Behind every animal saved and every family kept together is a team doing complex, mission-driven work. We're investing in the people, processes, and infrastructure that allow us to scale our impact. The People Operations Manager will play a key role in that evolution — strengthening how we support our staff, how we work across teams, and how we move important initiatives forward. As we grow, this role may also grow with us. If you thrive on bringing order to complexity and building systems that make organizations stronger, this is a chance to build the systems behind saving animal lives and keeping pets with the people who love them.

ROLE SUMMARY

The People Operations Manager leads the organization's day-to-day human resources and people operations functions and supports organizational effectiveness through skilled facilitation of cross-functional work. This role manages the employee lifecycle, compliance, payroll, benefits, and performance management processes; it also facilitates cross-functional initiatives by providing project structure, helping teams navigate complexity, and acting as project lead on select initiatives, as assigned. The position ensures staff are supported, HR practices are consistent and compliant, and cross-functional work has the structure and facilitation needed to move forward effectively.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES PEOPLE OPERATIONS & HUMAN RESOURCES

• Oversee the full employee lifecycle , including recruitment and hiring, onboarding, employee engagement and stay interviews, performance management, development, retention, and off boarding, partnering with department leads and managers throughout each stage.
• Administer employee benefits (health, 401(k), Section 125 POP) in coordination with external partners.
• Process biweekly payroll , ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and proper documentation.
• Provide guidance and support to employees and managers in addressing workplace concerns , difficult conversations, and interpersonal conflict, facilitating constructive resolution when appropriate.
• Lead performance management processes, including timelines, review quality, and supervisor/manager coaching on documentation and timely feedback conversations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for staff on HR-related questions, concerns, and needs, providing a trusted resource for employee relations matters.
• Maintain HR policies, employee handbook, and personnel files .
• Support workers' compensation administration and employee relations investigations (with external support as needed).
• Coordinate required trainings and light-touch staff learning opportunities.
• Capture and maintain SOPs for core People Operations processes by documenting existing practices and refining them over time.
• As part of annual budget planning, conduct a compensation review and provide rate and pay scale recommendations to the Executive Director
• Administer the organization's Injury and Illness Prevention Program ( IIPP ) and Workplace Violence Prevention Program ( WVPP ), including required training, documentation, and periodic review
• Maintain HR compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and organizational requirements, including required policies, notices, records, reporting, training, and employment practices.

ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS & PROJECT FACILITATION

• Support cross-functional initiatives as either a facilitator or project lead , depending on the needs of the initiative, while ensuring appropriate departmental ownership of implementation.
• Facilitate cross-department discussion on assigned initiatives, helping teams surface challenges, navigate differing perspectives, clarify priorities, and reach alignment on decision-making and next steps.
• Maintain project structure s for select initiatives, including clear objectives, timelines, roles, and decision-making pathways and accountability for next steps.

LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan and coordinate regular all-staff meetings.
• Manage supply budget for the People Operations function.
• Prepare monthly reports on people-related metrics and activities.
• Coordinate employee engagement and appreciation efforts — lead initiatives that strengthen staff engagement, and appreciation programs that support retention and a positive workplace culture.
• Promote continuous learning and development — seek out educational opportunities for your own professional growth, and identify training and development opportunities for the broader team
• Exemplify exceptional customer service — model and promote a culture of exceptional internal and external service, ensuring positive relationships with staff, volunteers, and the community

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Perform other duties as required/requested to ensure a positive public image, the well-being of animals and the public, and to improve the functioning of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS & JOB REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION, SKILL, EXPERIENCE

• 4-5+ years of experience in HR or people operations, required, including experience operating with significant autonomy — for example, as a sole or senior HR practitioner, or in a role with substantial independent ownership of HR processes. Candidates with organizational leadership experience that include direct HR responsibility will also be considered.
• Experience processing payroll and administering employee benefits, required
• Working knowledge of HR practices and employment compliance (California experience preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate productive discussions, navigate differing perspectives, and help groups reach alignment.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional projects or initiatives is a plus.
• Experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization, strongly preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with a diverse range of people, and navigate difficult conversations and conflict resolution constructively, required.
• Proficient in MS Word and Excel, familiarity with HRIS or payroll systems, required. Experience with Office 365, preferred.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to work independently, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Compassion and concern for both animals and people, with a commitment to supporting and promoting the SCSPCA mission
• Committed to the mission of the Santa Cruz SPCAand acts as an ambassador for the organization.
• Must have a flexible schedule, as some evening and weekend work will be required on occasion and with notice (e.g. special events)
• Background check required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

This role is highly interactive and fast-paced, requiring frequent multitasking, problem-solving, and adaptability to shifting priorities. The shelter environment is often loud, active, and interruptive, with frequent engagement with volunteers, staff, and the public. Successful candidates must be comfortable working in a dynamic setting where flexibility and quick decision-making are essential. Work is performed in an office and animal shelter setting, with potential exposure to:

• Zoonotic diseases, disinfectants, and animal allergens.
• Elevated noise levels from barking dogs, public interaction, and active shelter operations.
• Large, strong, and fractious animals, with potential for bites, scratches, and handling-related injuries.

Physical requirements include:

• Prolonged periods of sitting/computer work, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, and reaching.
• Regular handling of materials up to 25 lbs, with occasional lifting of up to 40 lbs.
• Occasional handling of large, strong dogs, requiring physical control and confidence.

This is a hybrid role requiring regular onsite presence, with flexibility for remote work based on organizational needs and the nature of the work being performed. Candidates must be comfortable working in an energetic, ever-changing environment that requires collaboration, patience, and resilience. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit your resume and cover letter through Indeed. No phone calls please. Resumes received without a cover letter will not be considered.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Santa Cruz SPCA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

The Santa Cruz SPCA has been a mainstay serving animals in our community since 1934. Although our organization originally provided animal control services for Santa Cruz County, since 2002 we have been a fully independent nonprofit animal welfare organization focused on cat and dog rescue and adoption, providing a robust curriculum of humane education programs, and offering a variety of programs and services that support keeping pets and their people together. Our vision for the coming years is to continue to increase the number of lives saved and touched through our programs. The Santa Cruz SPCA is seeking team members who are driven to play a role in expanding and refining our operations to achieve our mission! We pride ourselves on being compassionate, collaborative, adaptable, and driven by ingenuity. To effectively help needy animals we depend on teamwork between our staff, volunteers, clients, supporters, and our community. We welcome feedback, contribution, fresh eyes, and a fresh take so we can continually improve our operations.

Pay:

$75,000.00 - $92,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Santa Cruz, CA 95065