Senior Manager, People Operations

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - San Francisco, CA

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

At Highwire, we believe that People Operations should not just support the business but elevate it. As we continue to scale, we are looking for a Senior Manager, People Operations to build and optimize the infrastructure that ensures our policies, processes, and systems enable business success while delivering a seamless employee experience. This business partner role requires a balance of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, overseeing performance management, employee relations, people operations, compliance, payroll, benefits, People Analytics, leave of absence administration, and attendance tracking. The Senior Manager will also guide the careers of a People Operations Specialist and People Analyst (who manages payroll), ensuring strong execution across all people operational functions. If you thrive on improving processes, optimizing People systems, and using data to drive smarter decisions while delivering an award-winning employee experience, this is an opportunity to make a real impact in a high-growth, people-first environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive Highwire's performance management strategy, ensuring it fosters growth, accountability, and clear career pathways.
• Partner with managers and leaders to create 100 day plans for each role at the agency and Sr. level integration plans for strategic hires to ensure clear understanding of what success looks like.
• Partner with leadership to create a structured yet flexible feedback culture that enhances engagement, development, and retention.
• Provide employee relations support, coaching managers and employees on conflict resolution, policy interpretation, and workplace issues.
• Develop and implement manager enablement initiatives, equipping leaders with the tools to coach, support, and develop high-performing teams.
• Serve as the HR Liaison for the intern program, assisting new managers and interns.
• Build and scale efficient, tech-enabled HR processes that enhance both productivity and the employee experience.
• Oversee the day-to-day execution of People Operations functions, including onboarding, learning and development, performance management, and people analytics.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws, data privacy regulations, and Highwire's hybrid work policies.
• Maintain and update HR policies and governance, ensuring they remain clear, compliant, and aligned with business needs.
• Manage vendor relationships for HR systems, payroll, benefits, and compliance tools, ensuring top-tier service.
• Oversee payroll execution with the People Analyst, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and a frictionless employee experience.
• Manage benefits administration and strategy, keeping offerings competitive, inclusive, and well-communicated to employees.
• Administer leave of absence (LOA) programs, including FMLA, disability leave, and personal leave, ensuring compliance and a smooth employee experience.
• Leverage People Analytics to track workforce trends, turning data into insights that support strategic decision-making.
• Partner with Finance to ensure payroll and compensation structures remain competitive, transparent, and aligned with business goals.
• Manage office attendance tracking and compliance, ensuring alignment with SWOOP policies and Highwire's hybrid work strategy.
• Work with leadership to integrate attendance data into workforce planning, performance reviews, and compensation decisions.
• Analyze workforce data to assess trends, identify gaps, and implement solutions that drive business efficiency and employee engagement.
• Identify and implement HR process improvements, focusing on automation, AI efficiency, and scalability.
• Ensure seamless HR systems integration across finance, IT, and operations to improve reporting and workforce planning.
• Lead change management efforts for new HR systems, policies, and initiatives, ensuring smooth adoption across the business.
• Continuously evaluate HR tools and technology to enhance automation, self-service capabilities, and workforce analytics.

Requirements

• 7+ years of HR operations experience, ideally in a high-growth, professional services, or tech-driven environment.
• Bachelor's Degree in business administration, Human resources management, communications, or equivalent experience.
• Experience managing HR processes end to end, from performance management and employee relations to payroll, benefits, and compliance.
• Agency experience within a communications, marketing, or advertising agency is a plus.
• Strong coaching and advisory skills, with experience guiding managers and employees through complex workplace issues.
• Demonstrated track record of program design and implementation.
• Proficiency in HRIS, payroll, and reporting systems (Rippling, Lattice, Trainual).
• Knowledge of People Analytics, using data to identify trends, inform strategy, and drive decision-making.
• Strong problem-solving and process improvement skills, with the ability to turn operational challenges into scalable solutions.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams.
• A process-driven mindset-excited about creating systems, improving workflows, and ensuring efficiency.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a high-growth, professional services, or tech-driven environment.
• Agency experience within a communications, marketing, or advertising agency.

Benefits

• $90,000 - $125,000 a year
• Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, knowledge, skills, other job-related qualifications, and geography.