People Operations Manager

KIPP METRO ATLANTA COLLABORATIVE INC • Atlanta, GA

10d • $60,000 - $110,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The People Operations Manager ensures KIPP Atlanta Schools’ people practices meet all federal, state, and local employment laws, education-specific regulations, and regulatory requirements. This role oversees employment law compliance, Georgia Professional Standards Commission and audits, investigations support, background checks, contractor approvals, leaves of absence, ADA accommodations, workers; compensation coordination and compliance reporting Serving as a key partner to the Onboarding Manager, Certification Manager, HR Managers, School Leaders, Risk Management, and Legal Counsel, the Compliance Manager mitigates organizational risk while supporting a fair, consistent, and legally sound work environment aligned to the mission of KIPP Atlanta Schools

Requirements

• Associate’s degree with additional relevant experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in HR compliance, employment law, benefits administration, employee relations, or risk management, preferably within a school district
• Demonstrated experience with benefits and retirement programs, including medical plans, disability, TRS, and 403(b) administration
• Proven experience interpreting and applying employment law, benefits regulations, FMLA, ADA, and workers’ compensation requirements
• Proficiency with HRIS systems and benefits/leave tracking tools
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment and labor laws, including education-sector considerations
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into practical, school-based policies and guidance
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to train and advise school leaders.
• High level of judgment, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively across HR, Legal, Finance, and school-based teams in a hybrid environment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Professional HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP)
• Experience working in a school district, charter network, or education-based organization

Responsibilities

• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and education-related requirements, including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, workers’ compensation, unemployment, OSHA, benefits regulations, and applicable state education regulations.
• Oversee compliance processes related to background checks, contractor approvals, benefits eligibility, and board policy adherence.
• Monitor changes in employment, labor, benefits, retirement, and education law; assess impact to district operations and recommend proactive policy or process updates.
• Support internal and external audits, investigations, and regulatory reporting related to employment practices, benefits, leaves, and retirement programs; maintain audit readiness and accurate documentation.
• Serve as a liaison with legal counsel, regulatory agencies, benefits vendors, retirement systems (TRS and ValuTeachers), and third-party administrators as needed.
• Support responses to unemployment claims, EEOC charges, and other employment-related inquiries, ensuring timely, accurate, and legally compliant submissions.
• Benefits, Leaves, ADA & Worker’s Compensation Oversight
• Oversee administration and compliance of employee benefits and retirement programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, TRS, and 403(b) plans.
• Ensure accuracy of benefits enrollments and eligibility data within the HRIS; perform quality checks and resolve discrepancies with vendors.
• Support new-hire onboarding and orientations related to benefits, leaves, and retirement programs.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex employee benefits claims issues, eligibility questions, and plan changes.
• ​​Support open enrollment planning and execution, including communications, training, and vendor coordination.
• Oversee compliance for all leave-related workstreams, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers’ compensation, parental leave, and other statutory or district leaves.
• Ensure consistent interpretation and application of FMLA and ADA requirements across schools and departments.
• Partner with payroll, finance, and Paycom teams to ensure accurate deductions, billing, allocation, and reporting.
• Support return-to-work processes, interactive ADA discussions, and coordination with workers’ compensation or leave administrators.
• Policy Governance & Reporting
• Draft, review, maintain, and update HR and people-related policies related to employment law, benefits, leaves, and retirement programs to ensure alignment with legal requirements, board policy, and school system practices.
• Lead compliance, benefits, and leave reporting and data analysis to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Promote consistent, equitable application of policies and benefits practices across all schools and departments.

Benefits

• 20 days of Paid Time Off, in addition to identified holidays
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical and dental), life insurance and optional short and long term disability
• Counseling and Telehealth Options
• Paid Parental Leave
• Participation in Georgia retirement plan and an optional 403(b) retirement plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree