People Operations Manager at Wolfe's Neck Center

Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment; Freeport (ME); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 weeks paid vacation

13 paid holidays

Sick days + birthday day off

Health insurance contribution

Vision and dental insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave

Staff discounts on events and store

Job summary

Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment in Freeport, Maine is seeking a People Operations Manager to lead HR, onboarding, benefits, and compliance across Maine and other states. This is a hands-on role in a nonprofit farm setting.

Reporting to the Managing Director of Operations, you’ll own the full employee lifecycle, support IT and operations, and foster an inclusive, productive workplace at a 600-acre campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years HR Generalist or Manager-level experience.
• Nonprofit and multi-state experience preferred.
• Experience managing employee data in an HRIS.
• Knowledge of employment laws including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, OSHA.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively; strong problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary HR contact for employees and supervisors, applying policy and law.
• Design and lead onboarding and orientation, including benefits administration, I-9 verification, training, and handbook review.
• Manage full-cycle recruitment for seasonal and year-round positions, in compliance with laws.
• Manage workers' compensation, leaves of absence, and support benefits reviews.
• Partner with managers on workforce planning, retention, performance, and engagement.
• Support health, safety, and compliance initiatives including OSHA and Maine requirements.
• Manage employee relations, investigations, documentation, and resolution.
• Draft, update, and interpret the employee handbook and policies.

Skills

HR Generalist experience

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Time management

Organizational skills

Employee relations

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

Google Workspace

HRIS

Job description

Job Title: People Operations Manager
Department/Team: Operations
Location: Freeport, Maine (on-site with some flexibility to work from home)
Reports To: Managing Director of Operations
FLSA Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Supervisory Responsibility: May direct seasonal staff, interns, and volunteers as assigned.

About Wolfe's Neck Center

Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment is a nonprofit organization based on more than 600 acres of coastal farmland in Freeport, Maine. We work to create a world where agriculture and food systems support farmer viability, thriving ecosystems, and vibrant communities. Through regenerative farming demonstration and training, innovative research, and collaboration, Wolfe's Neck Center advances holistic change in food systems and helps mitigate the effects of a changing climate.

Position Overview

The People Operations Manager plays a key role in fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and productive workplace while providing professional HR, administrative, and operational support. Reporting to the Managing Director of Operations, this position is the organization's primary human resources practitioner: owning the full employee lifecycle. This role interprets and applies employment law and organizational policy, and serves as an approachable resource for employees and managers. Because Wolfe's Neck Center currently employs staff in Maine and multiple other states, the position is also responsible for multi-state employment compliance. This role also provides general administrative and technology support, including troubleshooting, user account management, software subscriptions, and coordination with Wolfe's Neck Center's external IT service provider.

Primary Responsibilities

Human Resources - 75%

• Serve as the primary HR point of contact for employees and supervisors, interpreting and applying Wolfe's Neck Center policy and applicable employment law to specific situations and resolving them independently, without day-to-day direction.
• Design and lead onboarding and orientation, including benefits administration, I-9 verification, required training, and handbook review.
• Manage full-cycle recruitment for seasonal and year-round positions in compliance with federal and Maine employment laws
• Manage workers' compensation claims, leaves of absence and support annual insurance reviews and benefit plan compliance.
• Partner with managers on workforce planning, retention, performance management, and employee engagement.
• Support health, safety, and compliance initiatives, including OSHA and Maine labor requirements.
• Manage employee relations matters, including investigation, documentation, and fair, consistent resolution.
• Draft, recommend, and implement updates to the employee handbook, HR policies, and standard operating procedures, and interpret those policies for supervisors and employees.

Administrative & Operations Support - 15%

• Provide general administrative support to ensure smooth day-to-day office operations, including updating staff directories, Google Workspace administration, signature routing, and facility maintenance requests.
• Provide additional administrative support as assigned.

IT, Hardware & Equipment - 10%

• Provide support for office technology by trouble shooting basic computer, printer, phone, internet, and meeting technology issues.
• Manage IT support requests, and coordinate with the organization's external IT service provider.
• Manage organization-wide software subscriptions, including licenses, renewals, user assignments, new-hire setup, departures, and software decommissioning/archiving.

Desired Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of HR Generalist or Manager-level experience; nonprofit and multi-state experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of employment laws and regulations, including the FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, and OSHA; Maine employment law, including Earned Paid Leave, Paid Family and Medical Leave, wage transparency, and electronic monitoring notice requirements; and the employment laws of Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Columbia.
• Experience managing employee data in an HRIS.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong relationship-management and problem-solving skills.
• High proficiency with computer systems and software applications, including Google Workspace.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Work Environment

Required Prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and computer work may be required. The following are essential functions of the position and may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Work is performed primarily in an office setting located on a 600-acre working farm, and requires regular movement between buildings over uneven outdoor terrain in all seasons and weather conditions.
• Occasional lifting and carrying of items weighing up to 25 pounds, such as office supplies, equipment, and event materials.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours during seasonal hiring, open enrollment, and organizational events.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time position eligible for a generous benefits package which includes:

• 3 weeks of paid vacation
• 13 paid holidays, 6 sick days + paid day off for employee's birthday
• Employer pays 90% of premiums towards employee's health insurance + $5,000 towards the deductible
• Vision and dental insurance
• 403(b) retirement savings plan
• Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave
• Discounts on Wolfe's Neck Center events, campground reservations and camp store products

The annual salary range for this position is $60,000 to $70,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility

Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment welcomes a diverse pool of candidates and is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or a related medical condition, familial status, genetic information or predisposition, status as a recipient of a protection from abuse order, veteran status, or physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also do not retaliate against employees who assert rights under the Maine Whistleblowers' Protection Act or the Workers' Compensation Act.

Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, contact our HR Department at [e-mail]. This job description summarizes the primary responsibilities of the role and may change as organizational needs evolve. It is not an employment contract and does not guarantee employment for any specific period; employment is at will, in accordance with applicable law.

Salary: $60000 - $70000 per year