Senior Manager, People

The role

This person will lead the People function as a one-person team. They will design and execute People strategies, oversee recruiting through external partnerships, and manage HR operations including compliance, benefits, and payroll.

What you will do

• Design and execute People strategies aligned with company objectives
• Oversee the recruiting function by partnering with hiring managers and external search partners
• Manage external recruiting partnerships and serve as the internal point of accountability
• Build and administer performance management, employee engagement, recognition, and succession planning programs
• Advise the CFO and senior leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, and scaling strategy
• Ensure workplace policies reflect federal and New York State employment law
• Oversee compensation benchmarking, benefits administration, and payroll operations
• Support managers on employee relations, conflict resolution, and organizational change
• Design programs to support rapid growth, potential spin-offs, and role definition
• Own and optimize the People technology stack and generate data-driven People metrics

Required qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR/People experience with a strong generalist foundation
• Demonstrated experience as a sole People leader or in a small HR team
• Experience overseeing or managing the recruiting function
• Working knowledge of HRIS/ATS systems, payroll platforms, and New York State and federal labor regulations
• Proven ability to advise and influence senior leadership
• Experience establishing People operations from scratch or in a lightly resourced environment
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms
• Familiarity with ATS tools and structured interviewing frameworks
• Experience managing strategic relationships with PEO
• Ability to manage payroll administration and benefits enrollment independently
• Comfort with data analysis and People metrics reporting

Nice to have

• Prior experience in VC-backed, design-driven, science-oriented, or architecture/AEC organizations
• Experience supporting organizational spin-offs, entity formation, or rapid headcount scaling
• Exposure to international employment considerations, visa processing, or multi-entity People operations
• Strategic project management experience tied to organizational transformation
• Certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or PHR

About the company

OXMAN is a nature-based research and design company based in Manhattan. They incubate ventures and technologies that reimagine the relationship between humanity and the natural world.