People Operations Manager

Air • Arlington, VA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

Air is seeking an energetic, detail-oriented, and proactive People Operations Manager to serve as a cornerstone of its People team. The role manages the daily rhythms, systems, and programs that support employees, maintain compliance, and contribute to a thriving workplace. It bridges people strategy and operational execution through onboarding, HR administration, payroll and benefits, and employee experience. The position is full-time and on-site at the company’s office in Arlington, Virginia, with occasional travel of up to 10%, including periodic visits to the Pittsburgh office.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business, or a related discipline.
• 3–5+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to use data, spreadsheets, and metrics to track initiatives and inform decisions.
• Hands-on experience with modern HRIS and People tools.
• A solid foundation in federal and state employment laws, compliance requirements, payroll procedures, and benefits administration.
• Outstanding interpersonal and written communication skills, with discretion and empathy in handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• A proactive, self-starting approach and ability to manage competing priorities with high autonomy.
• Positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and genuine interest in supporting the company’s national security mission.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a fast-growing technology, SaaS, or defense/government contracting environment.
• Prior experience with BambooHR, Greenhouse, and/or Employee Navigator.
• Professional HR certification, such as SHRM-CP or PHR.
• Current U.S. security clearance, or willingness and ability to obtain one with company sponsorship.
• Experience working in a startup, scale-up, or entrepreneurial company.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee questions about policies, benefits, and workplace tools, and manage HR processes across the employee lifecycle.
• Lead and coordinate new-hire orientation and onboarding in partnership with Talent Acquisition.
• Maintain and optimize People systems, including BambooHR, Greenhouse, Employee Navigator, and related tools; ensure accurate data, system integrations, and reporting.
• Partner with the People Operations Director and Finance to execute semi-monthly payroll, reconcile benefits deductions, and support annual open enrollment and total rewards administration.
• Manage employment-related state and federal filings, maintain digital personnel files, oversee I-9 compliance, and support mandatory employment registrations.
• Assist the Director with reviewing, updating, and distributing the Employee Handbook and internal SOPs to align with changing federal, state, and local labor laws.
• Coordinate employee engagement initiatives, quarterly surveys, performance-cycle tracking, and culture-building events.
• Manage offboarding operations, including asset coordination, checklists, benefits continuation notices, and exit interviews and analysis.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager