People Operations Manager

The People Operations Manager plays a critical role in supporting and strengthening our people operations department. This position is responsible for overseeing employee benefits administration, coordinating payroll with our external vendor, overseeing the firm’s safety programs and policies, managing timekeeping compliance, and guiding employee relations matters including disciplinary actions and terminations.

Key Responsibilities

Benefits Administration

• Serve as the primary point of contact for benefits-related matters, including health, dental, vision, life, and retirement plans.
• Coordinate with benefits brokers and vendors to implement annual renewals, resolve employee issues, and ensure plan compliance.
• Process uploads and registrations in benefit platforms as necessary (such as benefits enrollment platform, 401k, commuter benefits, etc.)
• Develop and deliver employee benefits orientation and open enrollment sessions.
• Maintain and update benefits documentation and intranet resources.

Payroll Coordination & Timekeeping Oversight

• Liaise with the payroll vendor to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding payroll issues and questions; coordinate resolution with the vendor.
• Audit and approve timecard submissions and payroll reports in coordination with department leaders; ensure employee timecards are accurate and timely.
• Train new managers and employees on timekeeping procedures.
• Monitor compliance with federal, state, and firm timekeeping policies.
• Coordinate with billing and accounting to ensure appropriate funds are available.

Employee Relations & Support

• Provide guidance and coaching to managers and employees on employee relations matters.
• Conduct and document employee relations meetings, performance improvement plans, including disciplinary actions and termination.
• Ensure consistent application of firm policies and compliance with employment laws.
• Maintain confidential personnel files and records.
• Ensure timely and compliant execution of offboarding tasks, including exit interviews, access removal, and knowledge transfer.

Safety, Risk Mitigation & Emergency Preparedness

• Design and oversee the firm’s enterprise-wide safety and emergency preparedness strategy.
• Establish and maintain firmwide protocols for crisis management, including natural disasters, public health emergencies, workplace violence, and cybersecurity incidents, in collaboration with legal, facilities, and IT teams.
• Lead cross-functional emergency response teams across all office locations.
• Partner with external consultants, insurance providers, and regulatory agencies to proactively manage risk.
• Prepare and disseminate emergency communications for all offices, ensuring timely and accurate information is shared.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the Texas and east coast liaison.
• Provide advice and coach managers on policy application and employee relations concerns.
• Partner with leaders to support workforce planning, team development, and employee engagement.
• Collaborate with payroll, finance, and legal teams to ensure accurate and timely HR operations.

Performance & Development

• Develop and implement a thorough performance evaluation process.
• Coordinate performance review cycles and goal-setting processes.
• Support training initiatives and identify opportunities for employee growth and skill-building.

Other Duties

• Ensure practices comply with labor laws, regulations, and employment policies.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records.
• Utilize the HRIS to process employee updates and changes.

This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 2+ years of progressive HR experience, including benefits administration and employee relations.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Excel.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations (e.g., FMLA, FLSA, ADA, COBRA).
• Experience coordinating payroll with third-party vendors or payroll processing.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion and professionalism.
• Proficiency with HRIS and timekeeping systems.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Kahana Feld provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Job Type

Full-Time, Exempt

Salary

$100,000-$120,000

Work Location

Hybrid

Work Schedule

8:30am - 5:30pm Monday-Friday. Occasional weekends and holidays.

Physical Requirements

Primarily sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards. Must have the ability to walk short distances, and/or drive a vehicle to deliver and pick up materials. Work can be performed with or without accommodations.

Travel

10-20% domestic travel by car and plane.