People Operations Manager

People Operations Manager

Join a mission‑driven team supporting and empowering future college graduates!

Company: Steppingstone – preparing students from under‑resourced communities to access, navigate, and graduate from college. Through the Scholars Program in Boston and the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA) we provide academic, social‑emotional, and college readiness programming from fifth grade through graduation.

The People Operations Manager will manage full life‑cycle HR functions: benefits administration, compliance, employee onboarding/offboarding, recruitment, and internal communications. The ideal candidate is detail‑oriented, collaborative, and has strong problem‑solving skills.

Start Date: February 2026.
Salary: $70,000.
Employment Type: Full‑time (Hybrid – 3 days in office, flexible hours).

• Candidate Recruitment and Hiring
  • Lead recruitment and hiring for permanent staff, ensuring equitable processes and timely fulfillment of positions.
  • Coordinate with stakeholders, enforce deadlines, and maintain high quality standards.
  • Handle administrative tasks: search opening, applicant tracking, candidate communication, search closing, collecting feedback, and extending offers.
• Onboarding and Offboarding
  • Lead onboarding, ensuring accurate documentation, regulatory compliance, and employee integration.
  • Gather feedback to recommend process improvements.
  • Lead offboarding: collect information, calculate final pay, terminate benefits, manage exit interviews, recover company property, and coordinate with all relevant teams.
• Compensation and Benefits
  • Maintain payroll‑related employee data in Paylocity.
  • Monitor paid time off and respond to inquiries.
  • Administer health and retirement benefits, field questions, and support exit of benefits.
  • Coordinate Open Enrollment and other benefit programs.
  • Support leave administration and annual benefits survey.
• Internal Communications and Knowledge Management
  • Manage People Ops inbox and provide timely responses.
  • Communicate organizational news and staff changes.
  • Promote knowledge sharing and maintain HR content on Stepping Zone.
• Staff Engagement, Development, and Retention
  • Support employee engagement programs and professional development initiatives.
  • Participate in committees and lead all‑staff meetings.
• General HR Administration and Systems
  • Collaborate with leadership to implement HR processes.
  • Maintain accurate employee files and update status in HR systems.
  • Support inclusion and belonging activities.
  • Report compliance concerns and manage employment verifications.
  • Document internal processes.

• Demonstrated commitment to educational access and success.
• Experience working with diverse individuals, stakeholders, and backgrounds.
• Strong written, verbal, and listening communication skills.
• Self‑management, resilience, and flexibility.
• Ability to translate ideas into actionable results.
• Strategic problem‑solving and decision‑making ability.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• 3+ years of progressively responsible People Operations experience.
• Experience in benefits, compliance, onboarding, recruitment, and HR systems.
• Knowledge of employment law and EEOC compliance.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and HR technology.

• Professional certifications such as SHRM‑CP, SPHR, or PHR.
• 5+ years of People Operations experience.
• Experience with Paylocity and/or Culture Amp.
• Background in non‑profit or education.

Lifting up to 20 pounds; standing, walking, sitting, reaching, operating computer and office equipment. Reasonable accommodations for qualified disabilities are available under ADA.

• 8+ weeks of paid time off (15 PTO, 2 discretionary, 5 wellness, 12.5 holidays).
• 2 weeks paid office closure each year.
• $500 home office setup stipend and $50 quarterly.
• Health, dental, vision, life, short‑term and long‑term disability, HRA, pet insurance.
• Flexible schedule, retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, pre‑tax transportation plan, EAP, membership to NPEA.

• Mission First – Keep Scholars front and center.
• Lead with Inclusion – Elevate every voice.
• Stronger Together – Team up and trust each other.
• Own It – Act with integrity, accountability, and transparency.
• Learn, Grow, Innovate – Embrace change and drive creativity.

A candidate will be automatically disqualified for threatening language or behavior during any interview stage.

Steppingstone is an equal‑opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any individual, employee, or applicant in accordance with law.