Senior Manager, People Operations

$160,000 - $172,000/Yr

Citizen - Hybrid - New York, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - New York, NY

Publishing Industries

About the position

Citizen is seeking a Senior Manager, People Operations to oversee and manage all aspects of the People function, including compliance, employee experience, payroll, talent acquisition, total rewards, technology, and analytics. The ideal candidate will be a detail-oriented, self-motivated leader with a strong understanding of labor laws, reporting requirements, benefits audits, payroll operations, and union dynamics. This hands-on role requires the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, performance-driven environment, with a focus on prioritization, execution excellence, and navigating ambiguity. Reporting to the Head of Finance and Business Operations, the Senior Manager will be responsible for all People activities and may manage up to two direct reports depending on experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws and reporting requirements (e.g., FLSA employee classification, state annual reporting).
• Manage employee relations matters, including investigations, complaints, corrective actions, and documentation.
• Lead the annual 401(k) audit in accordance with ERISA and other regulatory requirements.
• Ensure proper management of short-term and long-term leave of absences (e.g., FMLA, PFL, STD, LTD, etc).
• Champion a positive employee experience from onboarding to offboarding, ensuring clear communication and efficient processes.
• Identify and address organizational and people issues, ensuring resolution and maintaining scalability.
• Lead the semi-annual performance review process, aligning employee satisfaction, growth, and development with company goals.
• Manage the annual employee engagement survey to provide two-way feedback and continuous improvement, nurturing a positive work environment.
• Regularly update the Employee Handbook to reflect best practices, legal compliance, and company culture.
• Oversee payroll operations to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing across 40+ states for non-exempt employees, with a focus on process improvements and automation.
• Manage the transition to a consolidated payroll system, integrating time and attendance with HRIS while ensuring continued accuracy and efficiency.
• Ensure accurate payroll calculations, withholdings, and timely remittance of taxes (federal, state, local), including income, Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance.
• Oversee the filing of required tax forms (e.g., Form 941, Form 940, W-2s, 1099s) to ensure compliance with filing deadlines and avoid penalties.
• Manage the open enrollment process for benefits, including health, dental, vision, 401(k), and other employee benefits.
• Lead and optimize the recruiting process to attract top talent, streamline hiring, and ensure a positive candidate experience.
• Develop sourcing, interviewing, and hiring strategies to align with business needs and timelines.
• Build strong relationships with hiring managers to ensure a deep understanding of role requirements, team culture, and organizational goals.
• Monitor and improve recruitment metrics such as time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, and candidate quality.
• Lead the optimization of HRIS and other technologies, including vendor research, system migrations, and integrations.
• Analyze HR data to provide insights on employee retention, engagement, diversity, performance, and other key metrics to ensure goal-alignment and to drive decision-making.
• Stay current with HR technology trends to ensure the organization is leveraging the best tools available.
• Develop and manage the company's total rewards strategy, including compensation, benefits, and recognition programs.
• Partner with department leaders to establish clear career ladders, outlining required skills and competencies for growth.
• Regularly review and benchmark compensation structures to ensure competitiveness in the market.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in Human Resources or People Operations, with a focus on compliance, employee experience, talent acquisition, and total rewards.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Business Administration, or a related field; HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) are a plus.
• Proven expertise in labor laws, benefits administration, payroll, and employee relations; experience with unionized employees is a plus.
• Strong experience in recruiting top talent while maintaining agility and alignment with business needs.
• Experience with HR systems, including managing migrations and integrations; strong analytical skills and the ability to derive actionable insights from HR data.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to synthesize information for a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to identify and address process gaps.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, particularly Sheets and Slides; proven ability to deliver clear, impactful presentations to diverse audiences, including leadership and company-wide groups.

Nice-to-haves

• HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) are a plus.
• Experience with unionized employees is a plus.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off
• Company holidays
• Stock option plan
• Commuter benefits
• Various wellness perks