Entry Level People Operations Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT THE ROLE

The People Operations Manager is a pivotal member of the People Operations team, responsible for delivering an exceptional employee experience from day one and supporting the operational engine that keeps TaxRise running. This role owns core HR functions including employee relations, payroll compliance, benefits administration, HR technology, and new employee onboarding, while serving as a trusted partner to managers across the business.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this role directly supervises a People Operations Coordinator and a Benefits and Payroll Specialist, ensuring both individuals are set up for success and operating at a high level.

The ideal candidate brings a sharp eye for compliance, fluency in California wage and hour law, a genuine passion for people, and a curiosity for how technology and data can make HR better. TaxRise moves fast and this role moves with it.

We're all about that in-person vibe, so this role is 100% on-site! If you're excited to work side-by-side with our team (or are ready to make the move), then you're a perfect fit. If not, we kindly ask you to hold off on applying. Thanks for understanding and happy job hunting!

HOW YOU'LL BE REWARDED

At TaxRise, Inc., we believe in rewarding hard work and dedication! We offer our team members a competitive base salary, with opportunities for growth based on performance and experience.

Salary Range: $90,000 to $120,000 per year

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Employee Relations and Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted advisor and business partner to managers across departments, guiding them through sensitive employee situations, performance conversations, and complex team dynamics.
• Serve as the primary ER resource for the organization, conducting thorough, objective, and timely internal investigations involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and accommodation.
• Review termination requests in partnership with leadership, evaluating documentation, risk, and process consistency to ensure every separation is handled fairly and defensibly.
• Drive proactive performance management by coaching managers on documentation standards, corrective action processes, and early intervention strategies.
• Conduct semi-monthly reviews of sales team performance data to identify trends and surface opportunities for coaching or corrective action.
• Monitor attendance patterns across the organization, flag trends, and partner with managers to implement corrective measures before they escalate.

Payroll Compliance and Administration

• Audit payroll prepared by the Benefits and Payroll Specialist, reviewing for accuracy and compliance before each processing deadline.
• Serve as the backup payroll processor, comfortable stepping in to run the full semi-monthly payroll cycle in Paylocity when needed, including new hires, terminations, status changes, manual payments, deductions, commissions, and bonus payouts.
• Serve as the internal subject matter expert on California wage and hour law, including meal and rest break requirements, overtime classifications, final pay rules, and pay stub compliance.
• Ensure compliance with multi-state employment law for employees located outside California, staying current on applicable state-specific regulations.
• Partner with Accounting to ensure accurate GL coding and payroll journal entries.
• Identify compliance gaps and implement corrective measures proactively, before issues arise.

Benefits Administration

• Oversee benefits administration in partnership with the Benefits and Payroll Specialist, including enrollment, billing reconciliations, audits, and cost analysis.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with benefits brokers, serving as the internal point of contact for plan questions, employee claims escalations, and service issues.
• Partner with brokers and leadership on annual plan design, renewal strategy, and open enrollment planning and execution.
• Assist employees directly with benefits questions, claims navigation, and coverage concerns, ensuring they feel supported throughout the process.
• Ensure plan compliance and accurate vendor management across all carriers.

New Employee Experience and Onboarding

• Own the end-to-end new employee onboarding experience, partnering with Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, and IT to create a seamless and engaging first 30 days for every new hire.
• Ensure all onboarding logistics including system provisioning, equipment setup, access management, and compliance paperwork are completed accurately and on time.
• Continuously evaluate and improve the onboarding process to reflect company growth, role complexity, and employee feedback.
• Serve as the key liaison between People Operations and IT to ensure new hires are fully equipped and connected from day one.

HR Technology, Automation, and AI

• Own and manage TaxRise's HR technology stack, including Paylocity (HRIS), Greenhouse (ATS), and Bswift (benefits administration), leveraging available APIs to streamline data flow and reduce manual work.
• Identify, build, and implement workflow automations and integrations using tools such as Claude Code, Google Apps Script, Cursor, Zapier, Slack Bots, and Supabase to optimize HR operations.
• Bring real HR use cases to the table, whether that is automating onboarding tasks, building Slack-based HR request workflows, or connecting Paylocity and Greenhouse data to surface hiring and retention insights.
• Lead or contribute to HR system integrations, migrations, and implementations as the company scales, from scoping and configuration through testing and rollout.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for all HR systems and processes.

People Analytics and Reporting

• Leverage PowerBI and other reporting tools to analyze workforce data across departments including Sales, Client Success, and Case Management, and surface actionable insights for leadership.
• Track and report on key HR metrics including turnover, headcount, attendance, and performance trends to support data-driven decision making.
• Build and maintain regular reporting cadences for People Operations leadership and business stakeholders.

Team Leadership and Culture

• Directly supervise and develop a People Operations Coordinator and Benefits and Payroll Specialist, providing day-to-day direction, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Champion TaxRise's culture and values, embodying and reinforcing what it means to be a TaxRise team member in every employee interaction.
• Act as a change agent during periods of organizational growth or process transformation, helping teams adapt with confidence and clarity.
• Ensure all People Operations policies and practices reflect current employment law and company values.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO HAVE

• 6 to 8+ years of progressive HR experience, with direct hands-on exposure to payroll administration, employee relations, benefits, and HR operations
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to process full-cycle payroll and serve as a backup processor in a semi-monthly payroll environment
• Strong working knowledge of California wage and hour law including meal and rest break rules, final pay requirements, overtime, and pay stub compliance; multi-state HR experience a plus
• Experience conducting and documenting workplace investigations and managing sensitive employee relations matters with professionalism and sound judgment
• Benefits administration experience including broker relationships, open enrollment, plan design, claims escalation, and carrier management
• Experience supervising or mentoring direct reports in an HR function
• Proficiency with Paylocity or a comparable HRIS platform; experience with Greenhouse ATS and Bswift a plus
• Demonstrated experience building HR workflow automations or integrations using tools such as Google Apps Script, Zapier, Slack Bots, Supabase, Claude Code, or Cursor, with real HR use cases to speak to
• Comfort with data and reporting tools; PowerBI experience or the ability and eagerness to learn
• Strong collaborator with the ability to build relationships across functions including IT, Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, and Finance
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex HR topics clearly to managers and employees at all levels
• Highly adaptable and effective in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where priorities shift quickly
• Detail-oriented, organized, and committed to accuracy and confidentiality

NICE TO HAVE

• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification
• Experience with API integrations involving Paylocity or Greenhouse
• Background working in sales-driven or high-volume operational environments