Overview

The Senior Manager, HR Operations is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for overseeing and enhancing human resources functions within the organization. As an individual contributor supporting a workforce of approximately 100 employees, this role ensures that HR operations align with the company's objectives and foster a positive work environment.​

Key responsibilities include developing and implementing HR strategies, managing HR systems, ensuring compliance with employment laws, and optimizing HR processes to enhance efficiency and employee satisfaction. The Senior Manager will also lead HR projects from conception to completion, including process re-engineering how data is captured, stored and reported, technology implementations, and change management initiatives.​

This role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving, strong leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of HR best practices and a commitment to continuous improvement in HR operations.​

Please apply here by July 31, 2025 for priority consideration.

What you’ll do:

Strategically, you will:

1. Serve as a key partner to Cambiar’s leadership team, providing critical support on recruitment, hiring, employee data, policies, and areas such as compensation, benefits, and compliance.
2. Collaborate closely with senior leaders to offer strategic counsel and drive key initiatives forward. Build strong relationships across the organization, actively seeking employee feedback to enhance service quality, operational efficiency, and responsiveness. Contribute to the development of new operational strategies and support special projects in partnership with Cambiar’s leadership.

Tactically, you will lead in the following areas:

1. Payroll and Benefits Administration. Process payroll, manage benefits enrollment, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
2. Compliance and Legal. Stay informed about labor laws, regulations, and compliance requirements, and ensure HR practices comply with them.
3. Onboarding and Offboarding. Manage the employee lifecycle, from new hire orientation to termination processing.
4. Recruitment and Hiring. Collaborate closely with hiring managers to execute recruitment and hiring strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Manage the candidate experience throughout the hiring process, providing support at every stage. Implement and maintain tracking systems to streamline recruitment efforts and ensure efficient candidate management.
5. Data Management. Maintain accurate and secure employee records, managing HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems), and ensuring data integrity.
6. Reporting and Analytics. Generate reports, analyze HR data, and identify trends to support decision-making.
7. Training and Development. Manage training programs, track employee development, and ensure compliance with training requirements.
8. HR Technology. Implement, manage, and troubleshoot HR-related technology, including software and systems.
9. Employee Engagement. Execute a talent development cycle, an annual employee engagement survey, and provide recommendations to address trends that surface from these two areas of employee input.
10. Employee Relations. Support employees with HR-related questions, providing guidance, and resolving conflict.
11. Performance Management. Implement a talent development cycle to ensure active performance management and accountability to fulfill Cambiar’s mission.
12. Process Improvement. Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, workflows, and efficiency.
13. Vendor Management. Manage relationships with external vendors providing HR-related services.

In addition to HR Operations, you will be expected to lead or support a diverse range of cross-functional initiatives that drive Cambiar’s operational excellence and strategic objectives forward.

For these projects, you will operate as an internal consultant or project manager across departments to scope, plan, and execute high-priority projects, often on short timelines, while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and systems. Whether researching and standing up new technology tools, implementing new processes, or facilitating system transitions, you will play a central role in building internal capacity, improving workflows, and sustaining momentum across teams.

This role is for you if:

• You have 7+ years relevant experience related to maintaining operational excellence in a business or leadership capacity. Preferably, you have worked in the education, innovation and/or consulting sectors.
• You are comfortable working independently and as an individual contributor in a rigorous organizational cadence; willing to be flexible, adapting to changes with ease.
• You have directly executed and managed the tactical areas you will support in this role: Employee Engagement, HR operations (data management, reporting, compliance, employee policy, payroll and benefits, etc.) and other people related special projects.
• You have expertise in HRIS and other HR software, a strong understanding of labor laws and regulations, and a solid grasp of HR compliance. Additionally, you are skilled in building systems to approximate HRIS functionality while a system is identified and an implementation timeline is determined.
• You have a track record of functioning as a highly reliable leader with a blend of superior strategic, operational, program/project management, communication, and leadership skills.
• You identify as a creative and inclusive problem solver with a roll-up-the-sleeves approach. Operating in entrepreneurial environments comes naturally to you.
• You naturally show up as an influential leader who can easily establish rapport and credibility. You know how to motivate teams, empower folks to achieve desired outcomes, and can navigate the business towards achieving its goals.
• You possess a strong executive presence with unparalleled communication skills and technique.
• You have unquestionable character and absolute integrity and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• You are known for being highly organized with an exceptional attention to detail matched with strong initiative.
• In this role you’ll need to be able to periodically travel to in-person meetings in various US cities, and will be expected to work remotely, collaborating with colleagues who are based across the country in various time zones.

📌 Having experience working as a senior leader in the education sector is a plus but not a prerequisite for this position.

What you’ll get:

• Salary range of $110,000-$130,000 per year depending on experience and aligned title_Note: Cambiar will evaluate how your experience aligns with the way we assign compensation_

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision benefits

• Access to optional benefits such as Employee Assistance Program (EAP), HSA/FSA, pet insurance, etc.

• Retirement Plan (401k): Cambiar matches 100% of employee contributions up to 4% of your salary

• Flexible “Take What You Need” vacation policy, 14 organizationally-observed holidays plus a floating holiday of your choice

• Various team retreats during the year: travel and meet your teammates in-person. Trust us, it’ll be fun 😎

• $500 annual wellness stipend

• $100/month towards phone and internet

• Annual work from home stipend to set up your home office

Work environment:

Although our team works remotely, you are expected to engage in overnight travel at least 2x throughout the year to various US cities to meet up with other team members (in-person retreats, other program-related meetings and events), and be ready to play an active role in contributing to our collaborative, inclusive culture.

We’re looking for applicants who are comfortable working remotely and who have experience successfully collaborating with team members across different time zones. Your core working days and hours will be M-F from 8am-5pm, with the ability to flex according to workload, scheduled calls and in-person/virtual meetings.

About our organization:

Cambiar Education is a non-profit venture design studio focused on student success and equity. By joining Cambiar Education, you join a network committed to changing the marketplace for education innovation to prove undeniably that every student can succeed and thrive. As an organization, we respect each other’s time, value each other as individuals, and strive to create a meaningful workplace that embodies its values and guiding principles.

Our Core Values:

We’re committed to living our organization's core values:

• CREATE 🌎 We create to make a transformative difference in the world. We are eternally optimistic and develop game-changing solutions.
• LOVE ❤️ We do this work because we believe in the tremendous talent and human potential of all; we seek to discover, engage, and celebrate everyone's unique 'superpowers.' We seek out and lean into diverse ideas, joyful debates, and direct feedback.
• GROW 🌱 We have a crazy curiosity, love big challenges, and aren't afraid to fail. We accelerate growth and impact so change agents and change efforts reach their fullest potential.
• LAUGH 😄 We laugh often and out loud; creativity is best fostered when we are having fun! We defer judgment so we can all laugh, dance, sing, and express 'like no one is watching.'

Our Equal Opportunity Employer Intentions:

At Cambiar Education, we believe everyone can make a positive impact. To support that view, we aim to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workplace that champions equity in education and the communities we serve. We believe that a variety of perspectives and experiences strengthens our community and enhances our impact. Our commitment to provide an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where every individual feels respected and valued, underscores our mission of creating life changing impact for one million youth.

Cambiar Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, including braids, locks, and twists), ethnicity, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age (40 and over), protected medical condition (including cancer and genetic conditions), genetic information, disability (mental and physical), reproductive health decision-making, medical leave or other types of protected leave (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment.

If you require assistance during the application process or need to inquire about accommodations, please contact us at careers at cambiareducation.org.

Together, we can create a welcoming environment that empowers every member of our community.