Senior Manager, People Operations

Persons in these roles are expected to work from our offices in Seattle. Ourbase salary range is $144,500 - $217,000, and in addition we have generous bonus plans to provide a competitive compensation package. Who You Are: The Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) is seeking a strategic and hands‑on Senior Manager, People Operations to join our People Operations team. In this senior leadership role, you’ll oversee key areas such as compensation design and administration, HRIS management, immigration, employment compliance, and recruiting and benefits programs. You’ll also lead and develop two direct reports, fostering their growth and ensuring alignment across the broader People Operations function. You bring a strong foundation in total rewards, HR systems, and legal compliance, along with the ability to manage vendors, streamline processes, and deliver exceptional support to internal stakeholders. With 12+ years of progressive HR experience, you’re known for your analytical mindset, organizational excellence, and proactive approach to solving complex challenges. You’re a collaborative and empathetic HR leader who thrives on helping people and improving systems. You think creatively, communicate clearly, and take pride in building programs that make a tangible impact. If this sounds like the next step in your career journey, we encourage you to apply Who We Are: The People Operations team is led by the Head of People Operations and includes four individual contributors, each playing an essential role in supporting Ai2’s mission. We’re a collaborative, close‑knit group that values partnership, inclusivity, and a willingness to roll up our sleeves—no task is too small when it contributes to our shared success. Our leader also oversees the Office Team, a group of five who help create an exceptional day‑to‑day experience for everyone at Ai2. The People Operations group reports to our Chief Operations and Strategy Officer as part of the Strategic Infrastructure (SI) organization—a 30+ person team focused on building the systems and foundations that enable Ai2’s long‑term success. The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following: Compensation & Total Rewards Design, implement, and manage compensation structures, including base pay, variable pay, and annual salary reviews. Conduct market benchmarking, job evaluations, and compensation analysis to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness. Partner with finance and leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and compensation planning. HRIS Management Oversee the configuration, optimization, and maintenance of the HRIS platform (e.g., Workday, ADP, UKG Ready, etc.). Lead HRIS initiatives related to automation, data integrity, reporting, and system enhancements. Serve as the internal expert and point of contact for HR reporting and analytics. Immigration & Global Mobility Manage all aspects of immigration for international employees, including visas (e.g., H‑1B, L‑1, TN, O‑1) and green card processes. Liaise with legal counsel, government agencies, and internal stakeholders to ensure accurate and timely processing. Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with all immigration laws and regulations. Employment Compliance Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEOC). Monitor changes in employment law and advise leadership on necessary policy updates or procedural changes. Manage HR audits, reporting (e.g., AAP, EEO‑1), and documentation requirements. Benefits Oversight Oversee administration of health, wellness, and retirement benefits in collaboration with internal teams and external brokers/vendors. Provide strategic input on benefits design, employee communications, and annual open enrollment. Ensure ongoing compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and related regulations. What You’ll Need: 12+ years of progressive experience in Human Resources, with a focus on compensation, systems, compliance, and benefits. Proven experience designing and administering compensation plans and conducting market analysis. Strong knowledge of HRIS systems and reporting tools; UKG Ready or similar platform experience preferred. Familiarity with U.S. immigration processes and working with immigration counsel or in‑house legal teams. Solid understanding of employment law and compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions. Experience overseeing benefits administration and managing vendor relationships. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret and act on data. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and project management skills. Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and maintain confidentiality. Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field required; Master’s degree or relevant certification (PHR, SHRM‑CP, CCP) preferred. Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. The ability to observe details at close range. A Little More About Ai2: Ai2 is a Seattle‑based non‑profit AI research institute founded in 2014 by the late Paul Allen. Our mission is building breakthrough AI to solve the world’s biggest problems. We develop foundational AI research and innovation to deliver real‑world impact through large‑scale open models, data, robotics, conservation, and beyond. In addition to Ai2’s core mission, we also aim to contribute to humanity through our treatment of each member of the Ai2 Team. Some highlights are: We are a learning organization – because everything Ai2 does is ground‑breaking, we are learning every day. Similarly, through weekly Ai2 Academy lectures, a wide variety of world‑class AI experts as guest speakers, and our commitment to your personal on‑going education, Ai2 is a place where you will have opportunities to continue learning alongside your coworkers. We value inclusion – We understand the value that people’s individual experiences and perspectives can bring to an organization, and we are building a culture in which all voices are heard, respected and considered. We emphasize a healthy work/life balance – we believe our team members are happiest and most productive when their work/life balance is optimized. While we value powerful research results which drive our mission forward, we also value dinner with family, weekend time, and vacation time. We offer generous paid vacation and sick leave as well as family leave. We are collaborative and transparent – we consider ourselves a team, all moving with a common purpose. We are quick to cheer our successes, and even quicker to share and jointly problem solve our failures. We are in Seattle – and our office is on the water We have mountains, we have lakes, we have four seasons, we bike to work, we have a vibrant theater scene, and we have so much else. We even have kayaks for you to paddle right outside our front door. We welcome interest from applicants from outside of the United States. We are friendly– chances are you will like every one of the 200+ (and growing) people who work here. We do. Team members and their families are covered by medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, and an employee assistance program. Team members are able to enroll in our voluntary life insurance program, our voluntary accidental death and dismemberment program, our health savings account plan, our health care reimbursement arrangement plan, and our health care and dependent care flexible spending account plans. Team members are able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan. Team members will receive $125 per month to assist with commuting or internet expenses and will also receive $200 per month for fitness and wellbeing expenses. Team members will also receive up to ten sick days per year, up to seven personal days per year, up to 20 vacation days per year and twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Team members will be able to receive annual bonuses and can participate in the long‑term incentive plan. Ai2 is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. You may view the related Know Your Rights compliance poster and the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision by clicking on their corresponding links. This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I‑9. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities to the full extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you feel you need a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the ADA, you are encouraged to contact us at recruiting@allenai.org . #J-18808-Ljbffr