People Operations Lead (Senior Manager)

Job description

**Who We Are** 2nd Order Solutions (2OS) is a boutique consulting firm that provides outstanding results in the credit and risk industry to clients all over the world. We offer a casual office environment, hybrid work schedules (spend at least 50% of your time in the office), competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits, and a team-oriented environment where our associates genuinely enjoy working together. Our goal is to make 2OS a great place to work for all, and our passion is our people. We never settle for “good enough” as we constantly strive to continue growing as a business for our team and to create an environment rooted in development and growth. **Overview** The People Operations Lead will be a key member of the Staff team at 2OS, responsible for managing and optimizing core human resources functions with a focus on benefits administration, HRIS management, payroll, and performance management. This role will serve as the primary point of contact for employee experience-related processes, ensuring that systems and programs are efficient, compliant, and aligned with company values. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and proactive, owning HR operations in a small business, with a strong emphasis on confidentiality, employee support, and continuous improvement of people processes as we continue to grow. **Key Responsibilities** Total Rewards Administration - Own administration of all employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, 401(k), and other retirement offerings - Serve as the primary liaison with our benefits, brokers and vendors - Manage open enrollment processes, including employee education and communications - Ensure accurate setup and maintenance of employee benefit elections in HRIS/payroll systems - Monitor benefits utilization and recommend improvements to plan design and cost efficiency - Ensure compliance with applicable regulations (e.g., ACA, ERISA, COBRA, etc.) - Support employees with benefits-related questions and issue resolution - Support semi-annual compensation benchmarking and review Payroll Coordination - Coordinate and process semi-monthly payroll, across multiple states - Ensure accurate payroll inputs, including benefit deductions, bonuses, reimbursements, and adjustments - Maintain payroll records and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements - Partner with Finance on reconciliation of payroll, including retirement contributions and benefit deductions - Support setup of payroll tax registrations in new states as needed - Continuously improve payroll processes for accuracy and efficiency HRIS Administration & Systems Ownership - Serve as the administrator of the company’s HRIS (Paylocity) - Own system configuration, data integrity, user access, and reporting - Ensure accurate and timely updates across employee records, compensation, benefits, and payroll data - Partner with Finance and leadership to improve reporting and data visibility - Evaluate and implement system enhancements, integrations, and new features - Troubleshoot system issues and serve as the internal expert on HR technology Performance Management - Own and continuously improve the company’s performance management processes - Coordinate performance review cycles, including timelines, tools, and communications - Track performance outcomes and identify trends to inform leadership decisions - Update existing and build out descriptions for new roles / job families **Other:** - Support broader team initiatives as needed, including coordinating offsites, identifying and managing guest speakers, recruiting and facilitating access to training and professional development opportunities - Serve as an HR consultant to a defined level of consultants, providing guidance on performance, employee relations, and development ### Basic Qualifications Required - 7+ years of experience in HR, benefits administration, or HR generalist roles - PHR or SHRM-CP Certification - Hands-on experience managing health and retirement benefits programs as well as multi-state payroll (with experience in Paylocity preferred) - Strong understanding of HR compliance requirements and best pr