People Operations Generalist

About The Shed

The Shed is a cultural institution of and for the 21st century. We produce and welcome innovative art and ideas, across all forms of creativity, to build a shared understanding of our rapidly changing world and a more equitable society. In our highly adaptable building on Manhattan’s west side, The Shed brings together established and emerging artists to create new work in fields ranging from pop to classical music, painting to digital media, theater to literature, and sculpture to dance. We seek opportunities to collaborate with cultural peers and community organizations, work with like-minded partners, and provide unique spaces for private events. As an independent non-profit that values invention, equity, and generosity, we are committed to advancing art forms, addressing the urgent issues of our time, and making our work impactful, sustainable, and relevant to the local community, the cultural sector, New York City, and beyond.

Job Description 

The People Operations Generalist supports the day-to-day operations of the People Operations department and plays a key role in ensuring employees receive responsive and effective HR support. Reporting to the People Operations Manager, this role coordinates HR processes, including recruitment logistics, onboarding, benefits administration, HR systems maintenance, and employee lifecycle support. This role is highly collaborative and service-oriented, helping ensure People Operations programs run smoothly across the organization.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Payroll & HRIS Administration

• Process new hires and rehires for union and non-union staff within the HRIS system
• Process payroll adjustments, including salary updates, title changes, PTO requests, vacation payouts, and other compensation changes
• Provide HRIS support, including troubleshooting, assisting with system navigation, pay data retrieval, and updating personnel information
• Assign and manage PTO policies for union and non-union staff
• Maintain payroll tracking documentation and support payroll reporting

Employee Lifecycle & Onboarding

• Coordinate the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, internal transitions, and offboarding
• Manage new hire logistics, including employment verification, ADP configuration, and orientation coordination with hiring managers
• Manage offboarding processes, including exit documentation, benefits termination, COBRA coordination, and final payroll adjustments
• Maintain employee records and HR documentation

Employee Relations Support

• Serve as a point of contact for employee HR inquiries
• Support employee relations by assisting with documentation and scheduling meetings related to workplace concerns or disciplinary actions
• Maintain confidentiality and ensure documentation of employee matters

Recruitment Coordination

• Coordinate full-cycle recruitment logistics, including job postings, candidate communications, scheduling, screening, interview script development, and collaboration with hiring managers
• Maintain and update applicant tracking records

Benefits & Leave Administration

• Manage new hire and annual open enrollment, including HRIS setup and employee communications
• Coordinate with benefit vendors to process and manage benefit enrollments and updates
• Collaborate with benefit account managers to facilitate employee information sessions
• Track employee leave programs, including reasonable medical accommodations, disability, FMLA, and Paid Family Leave
• Partner with employees, payroll, and benefit carriers to ensure accurate submission of leave documentation and proper benefits coverage
• Manage COBRA administration and coordinate benefit terminations with payroll
• Manage workers’ compensation claims and related documentation
• Respond to unemployment insurance inquiries from the Department of Labor
• Address employee benefits-related questions and concerns

HR Systems & Operations

• Maintain employee data in HRIS systems, including ADP, Greenhouse, and PerformYard
• Support operational systems such as Makeshift and Intacct
• Assist with payroll data entry and employee data reporting, including employee metrics and milestones

HR Projects & Process Improvement

• Support initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency and enhancing the employee experience
• Identify opportunities to streamline HR processes and assist in implementing workflow and documentation improvements
• Develop and maintain internal documentation for HR processes, procedures, and system workflows

Performance Management Support

• Coordinate logistics for performance review cycles

Qualifications and Qualities

• Three or more years of progressive HR experience
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or a combination of education and equivalent professional experience, is required
• Comfort working in a hybrid environment in our NYC offices (minimum three days on-site, open plan office)
• Start-up/entrepreneurial drive and cultural arts institution experience is preferred
• Experience working with unions is a plus
• Experience working with ADP HRIS and recruiting tools and systems as well as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Excellent relationship management and interpersonal skills; excellent oral and written communication skills as well as the ability to demonstrate empathy and understanding in dealing with sensitive employee issues
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of a highly motivated, energetic team
• Attention to detail and ability to multitask and work well under pressure and in a fast-paced environment is required
• Ability to manage and prioritize time, demonstrate pushback and a sense of urgency, and understand the value of providing impeccable customer service
• Strong understanding of local, state, and federal employment law and regulations
• A passion and curiosity for innovative art and ideas across all forms of creativity is strongly preferred

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $75,000. Compensation is commensurate with experience. 

Application Process

Interested candidates should complete an application and submit a résumé and cover letter in a Word or PDF document saved as the candidate's first and last name through our Career Center. Only résumés and cover letters submitted in this format will be reviewed. 

The Shed is dedicated to building an equitable environment that is mixed across lines of difference and strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, transgender, and nonbinary candidates. This position will remain open until filled and until a diverse and qualified pool of candidates is identified. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the arts field are strongly encouraged to apply. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.