Human Resources Operations Manager

Are you a problem solver and a fast learner? Would you enjoy working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment? Do you want to be part of a diverse and driven team striving for excellence? If the answer is yes, then keep reading! Who We Are: Atheneum is a leading global insights platform servicing various clients including distinguished strategy consulting firms, renowned investment houses and well known global corporations. Our mission is to provide faster insights to empower our clients’ decision making. With 450 professionals across 9 offices in the U.S., South America, APAC, and EMEA, we bring together a diverse, global team. What We Do Leading firms across all industries, with a particular focus on Management Consulting and Life Sciences, trust Atheneum to connect them to the world's top professionals. By organizing expert interviews and surveys, we unlock unique knowledge and provide our clients with insights that impact their business decisions - for example, understanding how emerging technologies will evolve or which new treatments will revolutionize the healthcare sectors. Position Overview The HR Operations Manager owns the day-to-day administration, systems, and workplace operations that keep Atheneum's U.S. workforce running smoothly. This is a broad, hands-on operational role spanning payroll and benefits administration, HR compliance, immigration coordination, employee lifecycle processes, HRIS management, and office operations, alongside front-line HR support to employees and managers. The ideal candidate combines strong operational execution, meticulous attention to detail, and sound judgment to independently manage a high volume of administrative, compliance, and workplace matters in a fast-paced, international organization. Key Responsibilities Payroll, Benefits & Leave Administration Manage U.S. payroll administration through Rippling, including payroll changes, deductions, bonuses, commissions, and employee updates. Coordinate with Finance and global stakeholders to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing. Administer U.S. employee benefits and serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefit questions. Manage retirement plan administration and coordinate resolution of 401(k) issues with vendors, advisors, and counsel. Administer employee leaves, including disability, Paid Family Leave, parental leave, and other applicable federal and state programs. Reconcile leave benefits and payroll to ensure employees receive accurate compensation. Workplace & Office Operations Own day-to-day operations of the New York office, including reception, supplies, seating, equipment, and general workplace upkeep. Manage vendor relationships across office services, facilities, catering, and equipment, and identify opportunities to improve service and control costs. Coordinate office moves, repairs, and facilities requests, serving as the primary point of contact for workplace-related needs. Administer workplace policies, including hybrid and in-office expectations, badge/access administration, timekeeping, and attendance tracking. Plan and execute logistics for company events, meetings, and employee gatherings. HR Compliance Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment requirements across multiple U.S. jurisdictions. Manage I-9 and E-Verify processes and maintain accurate employee records. Monitor employment-law developments and support implementation of required policy and process changes. Support employee classification reviews, including FLSA analysis and exempt/non-exempt changes. Develop employee and manager communications and training related to compliance initiatives. HR Systems & People Operations Maintain accurate employee information within Rippling and other People systems. Set up, maintain, and administer Rippling policies, workflows, and employee data. Develop and maintain policies, procedures, templates, trackers, and People Operations documentation. Produce reports and workforce information for leadership as needed. Identify opportunities to streamline HR processes and improve the employee experience. Coordinate with global People colleagues to ensure U.S. practices align appropriately with broader company processes. Immigration & Employment Authorization Coordinate U.S. employment-based immigration matters with outside immigration counsel. Manage H-1B renewals, PERM-related processes, OPT/CPT employment matters, and employment authorization tracking. Communicate clearly and sensitively with employees and candidates regarding immigration processes and timelines. Onboarding & Employee Lifecycle Support TA and recruiting partners. Manage onboarding cycle: first 90 days with the organization. Coordinate background checks, employment documentation, HRIS setup, benefits enrollment, equipment, and internal onboarding. Manage employee changes and offboarding, including documentation, systems coordination, benefits communication, and final payroll requirements. Partner with IT and other stakeholders to continuously improve the onboarding and offboarding experience. Day-to-Day Employee & Manager Support Serve as a first point of contact for U.S. employees and managers on routine HR questions, policies, and process. Provide day-to-day guidance on standard workplace policies, attendance, and procedural matters. Coordinate logistics and documentation for performance review cycles, and maintain related templates and tracking. Escalate complex employee relations matters, workplace investigations, and disciplinary actions to the HR Director, supporting with documentation and coordination as directed. Culture, Engagement & Internal Communications Support planning and logistics for employee events and culture programming. Qualifications 5+ years of HR Operations, People Operations, HR Generalist, or Office Management experience. Strong working knowledge of U.S. HR administrative processes, payroll, and benefits. Experience working with an HRIS/payroll platform such as Rippling, Justworks, ADP, or similar. Experience coordinating with employment and/or immigration counsel a plus. Strong organizational skills and comfort managing a high volume of administrative and compliance detail. Ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and sound judgment. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Comfortable managing vendor relationships and day-to-day office operations. Comfortable operating independently and managing multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment. What Success Looks Like Success in this role means payroll and benefits are administered accurately and on time; the New York office runs smoothly with well-managed vendors and facilities; compliance and immigration matters are tracked and resolved proactively; employee lifecycle processes operate smoothly from onboarding through offboarding; and employees and managers have a responsive point of contact for day-to-day HR and workplace needs. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable running payroll, managing an office vendor relationship, tracking an I-9 deadline, coordinating an immigration filing, and keeping day-to-day people processes moving — while knowing when to route a sensitive employee matter to the right partner. Salary range: $85,000-$95,000 Here at Atheneum, diversity and inclusion are not just part of our culture—they are ingrained in our DNA. We do not discriminate in any way when assessing applications. #J-18808-Ljbffr