People Operations Manager

WHY ACHIRA • Join a world-class team of scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs building the future of drug discovery. • Partner with leadership to shape how a fast-growing company operates day-to-day. • Build and scale foundational HR systems, processes, and culture in a high-growth environment. • Operate with trust, ownership, and transparency in a mission-driven company advancing science and technology. ABOUT THE ROLE Achira is seeking an experienced, people-focused operations Manager to lead the people team for an early-stage, high-growth start-up. This role oversees the full employee experience from recruiting and onboarding to performance management, employee relations, and compliance while helping shape a positive, productive workplace culture. The ideal candidate is a strategic leadership partner as well as a trusted resource for employees at every level. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES • Manage full-cycle recruiting: job postings, recruiter relations, interviews, reference checks, and offer negotiation • Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes to ensure smooth employee transitions • Develop and administer HR policies, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws • Manage employee relations issues, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and investigations • Lead performance management processes, including reviews, goal-setting, and improvement plans in collaboration with leadership • Administer compensation and benefits programs, including open enrollment and annual review cycles • Partner with team leads and project mgmt. on workforce planning, org design, and headcount needs • Maintain and improve HR systems (HRIS), records, and reporting in coordination with third party vendor support • Engage with legal counsel on immigration issues and visa processing ultimately shifting to in-house processes • Drive employee engagement initiatives and culture-building programs in partnership with leadership • Manage training and professional development programs in partnership with leadership • Ensure health, safety, and compliance standards are met across the organization • Prepare HR metrics and reports for leadership (turnover, retention, headcount, etc.) • Oversee compliance associated with benefit plans and employee policies • Flexibility in covering administrative responsibilities outside of HR ABOUT YOU • Bachelor's degree • 5+ years of progressive HR experience, including 2+ years in a management or supervisory capacity • Strong knowledge of employment law, state requirements, HR best practices, and compliance requirements • Experience with HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP, or similar) • Excellent interpersonal, conflict-resolution, and communication skills • Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail • SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred • Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and keep operations running smoothly • Strong problem-solver who is proactive, resourceful, and able to act independently • Excellent interpersonal skills; you create a positive, welcoming environment and communicate effectively across teams • Comfortable with basic tools (Google Workspace, Slack, Notion, etc.) and not afraid to learn new skills • Hands-on and adaptable — excited to roll up your sleeves and build processes in a fast-paced, evolving environment • Mission-driven and motivated to support a team advancing drug discovery • Experience in managing employees in science, technology, or research fields • Commitment to equity and employee engagement • Experience supporting a distributed or hybrid workforce • Data-driven approach to HR decision-making