Head of People Operations

About Willmeng Construction

Established in 1977 and based in Arizona, Willmeng Construction is a commercial general contracting company recognized for project excellence and strong company culture. The firm has received numerous accolades such as Contractor of the Year by AZRE Magazine, #1 General Contractor by Ranking Arizona, Best Workplace by Inc. Magazine, and others. Willmeng focuses on supporting prelease transactions, competitive bidding on projects of various sizes, and cultivating an "altruistic service" culture by attracting highly skilled and character-driven individuals.

Role Overview

The Head of People Operations is responsible for overseeing compliance and governance as well as the People Operations Business Partner functions. Reporting directly to the Chief People & Business Officer, this role is charged with building the necessary infrastructure, teams, and processes to support Willmeng’s expanding workforce across multiple states, including the complexities of federal contracting compliance. A candidate must have direct construction industry experience and prior leadership of HR functions at a comparable or larger construction firm with multi-state operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a People Operations team covering compliance/governance and People Operations Business Partner roles.
• Collaborate with leadership to establish and implement strategy and priorities within People Operations.
• Develop scalable infrastructure supporting company growth across current and new geographic regions.
• Ensure multi-state employment law compliance is maintained and governance practices meet construction employer standards, including federal contracting regulations.
• Manage compliance related to federal contracts such as OFCCP obligations, affirmative action planning, and prevailing wage rules, working with legal and subject experts as needed.
• Supervise the People Operations Business Partner team to provide consistent and expert support in workforce management, employee relations, performance, and organizational design to leadership.
• Act as an escalation resource for employee relations and change initiatives.
• Offer strategic advice to executive leadership on workforce strategy, organizational structuring, and people risk management.
• Participate in company-wide planning for growth, market expansion, and federal contracting readiness.
• Present performance metrics and risk assessments related to People Operations at the executive level.
• The position is primarily office-based in Phoenix, AZ, requiring approximately 25% travel to satellite offices and job sites.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in Human Resources, specifically leading People Operations within the construction industry at similarly sized or larger firms.
• Hands-on experience operating across multiple states with varying employment laws.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Design, or a related discipline.
• Proven skills building and leading teams across compliance and People Operations Business Partner functions.
• Strong executive presence with experience advising senior leadership on people strategies and risk management.
• Expertise in strategic HR leadership, organizational design, and multi-state federal compliance.
• Solid capabilities in team leadership, executive communication, influence, and data-driven decision making.

Company Values

• Altruistic: Genuine concern for the success and wellbeing of others.
• Fair 360: Emphasizing kindness, understanding, and sincere care to achieve genuine success.
• Strategic: Guided by clear vision, careful thought, and integrity.
• Sincere: Authenticity, trust, and loyalty in mentoring, client service, and community engagement.
• Nimble: Adaptability and resourcefulness ensuring strong market presence and service excellence.

Compensation and Benefits

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan providing 100% employee ownership.
• Discretionary annual bonus opportunities.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance fully covered for employees; dependent coverage available at partial cost.
• Flexible Time Off policy and nine paid company holidays.
• Parental bonding leave of three consecutive weeks plus additional disability leave for delivery recovery.
• Access to spacious break rooms offering complimentary healthy meals and snacks.
• Engagement in team-building and volunteering activities fostering a strong company culture.

Work Environment

The role is based in the Phoenix office with required travel of about 25% to various company offices and job sites. The company prides itself on a collaborative culture that values diverse personalities and contributions, providing a familial atmosphere and a purposeful work environment.