Senior People Operations Specialist

People Operations Specialist - OnboardingAbout KikoffKikoff is a profitable fintech unicorn on a mission to help millions of Americans build credit and financial independence. Having grown from 10 to 150+ employees over the past four years, we're scaling rapidly while maintaining our culture of excellence and intensity. We believe in moving fast, raising the bar, and drinking from the firehose - and we need someone who can ensure every new hire is ready to thrive in this environment from day one.The OpportunityWe're looking for a People Operations Specialist to own and revolutionize our onboarding experience. You'll be responsible for transforming high-potential candidates into fully ramped Kikoff team members, managing multiple cohorts per week through an intensive onboarding program. This is a high-visibility role reporting directly to our Chief of Staff/VP of HR, with clear paths to HRBP or People program management leadership.This isn't your typical warm-and-fuzzy HR role. You'll be equal parts operational executor, cultural ambassador, and accountability driver - ensuring new hires are welcomed warmly while being pushed to ramp faster than they thought possible.What You'll OwnPre-Boarding Operations (25%)Coordinate end-to-end visa and immigration processes for international employeesManage background check processes to ensure on-time startsTemporarily own IT systems and equipment coordination (until IT Manager hire)Track and resolve any pre-boarding blockers that could delay start datesOnboarding Program Execution (50%)Design and execute cohort-based onboarding for new hires weeklyCoordinate and schedule cross-functional programming, ensuring all departments deliver their componentsCreate an intense yet welcoming experience that reinforces our hard-charging cultureMaintain energy and momentum throughout the onboarding journeyEnsure seamless logistics from day 1 through 90-day milestoneProgram Innovation & Improvement (25%)Partner with leadership to continuously iterate on onboarding programmingDefine and track success metrics including time-to-productivity, new hire NPS, and manager satisfactionIdentify bottlenecks and implement data-driven improvementsPush departments to develop role-specific onboarding tracksCollaborate with our People Analytics & Insights Strategist to measure program effectivenessWhat Success Looks LikeOnboarding runs smoothly without executive involvement in logisticsNew hires consistently rate their onboarding experience 4.5+ out of 5Managers report new hires are productive 20% faster than baselineSuccessful experiments and iterations launched monthlyZero delays or mishaps in pre-boarding logisticsOther functions proactively engage in delivering their onboarding componentsYou'll Thrive in This Role If YouLive for operational excellence: You're naturally organized, detail-obsessed, and nothing falls through the cracks on your watchInfluence without authority: You've successfully coordinated complex projects across multiple stakeholders who don't report to youBalance warmth with intensity: You can make someone feel welcomed while pushing them to perform at their highest levelThink in systems and data: You don't measure success by "feelings" but by metrics, trends, and quantifiable improvementsLearn and iterate quickly: You're comfortable with ambiguity and see every week as a chance to make onboarding betterCommunicate with precision: You can create clear, thoughtful content and facilitate engaging programmingExperience We're Looking For1-2+ years of experience in operations, HR, consulting, or program management (exceptional high-slope candidates with less experience will be considered)Track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder processesExperience in high-growth tech companies or fast-paced consulting environments preferredData analysis skills and comfort with metrics-driven decision makingBachelor's degree or equivalent experienceBonus: Experience with visa/immigration processes or HRIS systems