JOB DETAILS

Head of People Operations

CompanyCircuit Clinical
LocationBuffalo
Work ModeOn Site
PostedAugust 10, 2026
About The Company
Circuit Clinical, one of the fastest-growing research networks in the USA, is dedicated to empowering patients to choose clinical research as a care option through improved access to clinical trials. Committed to transforming the experience of finding, choosing, and participating in clinical research for physicians and their patients, Circuit provides clinical research services through traditional, hybrid, and decentralized community-based site models and their MD Prescreen service that optimizes patient referrals. Learn more at circuitclinical.com
About the Role

Description

Circuit Clinical® is on a mission to transform the way people find, choose, and participate in clinical research. 


We are searching for a Head of People Operations to join our team! 


Circuit Clinical was ranked 20th nationally for Best Workplaces for Innovators by Fast Company® and was named an Inc. Magazine® Best Workplaces 2021. Topping a long list of innovation and startup awards over the last 5 years – including winning SCOPE’s Participant Engagement Award and winning at 43North - Circuit recently won Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas™ Award. 


Our award-winning culture is grounded on a belief in the values of transparency, inclusion, accountability, performance, talent seeking, & continuous learning.  We live these values every day and we’re looking for a leader who embodies them. Our focus is on building an incredible, hard charging Team and on providing them with the opportunity to do the best work of their careers. In short, we’re motivated to take on the hardest problems in the development of new medicines – this is Work That Matters. 


To accomplish our Mission, we know we must recruit the most dynamic, mission-driven, empathetic, and passionate leaders in our industry. That’s where you come in! 


What We Offer: 

If you’ve been looking for a chance to work with amazing, highly motivated team and to have direct impact in building a transformative clinical trials company every day – that is exactly what we’re offering. We provide competitive benefits and an environment focused on helping you grow personally and professionally.? 


Position Summary: 

As our?Head of People Operations,?you will be responsible for developing, implementing, managing, and executing all aspects of the employee life cycle and human resources functions. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution providing People Operations support across talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, compliance, organizational development, culture initiatives, leadership coaching, workforce planning, and employee engagement. 


As Circuit Clinical’s Head of People Operations, you will independently manage all people operations responsibilities while serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership.  


You’ll Be Responsible For: 

  • Lead all aspects of talent acquisition, onboarding, employee development, performance management, employee relations, compensation, benefits, payroll, compliance, and HR operations. 
  • Serve as a trusted advisor and coach to executive leadership, managers, and employees on all people-related matters. 
  • Develop and implement people strategies that support organizational goals, culture, employee engagement, and retention. 
  • Manage workplace investigations, conflict resolution, performance improvement, disciplinary actions, and employment separations. 
  • Administer compensation, benefits, leave programs, accommodations, and HR compliance initiatives. 
  • Process and administer complex biweekly payroll, including salary administration, bonuses, commissions, incentive compensation, stipends, benefit deductions, leave adjustments, and other compensation-related activities. 
  • Maintain responsibility for HR systems, policies, records management, reporting, audits, and vendor relationships. 
  • Operate as a department of one, providing both strategic leadership and hands-on execution for all People and Culture functions. 

Your Qualifications:? 

  • Minimum of 10 years of progressive HR leadership experience. 
  • Broad expertise across all HR disciplines. 
  • Demonstrated experience leading employee relations investigations and resolutions. 
  • Comprehensive knowledge of employment laws and HR compliance requirements. 
  • Strong leadership coaching and relationship-building skills. 
  • Exceptional communication and presentation abilities. 
  • Experience managing multiple priorities with minimal support. 

Who You Are:? 

We prize 4 traits above all others: 

Hungry:?we like people who are ambitious for themselves AND for our Mission and for each other – will all win together and that takes real drive 

Happy:?we seek pragmatic optimists – pessimism and ironic dispositions, especially in leadership can kill startups – we seek those who know the world can be improved by those who work hard and smart to change it 

Humble:?not the false “I’m not really anything” kind of modesty – we like swagger! But we prize people who are confident who know they are great, and so is everyone around them… and act accordingly 

Smart:?there are a LOT of smart people here… but smart is last for a reason. We want those kinds of smart people who can collaborate and respect the intelligence of others. 

Your organizational skills are top notch and have a good sense of project management and follow-through. ? You prioritize well but can continually shift priorities based on business needs.? 


The other fine print:? 

Location:?This is a hybrid role, proudly based in Buffalo, NY. 

Travel:?May require travel a couple days per quarter depending on projects to meet with the Team 

Exemption status:?Full time, exempt? 

Physical requirements: These requirements must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions: Regularly required to sit; use hands; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Specific vision abilities include close vision. 

Other duties: These duties are not a comprehensive list, and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. 

Key Skills
Talent acquisitionEmployee relationsPerformance managementCompensationBenefits administrationComplianceOrganizational developmentLeadership coachingWorkforce planningEmployee engagementPayroll administrationConflict resolutionHR operationsStrategic leadershipEmployment law
Categories
Human ResourcesManagement & LeadershipHealthcare
Benefits
Competitive benefits
Job Information
📋Core Responsibilities
The Head of People Operations will lead all aspects of the employee life cycle, including talent acquisition, performance management, and HR compliance. This role serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership while managing day-to-day HR operations and payroll.
📋Job Type
full time
💰Salary Range
$100,000 - $120,000
📊Experience Level
10+
💼Company Size
94
📊Visa Sponsorship
No
💼Language
English
🏢Working Hours
40 hours
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