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Manager, People Operations

Remote - US

About the Role

We’re seeking a strategic and systems-minded People leader to serve as a broad generalist across talent development, HR operations, compliance, and talent acquisition systems. This role will play a critical part in designing and delivering an excellent employee experience, enabling strong people practices across the organization, and building systems and processes that scale through the thoughtful use of technology.

You’ll work closely with the VP of People as a trusted partner and collaborator, with the autonomy to drive initiatives forward and the support to problem-solve, align on strategy, and grow in the role. The right candidate will bring strong execution, curiosity, and a collaborative mindset to co-create a high-impact, high-trust People function.

This position is a US based, fully-remote role.

What You’ll Do

People Programs & Development

  • Own our performance review process and drive improvements in fairness, clarity, and growth orientation
  • Build and deliver manager enablement tools (feedback, coaching, 1:1s, etc.)
  • Support onboarding tracks and lightweight L&D initiatives
  • Lead or co-lead succession planning and talent reviews
  • Incorporate employee feedback into all program design

HR Operations & Compliance

  • Manage onboarding, offboarding, leave requests, and employee documentation
  • Ensure we remain compliant across multiple states and keep our handbooks/policies up to date
  • Maintain accuracy and organization in our HRIS (Paylocity)
  • Evaluate and implement process improvements that reduce manual admin work

Talent Systems & Recruiting Infrastructure

  • Own and optimize our use of Greenhouse ATS
  • Create interview guides, intake templates, and structured scorecards for internal hiring
  • Support internal hiring efforts (5–10 hires/year) and advise on candidate experience, equity, and consistency
  • Pilot AI and automation tools that improve efficiency and enable strong decentralized hiring

People Systems & Internal Comms

  • Create and maintain clean documentation of processes and workflows
  • Build internal communications around performance, onboarding, and policies
  • Train team members on tools, templates, and systems

What You Bring

  • 6+ years of experience in HR, People Ops, or Talent with depth in at least one of the following: performance management, HR compliance, or systems
  • Strong understanding of multi-state employment law and HR fundamentals
  • Comfort working in a lean team with a high degree of trust and autonomy
  • Curiosity and comfort working with new tech (we use Paylocity, Greenhouse, 15Five)
  • Exceptional written communication and organizational skills
  • Mission alignment and a deep belief in making work better for everyone

You’ll Thrive Here If You…

  • Love solving problems and building structure where there wasn’t any
  • Want autonomy in your work and a collaborative, supportive thought partner
  • Are excited to learn and apply AI/automation to make good processes even better
  • Believe that People teams can be both strategic and human-centered
  • Are energized by improving clarity, equity, and simplicity in how people work together

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $85,000 - $95,000, depending on experience and level. Kokua offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) with employer match, generous paid time off, and flexible remote work. We are committed to supporting our team’s well-being and growth.

 

About Kokua

Teacher absences result in lost learning time for students, particularly in under-resourced schools. At Kokua, we’re building a growing network of substitute teachers dedicated to maximizing learning time with students. 

Kokua began in Chicago in 2011 and has since grown across the country. We are a diverse and mission-driven culture, focused on finding positive role models who will empower their students to explore their full potential. Join a dynamic, results-driven team looking to make a lasting impact for future generations.

 

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