About the role
Why Achira
* Join a world-class team of scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs building the future of drug discovery.
* Partner with leadership to shape how a fast-growing company operates day-to-day.
* Build and scale foundational HR systems, processes, and culture in a high-growth environment.
* Operate with trust, ownership, and transparency in a mission-driven company advancing science and technology.
About the Role
Achira is seeking an experienced, people-focused operations Manager to lead the people team for an early-stage, high-growth start-up. This role oversees the full employee experience from recruiting and onboarding to performance management, employee relations, and compliance while helping shape a positive, productive workplace culture. The ideal candidate is a strategic leadership partner as well as a trusted resource for employees at every level.
Key Responsibilities
* Manage full-cycle recruiting: job postings, recruiter relations, interviews, reference checks, and offer negotiation
* Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes to ensure smooth employee transitions
* Develop and administer HR policies, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws
* Manage employee relations issues, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and investigations
* Lead performance management processes, including reviews, goal-setting, and improvement plans in collaboration with leadership
* Administer compensation and benefits programs, including open enrollment and annual review cycles
* Partner with team leads and project mgmt. on workforce planning, org design, and headcount needs
* Maintain and improve HR systems (HRIS), records, and reporting in coordination with third party vendor support
* Engage with legal counsel on immigration issues and visa processing ultimately shifting to in-house processes
* Drive employee engagement initiatives and culture-building programs in partnership with leadership
* Manage training and professional development programs in partnership with leadership
* Ensure health, safety, and compliance standards are met across the organization
* Prepare HR metrics and reports for leadership (turnover, retention, headcount, etc.)
* Oversee compliance associated with benefit plans and employee policies
* Flexibility in covering administrative responsibilities outside of HR
About you
* Bachelor's degree
* 5+ years of progressive HR experience, including 2+ years in a management or supervisory capacity
* Strong knowledge of employment law, state requirements, HR best practices, and compliance requirements
* Experience with HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP, or similar)
* Excellent interpersonal, conflict-resolution, and communication skills
* Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion
* Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
* SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred
* Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and keep operations running smoothly
* Strong problem-solver who is proactive, resourceful, and able to act independently
* Excellent interpersonal skills; you create a positive, welcoming environment and communicate effectively across teams
* Comfortable with basic tools (Google Workspace, Slack, Notion, etc.) and not afraid to learn new skills
* Hands-on and adaptable — excited to roll up your sleeves and build processes in a fast-paced, evolving environment
* Mission-driven and motivated to support a team advancing drug discovery
* Experience in managing employees in science, technology, or research fields
* Commitment to equity and employee engagement
* Experience supporting a distributed or hybrid workforce
* Data-driven approach to HR decision-making