HR & Talent Operations Specialist

SubSea Craft; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work hours

Job summary

SubSea Craft in Virginia Beach, VA is seeking an experienced HR & Talent Operations Specialist to own the employee lifecycle—from candidate attraction through offboarding. This role leads recruiting, onboarding, payroll administration, benefits support, and employee data management in a fast-paced startup environment where autonomy and initiative are valued.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years of progressive HR experience, strong knowledge of employment law, and hands-on ability to build

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, business administration, or related field.
• 5-7 years progressive HR experience.
• Experience managing recruiting, onboarding, payroll coordination, and employee lifecycle administration.
• Strong understanding of employment law and HR best practices.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strong communication and attention to detail.
• Comfortable operating in a start-up or rapidly changing environment.
• Self-starter with ownership and hands-on mindset.
• Willingness to build processes and implement new systems.

Responsibilities

• Talent Acquisition & Recruiting: manage full-cycle recruitment for exempt and non-exempt positions.
• Onboarding & Employee Experience: coordinate onboarding and ensure documentation readiness.
• HR Operations & Payroll: process payroll data, maintain HRIS, and produce HR reports.
• Benefits Administration: support enrollment and liaise with vendors.
• Employee Relations & Compliance: advise on policies and ensure legal compliance.
• Offboarding & Workforce Administration: handle resignations and final payroll.
• Policy development and handbook updates; audits and compliance reporting.

Skills

Recruiting

Onboarding

Payroll coordination

Employee lifecycle

Project management

Communication

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR / Business Administration

Tools

HRIS

BambooHR

Payroll systems

Job description

Location: Virginia Beach, VA (Onsite) Department: Human Resources Reports To: Chief Financial Officer

About SubSea Craft

SubSea Craft is an innovative maritime technology company developing next-generation surface and subsurface marine vessels. We are building a high-performing team to support our continued growth and operational excellence in the United States.

SubSea Craft is seeking an experienced HR & Talent Operations Specialist to manage and optimize the employee lifecycle from candidate attraction through employee separation. This role is responsible for recruiting, onboarding, payroll administration, benefits support, employee records management, compliance, employee relations support, and offboarding activities.

The ideal candidate is organized, proactive, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced start-up environment where priorities can evolve and individuals are expected to take ownership and work with a high degree of autonomy. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable thinking strategically and executing hands-on, with the ability to build, improve, and implement HR processes rather than simply maintain established ones.

This position offers the opportunity to play a key role in shaping the HR function as SubSea Craft grows. The successful candidate will have a genuine opportunity to influence how we attract, onboard, develop, support, and retain our people.

We are looking for someone who thrives in an environment where not everything is already defined. At SubSea Craft, you will have the opportunity to build, improve, and influence how we operate.

Talent Acquisition & Recruiting

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for exempt and non-exempt positions.
• Partner with managers to develop job descriptions and hiring strategies.
• Source, screen, interview, and coordinate candidate selection processes.
• Manage applicant tracking activities and maintain recruiting metrics.
• Coordinate background checks, employment verification, and pre‑employment requirements.
• Prepare and extend offer letters.

Onboarding & Employee Experience

• Coordinate all new hire onboarding activities.
• Ensure completion of required employment documentation.
• Partner with managers to create successful onboarding plans.
• Coordinate IT, facilities, and other onboarding logistics.

HR Operations & Payroll

• Prepare and process payroll information accurately and in a timely manner.
• Maintain employee data within HRIS and payroll systems.
• Process employee status changes.
• Develop and maintain HR reports, metrics, and dashboards.
• Support annual audits and compliance reporting.

Benefits Administration

• Support employee benefit enrollment and changes.
• Coordinate with external vendors and brokers.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Serve as a resource for employee questions regarding policies and procedures.
• Support employee relations matters and investigations.
• Assist with policy development and handbook updates.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.

Offboarding & Workforce Administration

• Manage resignation and termination processes.
• Coordinate final payroll transactions and benefits notifications.
• Ensure timely removal of system access and company assets.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5-7 years of progressive HR experience.
• Experience managing recruiting, onboarding, payroll coordination, and employee lifecycle administration.
• Strong understanding of employment law and HR best practices.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working in a start-up or rapidly changing environment, with the flexibility to adapt priorities as the business evolves.
• Self‑starter with a strong sense of ownership and the ability to work independently, identify what needs to be done, and take action.
• Willingness to operate hands‑on and build processes, systems, and solutions where they do not yet exist.

Preferred

• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or equivalent certification.
• Experience in manufacturing, maritime, defense, engineering, technology, or government contracting environments.
• Experience with BambooHR or similar HR platforms.
• Previous experience working in rapidly growing early‑stage or start‑up environment.

Compensation

$95,000 - $105,000

Why Join SubSea Craft?

• Opportunity to build and improve HR processes within a growing organization.
• Direct exposure to leadership and strategic business initiatives.
• Broad responsibility across recruiting, operations, and employee experience.
• Work alongside innovative professionals developing advanced maritime technologies.