About the Job

• Full-time
• NYC metro area
• Hybrid, 2x/week

About Catamaran

Formerly the PR practice at Confidant, Catamaran launched as a stand-alone earned-first agency in January 2026. Based in NYC, clients include Amazon, Shake Shack, Chobani, La Colombe, Aura, BARK/BarkBox, Patreon, Nature’s Garden, Michaels, Edible Arrangements, and others.

As the agency continues to grow, Catamaran is looking for a Senior Director of Operations + People to help scale its people practices and operational infrastructure while preserving the culture that makes the agency a great place to work.

Catamaran is an independent agency in the Nostos Network and has been recognized with industry awards and shortlists for its work and workplace by PRWeek, PRovoke, PR News, PR Net, and Inc. Learn more at catamarancomms.com.

The Opportunity
A newly created position, the Senior Director of Operations + People will oversee all human resources functions and day-to-day business operations at Catamaran. This person will serve as a strategic partner to agency leadership, ensuring the organization runs efficiently while building a strong, supportive employee experience. The ideal candidate has 8-10 years of experience in a PR or advertising agency environment, with operational or business-management responsibilities and a firsthand understanding of agency workflows, staffing models, and client-service demands.

What You’ll Do:

HR & Internal Communications

• Lead full-cycle talent acquisition, including job postings, interviewing, and negotiation for agency roles, while cultivating talent through industry networking events and proactive pipelines.
• Manage internal communications and draft contracts for independent contractors.
• Oversee onboarding and offboarding, including orientation, paperwork, and exit interviews.
• Manage employee relations, conflict resolution, and performance management, including monthly check-ins, annual reviews, and performance improvement plans.
• Administer compensation and benefits programs, including annual reviews, open enrollment, PTO, parental leave, and payroll coordination.
• Develop and maintain HR policies and the employee handbook, ensuring compliance with New York, NYC, California, and federal employment law.
• Champion agency culture and employee engagement initiatives, including monthly Lunch+Learns and After Hours programming.
• Oversee the agency’s scholarship and internship program, professional development, training, mentorship, and HRIS system (Justworks), maintaining accurate employee records.
• Lead planning for company offsites and special events, including Take Your Children to Work Day.

Operations

• Oversee day-to-day agency operations, including office management, facilities, building management relationships, industry memberships, website updates, and vendor relationships, while building scalable processes for growth.
• Manage agency systems and tools, including project management, time tracking, expenses, HRIS, media databases, and vendor and platform contracts.
• Manage IT needs, including computer hardware setup, employee onboarding, and team access to agency tools.
• Partner with account leads on staffing and resource allocation across teams.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase organizational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with insurance, licensing, lease, and other administrative and legal requirements.
• Support new business and client onboarding logistics as needed.
• Contribute to agency strategy and growth planning as a key member of the leadership team.
• Lead industry awards submissions and industry surveys.

What You Bring:

• 8-10 years of professional experience, including meaningful experience in operations at a PR or advertising agency with combined HR and operational responsibilities. This experience is required.
• Based in or willing to work from the New York metro area.
• A strategic yet execution-oriented approach, with the ability to move between organizational planning, recruiting, employee relations, performance management, and day-to-day people operations.
• Experience with staffing plans, utilization rates, or account team structuring is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated experience managing agency operations, budgets, and vendor relationships.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and handle confidential matters across all levels of an organization.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms and standard office and project-management software.
• A bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification is a plus, but not required.
• Comfort using AI-driven tools and platforms, with curiosity to continuously test and adopt new technologies.
• A collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset and an interest in identifying effective initiatives from across the communications industry that could benefit Catamaran.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills; a proactive, adaptable, and highly organized approach to working independently and as part of a team.
• Direct experience managing compliance in NYC and New York State; California experience is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary: $135k-$155k, commensurate with experience, plus performance bonus.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid parental leave.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Generous PTO, paid holidays, and volunteer time off.
• Professional growth and development programs.
• Charitable giving benefit.
• Flexible hybrid schedule, with two days per week in the NYC office for NY metro area-based employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Catamaran, delivering our best work begins with being accepting of each other. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

If you are interested in this position, please click HERE or apply below.