operations & Finance
Employment Type
Full-Time
Work Arrangement
Remote
Contract Duration
Initial 12-month contract
Experience Level
Executive / Senior Leadership
Salary
$50,000–$61,818 USD annually (gross)
Compensation is based on experience and regional benchmarks and is paid in the local currency of the employee’s permanent work location.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
This position offers a rare chance to influence the strategic direction of a globally respected nonprofit organization while leading initiatives that impact employees across multiple continents.
Key highlights include:
- Fully remote work arrangement
- Competitive international salary
- Opportunity to lead global HR transformation
- Strategic leadership role
- Influence organizational growth and expansion
- Work with multicultural teams across continents
- Drive global pay equity initiatives
- Contribute to youth empowerment worldwide
- Comprehensive employee benefits package
Key Responsibilities
1. Global People Strategy
The selected candidate will:
- Develop and implement a global pay equity system
- Design salary bands using regional and national benchmarks
- Strengthen performance management systems
- Improve employee feedback processes
- Modernize organizational leveling frameworks
- Align people systems with organizational growth goals
2. Talent Acquisition Leadership
Responsibilities include:
- Creating international recruitment strategies
- Developing hiring policies for employees and contractors
- Forecasting talent needs across departments
- Building YLabs’ employer brand
- Attracting top global talent
- Supporting workforce planning initiatives
3. Global Policy Development
The Deputy Director will:
- Develop and implement organizational policies
- Review existing operational frameworks
- Address policy gaps affecting remote teams
- Ensure policies reflect organizational values
- Promote equity and inclusion through policy design
- Support sustainable organizational scaling
4. Legal and Global Compliance
The role requires:
- Designing global compliance strategies
- Advising leadership on country-specific employment models
- Managing compliance across multiple jurisdictions
- Supporting legal employment structures
- Ensuring adherence to labor regulations
- Overseeing compliance within YLabs’ U.S. and Rwanda entities
5. Team Leadership and Development
Responsibilities include:
- Supervising HR and Operations staff
- Coaching and mentoring team members
- Building organizational people-operations capacity
- Strengthening leadership capabilities
- Supporting employee growth and development
6. Human Resources Operations
The successful candidate will oversee:
- Payroll administration
- Employee benefits programs
- HR information systems (HRIS)
- Personnel management processes
- Organizational workflows
- Employee relations matters
7. Learning and Employee Experience
Additional responsibilities include:
- Designing learning and development strategies
- Establishing employee progression pathways
- Succession planning for key positions
- Supporting wellness initiatives
- Managing employee engagement programs
- Leading annual staff feedback initiatives
Ideal Candidate Profile
YLabs seeks an individual who combines strategic thinking with empathy and operational excellence.
The ideal candidate is:
- A systems builder who creates sustainable organizational structures
- A strong people leader who fosters trust and wellbeing
- Skilled at managing difficult conversations
- Culturally competent and inclusive
- Comfortable making high-level strategic decisions
- Data-driven in decision-making
- Passionate about equity and organizational effectiveness
- Committed to YLabs’ mission and values
Required Qualifications
Applicants should possess:
Professional Experience
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive HR, talent management, or people operations experience
- Significant leadership-level experience
- Experience in international nonprofit organizations (INGOs)
- Experience supporting organizations with substantial operations in Africa
- Experience leading global people operations initiatives
Technical Expertise
- Compensation design and salary framework development
- Multi-country employment compliance
- International workforce management
- HR systems administration
- Organizational policy development
- Talent acquisition and workforce planning
Leadership Skills
- Team supervision and development
- Cross-cultural management experience
- Strategic planning capabilities
- Organizational transformation expertise
Language Requirement
- Fluency in written and spoken English
Preferred Qualifications
Additional advantages include:
- Experience supporting organizational growth or transformation
- Knowledge of Project Fair pay equity frameworks
- Degree in:
- Human Resources
- Business Administration
- Law
- Related disciplines
- Professional HR certifications such as:
- CIPD
- SHRM
- CHRP
YLabs’ Commitment to Pay Equity
YLabs follows the principles established by Project Fair, promoting the concept of “equal pay for work of equal value” as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Salary structures are carefully designed to:
- Ensure fairness
- Promote transparency
- Reduce pay disparities
- Reflect local market conditions
- Support equitable employment practices globally
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
YLabs is deeply committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees from diverse backgrounds can thrive.
The organization strongly encourages applications from individuals of all:
- Cultural backgrounds
- Ethnicities
- Educational experiences
- Socioeconomic backgrounds
- Gender identities
- Sexual orientations
- Age groups
- Physical abilities
YLabs maintains a strict non-discrimination policy throughout its recruitment and employment practices.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit their applications through the YLabs online careers portal.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Deadline
No specific application deadline has been announced. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Final Thoughts
The Deputy Director, People Operations position at YLabs presents an exceptional opportunity for experienced HR and people operations leaders to influence the growth of a globally respected organization dedicated to youth empowerment. With competitive compensation, a fully remote work arrangement, and the chance to shape global people systems across multiple continents, this role is ideal for professionals seeking meaningful impact at the intersection of leadership, equity, compliance, and organizational development.
Learn More
- For more information about this opportunity, Click here
- More global Job opportunities for youth, visit the OFY website: Click here
