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