People Operations Manager

Context: Sunstone Therapies is the leader in the delivery of psychedelic-assisted therapy in the medical setting, focusing on the development and implementation of clinical trials today, and moving towards clinical delivery if and when therapies are approved. Right now, we have one site with roughly 30 employees (not including trainee therapists)-- looking to build our team and expand to 2 more sites in the next 2 years. At Sunstone, our culture centers on love and rigor, prioritizing whole-person healing for all. Join us in making a profound impact in the realm of therapeutic research!

Sunstone Therapies is working to accelerate the on-the-ground learning and operations necessary to approve and scale psychedelic therapies in the medical setting. Sunstone is a leader in addressing the mental health of cancer patients and their caregivers through psychedelic therapies. In service of Sunstone’s vision to offer Whole Person Healing for All, the People Operations Manager plays an integral role in achieving this mission.

To be successful in this role in this growth stage start-up, the People Operations Manager must be a detail-oriented self-starter and problem solver, be able to shift projects and priorities rapidly to meet emerging needs and approach the work in alignment with the values of love and rigor, which are essential to the Sunstone culture.

Scope: The People Operations Manager will lead the daily tasks of Sunstone's HR function, working closely with company leadership to help us grow through effective, people-focused practices including: establishing and nurturing a world class culture, managing talent acquisition, handling payroll and benefits, reinforcing company policies, and ensuring compliance.

At our stage of growth, the People Operations Manager needs to be detail-oriented, a self-starter, and a problem solver who can quickly pivot between tasks and priorities. Importantly, the successful candidate should embody and embrace the values of love and rigor, which are foundational to Sunstone’s culture.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership, Strategy, Culture, and Engagement:

• Lead HR initiatives that align with the company’s strategic goals.
• Develop and implement HR strategies and initiatives to improve the organization’s culture and employee engagement through a strong Employee Value Proposition.
• Act as a strategic partner to management, providing guidance on HR-related matters.

Recruitment and Onboarding:

• Oversee the recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of qualified job applicants for open positions; working closely with the leadership team to operationalize the recruiting strategy.
• Collaborate with managers to understand skills and competencies required for hiring the best talent and create/update job descriptions.
• Conduct background checks and employee eligibility verifications.
• Implement new hire orientation and employee and culture programs.

Compliance and Training:

• Review, track, and document compliance with mandatory and non-mandatory training, continuing education, and work assessments, including safety training, anti-harassment training, professional licensure, and certifications; working closely with the learning & regulatory teams.
• Maintain knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law.

HR Program Administration:

• Administer and execute human resource programs including but not limited to compensation, benefits, and leave; disciplinary matters; investigations; performance and talent management; productivity, recognition, and morale; occupational health and safety; and training and development.
• Handle employment-related inquiries from applicants, employees, and supervisors, referring complex and/or sensitive matters to the appropriate staff.

Employee Relations

• Assist managers with constructive and timely performance feedback and evaluations for employees.
• Attend and participate in employee disciplinary meetings, terminations, and investigations.

Policy and Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and recommended best practices.
• Review and update policies and practices to maintain compliance, including research of state & local regulations for new sites.

HRIS Administration:

• Administer data and processes within the HRIS.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of the HRIS and talent management systems.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required.
• At least 5 years of experience in an HR role at a small, growing organization (30-200 employees), managing a broad range of responsibilities across various HR functions.
• Experience acting as a strategic business partner to leaders across a wide variety of departments/functions, with the ability to build trust and credibility with leaders to advise and influence HR strategy.
• Experience using data-informed approaches to recommend, influence, and effectively execute people operations initiatives.
• Active listener with the ability to facilitate effective communication; ability to garner insights from every conversation, and consider the situation, context, and implications.
• Ability to proactively identify solutions that "step out of the box" in addressing challenges and accomplishing talent and people goals.
• Demonstrated professional maturity and gravitas in every interaction; comfortable sharing an opinion while considering other perspectives.
• Resilience and a passion for results that impact business outcomes; consistently delivering on commitments made to the team and effectively managing expectations along the way.
• Familiarity with People Operations metrics and with the ability to draw meaningful insights from HR data.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Demonstrated understanding of HR legislation, employment law, principles, policies, and procedures.
• Proficiency with HRIS and talent management systems.
• Certifications: SHRM and/or HRCI certification is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

• Sunstone Therapies offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.