People Operations Manager

Human Resources & Compliance  |  75%

• Serve as the agency’s primary advisor on HR policy, employment law, benefits, and employee relations across multiple states
• Manage the full employee lifecycle, including recruiting support, onboarding, status changes, leaves, and offboarding
• Manage and administer the benefits package and lead open enrollment, manage external HR vendor relationships
• Maintain the employee handbook and all HR policies; ensure ongoing compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment law
• Develop and maintain job descriptions; guide hiring managers through recruiting and interview practices
• Coordinate with Finance prior to each pay cycle to ensure accurate processing of new hires, terminations, leaves, and benefit changes in BambooHR
• Manage employee data, personnel files, and documentation accuracy in BambooHR
• Lead workplace investigations, disciplinary processes, and complex employee relations cases, documenting thoroughly
• Conduct or coordinate required compliance trainings
• Provide compensation benchmarking and support salary decisions; lead development of a formal compensation review process
• Support DEI initiatives and equitable HR practices across the agency
• Manage office supply procurement and equipment inventory
• Coordinate internal events and team gatherings
• Serve as the point of contact for IT issues; manage the relationship with the external MSP and escalate as needed

People Development & Retention |  25%

• Support managers and leadership with performance management, goal-setting, and career development
• Manage the agency’s performance evaluation cycle
• Coach managers on feedback, performance issues, and developing their teams
• Oversee professional development and training initiatives at the agency level
• Design and implement programs that support employee engagement, recognition, and retention
• Contribute to improvements in onboarding, offboarding, and overall employee experience

Experience & Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP) preferred
• 6+ years of progressive HR or People Operations experience, ideally within a creative or agency environment
• Strong knowledge of employment law including ADA, FMLA, EEO, and multi-state compliance
• Working knowledge of IT systems, software procurement, and cybersecurity fundamentals
• Valid CA Driver’s License and ability to pass all applicable background checks

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinker who connects people programs to business outcomes
• Skilled coach who develops manager capability and influences across all levels
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple functions simultaneously
• High integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to both protecting the business and serving employees
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills

Civilian expects every employee, regardless of role or responsibility, to uphold its core values. The agency’s core values—and the behaviors that support those core values—are as follows:  

Seek First to Understand

• Communicate with people directly. Listen to other people’s ideas and concerns with genuine curiosity and an open mind. Try to understand where people are coming from and give them the benefit of the doubt. Practice kindness and treat one another with respect.

Practice We Over Me

• Think of the entire agency as your team. Collaborate with, contribute to, and elevate the people around you. Solve problems quickly and constructively and in all things work for the greater good.

Operate with Integrity

• Be trustworthy and reliable. Demonstrate sound judgment. Take responsibility for your actions. Always do the right thing.

Rise to the Challenge

• Greet challenges as opportunities. Work with determination and tenacity to find a way through obstacles (without compromising integrity, boundaries, or protocols). Bring the full breadth of your creativity and ingenuity to the challenge at hand.

Make Things Better

• Every day, make something better for your team, your work, or the world. Embrace steady improvement. Demonstrate passion for the agency’s success and a commitment to producing great work and measurable results.

Civilian is committed to an ongoing journey in becoming an actively anti-racist, inclusive organization where everyone can feel a sense of belonging and that their diverse experiences, voices, backgrounds, and contributions matter. Through an intentional focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our agency, we harness the unique contributions and lived experiences of our team to create innovative work in response to some of our society’s most pressing challenges.

How We Put This Commitment Into Practice At Civilian:

• We continually aim to create a safe, welcoming, and open environment where all employees and partners feel like they belong, are valued, can bring their whole selves to work, and are key to our agency’s overall success.
• We consistently assess how BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other diverse individuals can thrive in a predominantly white/white privileged industry and organization; and are continually working to create an equitable workplace where each unique employee brings value to the organization’s culture.
• We hire and promote the most qualified individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, age, parental status, national origin, religion, color, or creed. We only get better when diverse ideas, perspectives, and identities come together, and therefore actively seek out candidates with non-traditional backgrounds, education, experiences, and skills who bring new viewpoints to our agency.
• We value the input of all staff in decision-making, policy development, and other day-to-day practices at our agency.

This position is a hybrid role based in San Diego, California. Remote working options with in-office Wednesdays and every other Friday morning for collaboration and team building.

This is a full-time salaried position with a comprehensive benefits package. Salary Range: $110,000 – $115,000, depending on experience.

• Health coverage: Tiered medical plans with a fully employer-paid option, plus expanded employer-paid coverage after four years. Employer-paid dental and vision included.
• Insurance and protection: Company-paid life insurance, AD&D, and legal support, with optional supplemental coverage.
• Time off and flexibility: Generous PTO, flexible schedules, paid holidays, parental leave, and volunteer time off.
• Retirement: A Safe Harbor 401(k) with employer contributions.
• Wellbeing support: An Employee Assistance Program.
• Growth: Ongoing professional development support.
• Office experience: Ergonomic, dog-friendly offices designed to support focus and collaboration, with on-site parking and access to a fitness center.