People Operations Manager

People Operations Manager – AI Startup

Company: AI startup
Location: New York, NY (onsite Monday-Friday)
Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM with flexibility
Degree: Bachelor’s Degree required
Pay Range: $125,000 – $130,000 per year

Our client, a rapidly growing AI startup, seeks a People Operations Manager to build the foundation of their people function. The role involves creating scalable processes, supporting team growth, and shaping a positive employee experience. Ideal candidates thrive in ambiguity and enjoy wearing multiple hats, from recruiting support to culture-building to HR operations.

• Build and manage core people operations processes, including onboarding, offboarding, performance cycles, compliance, benefits administration, and employee record management.
• Partner with leadership to develop policies, guidelines, and frameworks that support a healthy, inclusive culture.
• Support full‑cycle recruiting efforts by coordinating interviews, managing candidate communication, and improving hiring workflows.
• Lead new hire onboarding experiences that set employees up for success and reflect company values.
• Serve as the first point of contact for employee questions related to benefits, HR policies, payroll coordination, and day‑to‑day people matters.
• Maintain HR systems (ATS, HRIS) and ensure data accuracy, reporting, and process optimization.
• Own employee engagement initiatives, including surveys, recognition programs, and team‑building events.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal employment laws and support the implementation of best‑practice people processes as we scale.
• Partner with Finance and Operations on workforce planning, headcount tracking, and compensation workflows.
• Help craft a values‑driven, high‑trust culture across a hybrid or remote team environment.

• 3–7+ years of experience in People Operations, HR, or a related function (startup or high‑growth experience strongly preferred).
• Strong understanding of HR best practices, compliance, and people operations workflows.
• Excellent communication skills and a people‑first mindset.
• Highly organized with the ability to build processes from scratch and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Comfortable using modern HR tools and systems (e.g., Gusto, Rippling, BambooHR, Lever, Greenhouse, or similar).
• Ability to work with discretion and handle sensitive information confidentially.
• A proactive, resourceful, and adaptable approach—thriving in an environment where things move quickly and change often.

Mid‑Senior level

Full-time

Human Resources

Health & Human Services;
Technology, Information & Media