People Operations Lead

Strategic Investment Partners • Arlington, VA

138d

About The Position

The People & Culture team at Strategic is dedicated to creating an exceptional employee experience while maintaining strong operational foundations. We are seeking a People Operations Lead to join our team, reporting to the Director of People & Culture. This role will own the operational side of People & Culture, overseeing the full employee lifecycle, including benefits administration, HR systems and procedures, onboarding and offboarding, reporting, compliance activities, and employee inquiries. It is an ideal opportunity for an HR professional who is proactive in creating structure, implementing processes, and driving operational excellence. This is a hands-on role where you will shape and manage the processes that keep People & Culture running smoothly across all facets of HR.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Certification in Human Resources or related field (SHRM-CP, PHR) preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local industry-specific regulations and best practices and experience with ensuring compliance.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience, with at least 2 years of experience in managing people or programs; 3 years of Benefits management preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills; Comfortable with public speaking and delivering employee communications and training.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Proactive and independent, with the confidence to take ownership of tasks while knowing when to ask questions or bring in leadership for support.
• Highly organized with experience managing multiple projects; Proven ability to balance multiple competing priorities and deliverables while managing stakeholder expectations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) HRIS platforms.
• Excel reporting and analysis required, including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and the ability to accurately merge data from multiple sources.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee lifecycle processes, including onboarding, offboarding, and employment eligibility (I-9) verification, ensuring compliance, timely documentation, and a consistent employee experience.
• Serve as administrator for HR systems, ensuring data accuracy and reporting integrity.
• Maintain personnel files and employee records in compliance with company policy and legal standards.
• Assist with coordination and execution of annual people processes, including systems workflows for performance management, goal setting, compensation review and adjustments, and related reporting.
• Draft, update, and document People & Culture policies, procedures, and the employee handbook.
• Prepare regular and ad-hoc People reports and analytics for leadership, client RFPs, and Board reporting.
• Support immigration sponsorship processes in partnership with employees, managers, and external counsel.
• Support compliance activities, including audits and other required reviews.
• Gain exposure to employee relations and manager coaching, supporting the Director of People & Culture with documentation and follow-up while building skills in this area.
• Administer employee benefits programs (medical, dental, vision, 401k, and other offerings).
• Partner directly with the benefits broker and vendors on program management, renewals, escalations, and compliance.
• Lead the annual open enrollment process, including employee communication, vendor coordination, and system updates.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees regarding benefits enrollment, changes, and claims inquiries.
• Manage employee accommodations and leaves of absence, including FMLA, STD, and LTD.
• Lead 401(k) plan administration, compliance testing, and annual audit.
• Manage employee wellness initiatives as part of the overall benefits program.
• Assist business leaders with recruitment for select roles (interns, analysts, and other openings as assigned).
• Draft, issue, and process offer letters in partnership with hiring managers.
• Support campus recruiting programs, including scheduling, candidate communication, and career fair participation.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of onboarding programs for interns, analysts, and new hires.
• Support and facilitate employee learning and development initiatives, including training logistics, system tracking, and evaluation.
• Assist in employee engagement surveys, including reporting, analysis, and follow-up action plans.
• Coordinate recognition programs and milestone celebrations (e.g., service awards).
• Act as a cultural ambassador, modeling organizational values and supporting internal social initiatives.
• Provide support and oversight for payroll administration, serving as a designated backup to the payroll administrator and assisting with initial or secondary payroll review and approval.
• Assist in investigating and resolving payroll inquiries or discrepancies in collaboration with the payroll administrator and vendor.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree