Interim Director of People Ops

Interim Director, People Systems & Operations — HR Consultant (1099 / Contract)

Orange County, CA (Hybrid, with remote flexibility) · Temporary / Interim · 1099 Consulting Engagement

Bright Talent is seeking an experienced People Systems & Operations leader for an interim engagement with one of our clients — a growing organization looking to keep its HRIS and People Operations functions running smoothly during a temporary leave. We're also actively building our bench of HR consultants for future engagements, so even if the timing on this particular role isn't right, we'd welcome the chance to connect.

This is a leadership and oversight role rather than a hands-on systems position. You'll focus on strategy, governance, and direction — keeping systems, processes, and the employee lifecycle efficient, compliant, and aligned to business goals while guiding the systems team.

What you'll oversee

• Strategy, roadmap, and governance of HR systems, guiding an existing HRIS manager who owns hands-on configuration

• Core People Operations: onboarding, offboarding, employee data management, and lifecycle transactions

• Data integrity, system security, and compliance across HR platforms

• HR dashboards, reporting, and analytics that support data-driven decisions

• Process optimization and automation to reduce manual work and support scale

• Cross-functional partnership with IT, Finance, Legal, and Total Rewards

• Coaching and supporting the People Systems & Operations team

What we're looking for

• 12–15+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on HRIS and People Operations at a leadership level

• Proven ability to lead HR systems strategy and oversee technical staff — rather than perform configuration yourself

• Solid grounding in HR compliance, data governance, and employee lifecycle processes

• Familiarity with major HRIS platforms and HR reporting tools

• Business acumen that connects People Operations priorities to broader organizational goals

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field (advanced degree a plus)

• Prior consulting or interim/contract experience preferred, but not required

• Availability for a temporary, full-time-equivalent engagement

Engagement details

• 1099 independent contractor, temporary/interim assignment

• Competitive hourly rate (varies by client and project scope)

• Hybrid schedule; location and remote flexibility depend on the specific engagement

A note on future opportunities
Every qualified candidate who applies will be added to our consultant network and considered for future interim and project-based engagements across our client base — so this is worth applying to even if you're not immediately available.