People Operations Lead

Phoenix Blu; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

Hybrid work model

Flexible schedule

Job summary

CONFIDENTIAL in the DMV area seeks a People Operations Lead to manage day-to-day HR delivery for a portfolio of client organizations. You will coordinate payroll, benefits, HRIS, and compliance, while partnering with executives and external vendors to ensure seamless operations.

We value hands-on experience with payroll and benefits, multi-state HR, and the ability to handle competing priorities in a flexible, hybrid role with travel to client sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Approximately 5+ years of progressive HR or People Operations experience.
• Strong hands-on payroll, benefits, and HRIS experience.
• Multi-state HR exposure and knowledge of core employment requirements.
• Excellent organization, follow-through, judgment, and discretion.
• Strong written and verbal communication; comfortable with executives.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day People Operations delivery across client organizations.
• Coordinate payroll, benefits, retirement, legal, and partner interactions.
• Build and document repeatable People Ops processes.
• Identify issues early and propose practical solutions.
• Support acquisitions, transitions, and Day 1 readiness.

Skills

Payroll

Benefits administration

HRIS administration

Multi-state HR

Executive communication

Tools

HRIS systems

Job description

People Operations & Client Delivery Manager

COMPANY: CONFIDENTIAL

DMV Area | Hybrid/Flexible - 2 days in office (DC) | Full-Time |$65,000- $75,000 Base + Benefits

About the Firm

A growing DMV-based HR and business strategy firm works alongside organizations to build practical, scalable People Operations infrastructure and solve complex people challenges. The firm supports both strategy and execution—from payroll, benefits, and compliance to employee relations, organizational growth, and M&A transitions.

We are growing and looking for a People Operations Lead who loves making things work.

The role

You will own day-to-day People Operations delivery across a portfolio of client organizations. You may be helping one organization complete payroll in the morning, coordinating a benefits issue for another that afternoon, and preparing employees from a newly acquired organization to transition into new systems later that week.

This is not a narrowly defined corporate HR position. You will work directly with firm leadership, client executives, employees, and external partners—and you will have real ownership over the work entrusted to you. This is a full-time role with meaningful flexibility in when and where work is done. We do not manage by clock-watching, but flexibility does not mean low urgency: time-sensitive client needs require responsiveness during the business day.

What you’ll own

PEOPLE OPERATIONS

• Payroll administration and coordination
• Benefits administration and employee support
• HRIS administration
• 401(k) administration coordination
• Employee onboarding and offboarding
• Leave administration
• Employee records, I-9s, and lifecycle processes

COMPLIANCE & EMPLOYEE SUPPORT

• Multi-state compliance tracking
• Employment notices and documentation
• Workers’ compensation and unemployment administration
• Routine employee relations and manager support
• Policy administration, compliance calendars, and audits

CLIENT DELIVERY

• Serve as a trusted day-to-day People Operations contact
• Manage multiple organizations, deadlines, and priorities
• Coordinate with payroll, benefits, retirement, legal, and other partners
• Build and document repeatable processes
• Identify issues early and recommend solutions

GROWTH & M&A

• Support people-related diligence for acquisitions
• Assist employee transitions into payroll, benefits, and HR systems
• Support Day 1 readiness
• Support divestitures and spin-offs
• Help build scalable People Operations infrastructure for growing organizations

What we’re looking for

• Approximately 5+ years of progressive HR or People Operations experience
• Strong hands-on payroll, benefits, and HRIS experience
• Multi-state HR exposure and practical knowledge of core employment requirements
• Excellent organization, follow-through, judgment, and discretion
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Comfort interacting directly with executives, managers, and employees
• Ability to independently manage competing priorities
• DMV-based and able to periodically travel to client locations

Especially valuable

Experience in a PEO, HRO, ASO, payroll provider, HR consulting firm, or other multi-client environment. Experience supporting acquisitions, integrations, transitions, or rapidly growing organizations is also valuable.

The standard

We care deeply about the quality of our work. We are responsive, accountable, and detail-oriented. We close loops. We communicate early when something is at risk. We take ownership of outcomes rather than waiting to be reminded.

Our environment moves quickly, but we do not confuse speed with chaos. We prioritize well, communicate clearly, and execute.

IF THIS SOUNDS LIKE YOU

You see it. You’ve got it. You know what happens next.

You’ll probably love this role if…

• You like building order where it does not yet exist.
• You enjoy HR, but especially the systems, details, deadlines, and execution that make organizations work.
• You like autonomy and variety.
• You are comfortable owning something from beginning to end.
• You want to help build a growing firm rather than simply inherit someone else’s processes.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Reasonable Accommodations

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process. Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process may contact us to request assistance.