People Operations Specialist

For over 50 years, Sunward Steel Buildings has been doing things differently. We’re a family-owned, American manufacturer and we don’t just sell steel buildings, we partner with our customers to bring their vision to life.

From industrial facilities, aircraft hangars, and self-storage complexes to arenas, barndominiums, agricultural buildings, and fitness centers, we engineer and manufacture fully custom solutions delivered to every state in the U.S. and across Canada. No two projects are alike, and that’s exactly how we like it.

Our mission is simple: fulfill our customers’ visions into dreams that last generations. We achieve that by listening first, designing second, and delivering a needs-based solution that actually fits. That commitment to partnership is what’s kept us growing for half a century, and it’s what makes Sunward a place where the work genuinely matters.

The People Operations Specialist is a critical role in Sunward Steel’s ability to grow with clarity, consistency, and operational discipline. This person owns the way Sunward documents, standardizes, and improves how our business runs - building and maintaining our SOP library, driving cross-functional process improvement initiatives, and serving as the internal champion for training content development and administration across the organization.

This role requires someone who can move between the detail and the big picture - conducting process discovery sessions with subject matter experts, translating complex workflows into clear documentation, and partnering with department leaders to ensure that what we build operationally is also being taught, practiced, and sustained. If you are energized by making organizations run better and building the infrastructure that makes that possible, this role was designed for you.

SOP Development & Documentation

• Lead the end-to-end development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all departments, establishing documentation standards, templates, and version control protocols for consistency and scalability.
• Conduct process discovery sessions with subject matter experts (SMEs) to capture current-state workflows and translate them into clear, accessible, and actionable documentation.
• Maintain a centralized SOP library, ensuring all documentation is current, version-controlled, and organized for easy access by the teams who rely on it.
• Ensure all documented processes align with internal controls, regulatory requirements, and compliance standards where applicable.

Process Improvement & Analysis

• Identify process gaps, redundancies, and inefficiencies through structured analysis, data review, and stakeholder interviews - then design and implement improvements with measurable outcomes.
• Develop process metrics and KPIs to track the effectiveness of improvements over time, including time savings, error reduction, cost efficiency, and compliance uplift.
• Lead or support cross-functional process improvement initiatives as special projects assigned by leadership.
• Facilitate working sessions and workshops to gather input, drive alignment, and manage change effectively across departments.
• Present findings, recommendations, and project updates to leadership in clear, structured formats that support decision-making.

Training Content Development & Administration

• Serve as Sunward’s internal champion for training content - partnering with department leaders across the organization to identify training needs, close knowledge gaps, and ensure that operational standards are consistently taught and applied.
• Develop and maintain a library of training materials - including guides, job aids, onboarding modules, and role-specific learning content - that are clear, practical, and aligned with current SOPs and company standards.
• Work with department leaders to establish a cadence for training delivery and refresher programs, ensuring new hires and existing employees are appropriately onboarded and kept current as processes evolve.
• Track training completion, assess comprehension, and report on training program effectiveness to leadership - identifying gaps in adoption or retention and recommending corrective action.
• Coordinate with HR on onboarding, compliance training, and any required certifications that intersect with operational and process standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with teams across Operations, Engineering, Drafting, Estimating, Finance, IT, and Compliance to understand process needs, gather requirements, and align on documentation and training priorities.
• Manage urgent and high-priority projects through clear, timely stakeholder communication - keeping leadership and department teams informed without requiring them to chase status.
• Build credibility and trust across the organization by following through consistently, communicating with clarity, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to making teams’ work easier.

Other duties may be assigned as business needs evolve.

• 2 years of experience in an operations, business services, process improvement, or people operations specialist role
• Demonstrated experience writing SOPs, process guides, training materials, or operational documentation in a professional environment
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills - comfortable digging into how things work and identifying where they break down
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - able to work effectively across departments with a wide range of stakeholders
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience with enterprise systems such as SAP, GEP, Jira, or similar platforms
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
• High school diploma or equivalent required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Organizational Development, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Experience in regulated or compliance-driven environments - familiarity with SOX controls, internal audit processes, or similar frameworks
• Background in developing and administering training programs, learning management systems (LMS), or onboarding content
• Familiarity with process mapping tools such as Visio, or similar
• Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodology exposure
• Experience in manufacturing, construction, building products, or supply chain environments

• Process Thinking - sees how the parts connect, identifies where things break down, and builds systems that are clear and repeatable
• Communication - translates complex workflows and technical processes into documentation that anyone can follow
• Accountability - owns their deliverables end to end; doesn’t wait to be chased for status or updates
• Collaboration - builds credibility with a wide range of departments and personalities through consistent follow-through
• Learning Orientation - naturally curious about how the business works; invests in understanding before recommending change
• Adaptability - comfortable moving between urgent project work and long-cycle documentation initiatives without losing quality or momentum

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Group Life Insurance & AD&D - 100% company-paid
• Long-Term Disability - 100% company-paid
• Voluntary Supplemental Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 128 hours of Paid Time Off
• 8 paid holidays

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Frequent use of phone, email, and collaboration tools for cross-functional coordination
• Must be able to occasionally lift up to 15 lbs

• Indoor office environment with moderate activity levels
• Collaborative, cross-functional environment with regular interaction across all departments
• Fast-paced environment with competing priorities across documentation, process improvement, and training workstreams

Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States

Background Check: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check

Driver's License: Valid driver's license required for travel

People Operations Specialists who build strong operational documentation, develop effective training programs, and demonstrate cross-functional influence have a clear path toward Senior People Operations Specialist, other roles as Sunward grows. This role is foundational to how Sunward scales - the person who builds it well will shape what the function becomes.

Sunward Steel and its affiliates are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military service, family or parental status, or any other status protected by law. Sunward Steel is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us prior to your interview.