Manager, People Operations

The Opportunity

The Manager, People Operations leads the day-to-day delivery of core People Operations services within the U.S. and Canada, including employee lifecycle operations, employee data administration, and HR operational support. This is a hands-on manager role that will support and may directly manage the development of contractors and specialists of the People Operations team as we grow. This role is responsible for ensuring that work, including payroll inputs, employee records and documentation, and audits, is prioritized and executed accurately, consistently, and in accordance with established policies, processes, controls, and service expectations. This will be an important member of the growing global people operations team, sharing process improvements and best practices globally as we rapidly scale to support our first FDA approved drug and future advancement in our revolutionary science. The Manager translates People Operations priorities into effective operational plans, manages escalations, and identifies opportunities to improve service delivery, efficiency, and scalability. This role reports to and works in close partnership with the Associate Director, People Operations, Benefits & Compliance to align functional priorities and the ongoing evolution of the People Operations function. This position combines people leadership with hands-on operational expertise and partners closely across HR, Global People Operations, Finance, Payroll, IT, and other functions to deliver effective and scalable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day People Operations service delivery, both directly and through the team, across employee lifecycle processes, employee support channels, and escalations.
• Oversee consistent administration of established HR policies and resolve escalated policy-related questions and exceptions, partnering with appropriate stakeholders on complex or sensitive matters.
• Set clear priorities, expectations, and accountability for the team, while coaching and developing People Operations team members.
• Translate People Operations priorities into team workflows, operating processes, and execution plans; allocate resources and adjust priorities based on business needs.
• Own operational excellence across People Operations processes, including monitoring exception queues, investigating data and process root causes, maintaining effective controls; improve employee and manager self-service capabilities in partnership with the Associate Director, People Operations, Benefits & Compliance.
• Identify and implement execution improvements within defined global processes; bring broader process, automation, knowledge, and AI opportunities for consideration across People Operations and People Technology.
• Oversee accurate and timely employee transactions and data changes in Workday and other HR systems, maintaining appropriate controls and data quality.
• Oversee the delivery of People Operations inputs to Payroll, including cutoff management, employee changes, exception resolution, and reconciliation of material discrepancies.
• Support the establishment and stabilization of people operations execution for Canada in partnership with HRBPs, Total Rewards, Payroll, Finance, Legal and other subject-matter experts.
• Identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency, consistency, scalability, controls, and employee experience leveraging systems and AI tools.
• Establish and maintain SOPs, process documentation, and operational resources that support consistent team execution.
• Lead and contribute to People Operations projects and HR technology initiatives, coordinating stakeholders, dependencies, risks, and implementation activities.
• Partner across HR, Finance, Payroll, IT, and other functions to resolve operational issues, coordinate processes, and support cross-functional initiatives.
• Support applicable compliance, audit, controls, and regulatory activities within People Operations and escalate risks or issues to appropriate stakeholders.

Required Skills, Experience and Education

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 6+ years of progressive experience in People Operations, HR systems, or related HR operational roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading and prioritizing People Operations work across team members and cross-functional partners, including providing operational guidance and support.
• Broad knowledge of employee lifecycle and People Operations processes, with demonstrated ability to oversee accurate day-to-day operational delivery.
• Working knowledge of applicable U.S. federal and state HR compliance requirements.
• Hands-on experience with HR technology and HRIS-supported processes; Workday experience strongly preferred.
• Strong operational judgment and analytical problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage escalations and drive issues to resolution.
• Demonstrated project management and process improvement experience, including the ability to coordinate work across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills with the ability to build effective cross-functional partnerships.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy, confidentiality, and integrity.

Preferred Skills

• Experience supporting People Operations in a rapidly scaling organization and/or across multiple geographies.
• Demonstrated experience leading or managing employees or contractors, including setting team priorities, providing feedback, coaching, and supporting development.
• Experience with Canadian benefits and employee lifecycle operations.
• Experience with Workday, ADP Workforce Now, ServiceNow, or similar HR technologies.
• Experience using operational metrics, automation, or AI to improve processes, service delivery, and ways of working.