Paula Johansen

About Paula Johansen

I am a People Operations and Human Resources leader with experience across corporate, nonprofit, and higher education environments. My work centers on building strong, compliant organizations while also creating workplaces where employees feel supported, respected, and connected.I specialize in multi state employment law, compliance, benefits, payroll coordination, employee relations, and HR systems. Throughout my career, I have built and strengthened HR functions, guided organizations through complex compliance and operational challenges, and created clear, sustainable people practices that support both the business and its employees.While I am deeply experienced in the operational and compliance side of HR, the people aspect of this work is what drives me most. I value building genuine relationships with staff, fostering trust, and helping create environments where employees feel a sense of belonging and fairness. I believe strong HR leadership balances protecting the organization with supporting the individuals who make it successful.My approach is both strategic and hands on. I partner closely with leadership on sensitive employee matters and organizational decisions while also ensuring the behind the scenes infrastructure is solid, compliant, and scalable. I am known for being steady, approachable, and solutions focused, with a strong commitment to ethical and practical people practices.I am especially drawn to organizations that value thoughtful leadership, strong operational foundations, and a workplace culture where people can do their best work and feel valued.

Experience

1. People Operations Manager

   Pineapple Products

   Dec 2023 — Present · US

   I\'m the sole People Operations leader for a remote, multi-state company, building HR, benefits, payroll, and compliance infrastructure from the ground up to support growth and a positive employee experience.

Education

• Liberty University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Psychology