Associate Manager, People Programs

STUDS•New York, NY

5h•$90,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Studs is a category-defining ear piercing and earring brand named one of “the 10 most innovative companies in retail for 2023” by Fast Company. Studs connects ear piercing with aftercare and earring shopping to create an end-to-end Earscaping® experience. We offer a better retail and digital experience that prioritizes safety and expertise in a cool, fun and welcoming environment, along with a wide earring assortment—all at an accessible price point. Studs is a venture backed, multi-unit retail business that has scaled rapidly and continues to expand nationally. As the business grows, the People function must manage increasing complexity across hiring, onboarding, compliance, workforce planning, training, and field support. The People Team at Studs oversees People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Retail Training & Talent, and Piercing Education. The Associate Manager, People Programs supports the coordination and execution of initiatives that cut across these functions. This is a project and program execution role within the People team. You will drive the planning, sequencing, and execution of cross-functional initiatives that impact our field teams and HQ. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on bringing structure to complexity and ensuring work gets finished - not just started. This role ensures work is clearly defined, appropriately sequenced, and delivered with consistency across HQ and the field. The Associate Manager partners closely with Retail leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to help initiatives move from planning to sustain. Salary Range: $90,000-$100,000

Requirements

Experience leading and executing complex, cross-functional work in a retail, service, or multi-unit environment
Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams at once
Demonstrated ability to drive follow-through and accountability without formal authority
Clear written communication skills, including concise summaries for senior stakeholders
Comfort operating in environments experiencing growth and change
High attention to detail and strong judgment about prioritization and sequencing
Willingness and ability to be based in New York City

Nice To Haves

Experience in a corporate or field-facing role within a multi-unit organization
Experience supporting scaling efforts, system improvements, or operational changes
Exposure to People, Talent, or Operations functions
Experience in consulting, strategy, business operations, or program management within a growth-stage environment strongly preferred
Demonstrated ability to structure ambiguous problems and drive solutions across stakeholders without formal authority
Interest in long-term growth within a People or Talent leadership path

Responsibilities

Convert People priorities into clear project plans with defined milestones, owners, timelines, and dependencies (e.g., onboarding rollouts, systems updates, hiring process changes, compliance improvements)
Maintain an organized view of active initiatives and ensure sequencing decisions are intentional and realistic
Identify overlapping work, resource constraints, and timing conflicts early
Ensure initiatives move from kickoff through completion with clear handoffs and defined sustainment steps
Prepare agendas and materials for taskforces and working groups tied to People initiatives (e.g., payroll-related process improvements, onboarding consistency efforts, cross-regional calibration meetings)
Capture decisions, action items, and deadlines in a consistent format
Follow up on open items between meetings to maintain momentum
Surface delays, risks, or unclear ownership before they escalate
Partner with Retail, Talent Development, People Operations, and Finance to align on timelines and execution expectations
Ensure initiatives reflect operational realities within studio environments
Clarify roles and responsibilities when ownership becomes blurred
Support senior People leaders with structured updates and concise summaries of progress, risks, and tradeoffs
Help establish repeatable cadences for tracking and reviewing initiative progress
Maintain organized documentation and a clear source of truth for active workstreams
Identify friction in how work is handed off or implemented and recommend practical adjustments
Contribute to improving how the People function plans, launches, and sustains new initiatives over time

Benefits

Flexible Work Environment (3 days in office, 2 days work from home)
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (including a plan option with $0 in-network mental health visits)
Access to Mental Health and Work/Life Resources including Online Therapy, Gender Affirmation Support Services, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Voluntary Life Insurance
Health and Commuter Tax-Advantaged Accounts
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Paid Time Off, Paid Safe & Sick Leave, and Paid Parental Leave
Paid Sabbatical After 4 Years of Service
Exclusive Employee Discounts on Piercings and Jewelry (we’ve got your friends and family covered too!)
Access to PerkSpot and additional benefits such as pet insurance, discounted tickets, personal finance coaching, healthy rewards, and more!