People Operations Manager Job Description Template (Free, 2026)

Job Title: People Operations Manager Department: People & Culture / Human Resources Location: [City, State] / Remote / Hybrid Reports To: VP of People / CHRO / COO Employment Type: Full-Time Team: [Individual contributor / Manages X People Ops Specialists] About [Company Name] [Company Name] is a [stage/size] company in [industry] with [X] employees. Our People Operations team is the backbone of our employee experience — from the moment someone accepts an offer through their last day. We currently use [HRIS: BambooHR / Rippling / Workday / Treegarden — specify] and are looking for a systems-minded People Ops Manager to own and scale our HR infrastructure. About the Role We're looking for a People Operations Manager to own the systems, processes, and compliance frameworks that power how we hire, onboard, develop, and offboard employees. You'll be the go-to expert for our HRIS, benefits administration, HR data integrity, and operational HR processes. This role combines technical HRIS expertise with strong process improvement instincts and a deep commitment to employee experience. Key Responsibilities • Own the configuration, administration, and optimization of our HRIS ([specify platform]): employee records, org structure, workflow automation, and integrations with payroll and ATS • Manage the full employee lifecycle operationally: offer letters, onboarding tasks, job changes, leave management, and offboarding • Administer employee benefits programs: coordinate open enrollment, manage carrier relationships, respond to employee benefits questions, and maintain compliance with ERISA, ACA, and COBRA • Coordinate payroll processing in partnership with Finance: timesheet review, payroll changes, and off-cycle payrolls [or own payroll directly — specify] • Build and maintain HR process documentation, employee handbook, and policy library • Generate HR reports and dashboards: headcount, attrition, time-to-hire, compensation distribution, benefits utilization • Ensure compliance with federal and state employment law: I-9 management, leave law administration, pay transparency, and EEO reporting • Manage relationships with HR vendors: benefits brokers, background check providers, EAP, and other HR service providers • Identify and lead process improvement projects: automate manual workflows, reduce HR ticket volume, and improve employee self-service • Support the People team on special projects: HR system migrations, policy updates, and company-wide program rollouts Required Qualifications • 5+ years of HR operations, People Ops, or HRIS administration experience • Deep proficiency with at least one enterprise HRIS (Workday, BambooHR, Rippling, Personio, or equivalent) • Experience administering benefits programs through a full open enrollment cycle • Working knowledge of US employment law: FMLA, COBRA, ACA, I-9, EEO reporting • Strong data skills: Excel, HRIS reporting, and ability to build accurate HR dashboards • Process-improvement mindset: experience mapping, redesigning, and automating HR workflows • Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field Nice to Have • SHRM-CP or PHR certification • Experience with HR system implementations or migrations • Multi-state or international employment compliance experience • Payroll processing experience (ADP, Gusto, Paychex, or equivalent) What We Offer • Salary: $85,000 – $145,000/year (see benchmarks below) • Health, dental, and vision insurance • Flexible PTO + [X] paid holidays • Professional development and certification support • HRIS admin training and certification budget • Hybrid/remote flexibility • [Equity / 401(k) match — specify] Salary Range: $85,000 – $145,000/year (US, 2026 benchmark) [Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.