People Operations Manager

Air • Arlington, VA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Air is seeking an energetic, detail-oriented, and proactive People Operations Manager to manage the daily rhythms, systems, and programs that support employees and help maintain a compliant, thriving workplace. The role bridges people strategy and operational execution, covering onboarding, HR administration, payroll and benefits, and employee experience. It is a full-time, on-site position at Air’s Arlington, Virginia office and may involve occasional travel of up to 10%, including periodic visits to the Pittsburgh office.

The People Operations Manager serves as a primary contact for employee questions and manages core HR processes throughout the employee lifecycle. The role partners with Talent Acquisition on onboarding, maintains HR systems and data, works with the People Operations Director and Finance on payroll and benefits, supports compliance and recordkeeping, and assists with policies, engagement programs, and offboarding.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business, or a related discipline.
• 3–5+ years of progressive HR or People Operations experience; experience in a fast-growing tech, SaaS, or defense/government contracting environment is preferred.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to use data, spreadsheets, and metrics to track initiatives and inform decisions.
• Hands-on experience with modern HRIS and People tools.
• 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 when handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• Self-starter with a proactive mindset and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities with high autonomy.
• Positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and genuine passion for supporting the national security mission.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee inquiries 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 the People technology stack, including BambooHR, Greenhouse, Employee Navigator, and related systems; ensure data hygiene, 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 related 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 conducting and analyzing exit interviews.

What This Job Offers

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