What are the responsibilities and job description for the People Operations Manager position at Vaco by Highspring?
Client: Top-Tier AI/SaaS Organization
Role: People Operations Manager
Salary: $175,000 - $185,000/annually Equity
Location: *Remote - must be willing to travel to Barcelona once a month!*
Preferred to be in San Fran, CA or New York City but not required
***Must have experience with an AI/Saas Company that has experienced high growth
Job Description:
People Operations Lead (Founding Member)
We're seeking a strategic yet deeply hands-on People Operations Lead to help build the foundation of our culture and people infrastructure. As our first dedicated People hire, you'll work closely with the founders to design and implement the systems, practices, and experiences that enable our team to thrive as we scale.
This role is ideal for someone who excels in early-stage environments-balancing big-picture thinking with detailed execution-and enjoys turning ambiguity into structure.
The Impact You'll Have
Build from the Ground Up:
Partner with founders to design and scale People Operations from zero, ensuring systems and processes evolve alongside the business.
Own the Employee Experience:
Lead the full employee lifecycle, from creating a standout onboarding experience to managing thoughtful, compliant offboarding.
Run Core People Operations:
Oversee payroll, benefits, HRIS, and people documentation-keeping the operational backbone of the company running smoothly.
Support Global Growth:
Manage the complexities of a distributed, international workforce, including visa sponsorships, work authorization, and regional compliance.
Enable Performance & Growth:
Implement lightweight, high-impact performance and feedback frameworks that support growth without unnecessary bureaucracy.
Serve as a Trusted Partner:
Act as a trusted advisor to employees and leaders alike, bringing high emotional intelligence, discretion, and sound judgment to sensitive conversations.
What You Bring
Early-Stage Experience:
5 years in People Operations or HR, with experience in high-growth or early-stage startups. You understand what scalable People Ops looks like-and how to build toward it.
Builder Mentality:
You're energized by creating structure where none exists and take pride in building practical, scalable processes.
Legal & Systems Knowledge:
Strong understanding of U.S. employment law, with international exposure a plus, and hands-on experience with modern HRIS and payroll tools.
Comfort with Ambiguity:
You can take loosely defined goals and turn them into clear plans, frameworks, and execution.
High EQ, Low Ego:
You communicate clearly, listen deeply, and lead with empathy-earning trust across the organization.
Role: People Operations Manager
Salary: $175,000 - $185,000/annually Equity
Location: *Remote - must be willing to travel to Barcelona once a month!*
Preferred to be in San Fran, CA or New York City but not required
***Must have experience with an AI/Saas Company that has experienced high growth
Job Description:
People Operations Lead (Founding Member)
We're seeking a strategic yet deeply hands-on People Operations Lead to help build the foundation of our culture and people infrastructure. As our first dedicated People hire, you'll work closely with the founders to design and implement the systems, practices, and experiences that enable our team to thrive as we scale.
This role is ideal for someone who excels in early-stage environments-balancing big-picture thinking with detailed execution-and enjoys turning ambiguity into structure.
The Impact You'll Have
Build from the Ground Up:
Partner with founders to design and scale People Operations from zero, ensuring systems and processes evolve alongside the business.
Own the Employee Experience:
Lead the full employee lifecycle, from creating a standout onboarding experience to managing thoughtful, compliant offboarding.
Run Core People Operations:
Oversee payroll, benefits, HRIS, and people documentation-keeping the operational backbone of the company running smoothly.
Support Global Growth:
Manage the complexities of a distributed, international workforce, including visa sponsorships, work authorization, and regional compliance.
Enable Performance & Growth:
Implement lightweight, high-impact performance and feedback frameworks that support growth without unnecessary bureaucracy.
Serve as a Trusted Partner:
Act as a trusted advisor to employees and leaders alike, bringing high emotional intelligence, discretion, and sound judgment to sensitive conversations.
What You Bring
Early-Stage Experience:
5 years in People Operations or HR, with experience in high-growth or early-stage startups. You understand what scalable People Ops looks like-and how to build toward it.
Builder Mentality:
You're energized by creating structure where none exists and take pride in building practical, scalable processes.
Legal & Systems Knowledge:
Strong understanding of U.S. employment law, with international exposure a plus, and hands-on experience with modern HRIS and payroll tools.
Comfort with Ambiguity:
You can take loosely defined goals and turn them into clear plans, frameworks, and execution.
High EQ, Low Ego:
You communicate clearly, listen deeply, and lead with empathy-earning trust across the organization.
Salary : $175,000 - $185,000