Senior Manager of People Operations & Compliance

Company: Rubicon Programs
Location: Richmond
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

Senior Manager of People Operations & ComplianceThe Senior Manager of Talent Operations & Compliance is a strategic leader responsible for ensuring that Rubicon's people practices are operationally sound, legally compliant, human-centered, and scalable across our nonprofit programs, Landscape division, and for-profit entity. This role manages the backbone systems, policies, and compliance functions that support a thriving workplace, while maintaining flexibility to meet the specific regulatory and business needs of multiple operating models.The Senior Manager of Talent Operations & Compliance is a systems expert, compliance steward, a thought partner to the Chief Talent Officer and an engaged member of Rubicon's senior leadership team. This role will help shape the operational strategies that advance Rubicon's mission-driven and entrepreneurial work.Reporting directly to the Chief Talent Officer, the Senior Manager will supervise Talent operations staff (including Payroll & Benefits and HR Generalist roles) and serve as the business integrator between Talent, Finance, IT, and program leaders. This position will partner deeply with the leadership of Rubicon's Landscape Division and for-profit subsidiary to ensure consistent application of policies, proper classification, prevailing wage compliance, and seamless people operations across all areas of the organization.RESPONSIBILITIESOperational Excellence

• Oversee and continuously improve HR systems and workflows, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and employee-centered service.
• Leverage technology tools such as Power Automate and Power BI to streamline HR operations workflows, automate repetitive processes, and build real-time dashboards that enhance data visibility, compliance tracking, and decision-making.
• Partner with Finance and IT to integrate HRIS systems with payroll, benefits, and compliance platforms.
• Manage HR Operations budgets, vendor relationships, and service contracts for Talent Division operations across nonprofit, Landscape, and for-profit entities.
• Ensure effective management of employee records, data privacy, and secure documentation practices across all business areas.Compliance and Risk Management
  • Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations (FMLA, CFRA, ADA, ACA, COBRA, wage and hour, EEOC, OSHA, etc.)-tailored to nonprofit and for-profit contexts.
  • Maintain and regularly update the Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct and HR policies to reflect legal changes, organizational values, and industry best practices.
  • Proactively monitor compliance specific to prevailing wage requirements, federal contracting obligations, and commercial labor standards within the Landscape Division.
  • Lead Rubicon's compliance audits, including nonprofit, for-profit, and grant-related audit activities.Policy Development & Integration
    • Draft and embed clear, actionable HR policies and SOPs that are applicable across Rubicon's organizational structure.
    • Co-create training and deliver communication campaigns to ensure understanding and implementation at all levels.Business Integration Leadership
      • Act as the liaison between HR, Finance, IT, Program and Landscape Leadership, to ensure system alignment and operational continuity.
      • Translate HR operational needs into business processes that work across multiple legal and regulatory frameworks.
      • Lead system changeovers, data conversions, testing, cutovers, and hypercare phases for major HRIS and payroll initiatives.Supervision & Team Leadership
        • Directly supervise and coach Payroll & Benefits Manager and HR Generalist to their next level aligned with Rubicon's leadership competencies.
        • Build a collaborative, accountable, high service-minded Talent Operations team across nonprofit, Landscape, and for-profit environments.Organizational Leadership
          • Actively participate as a member of Rubicon's Senior Leadership Team, contributing insights on workforce trends, operational excellence, and organizational risk mitigation.
          • Prepare clear, concise, and actionable reports on HR operational metrics, compliance activities, workforce analytics, and audit findings for internal leadership, auditors, and external stakeholders.
          • Analyze HR operational and workforce data to identify trends, gaps, and risks, and make strategic, data-driven recommendations for continuous process improvements and system enhancements.COMPETENCIES
            • 7 years of progressive HR operations and compliance experience.
            • 3 years of supervisory experience leading HR operational staff.
            • Strong project management skills, with the ability to scope, plan, implement, and close projects independently and collaboratively.
            • Strong knowledge of HRIS system management, data governance, payroll integration, and audit procedures.
            • Experience managing departmental budgets and vendor relationships, including contract negotiation, service evaluation, and cost optimization.
            • Understanding of labor and employment law compliance, wage and hour regulations, multi-entity payroll management.
            • Exceptional ability to communicate for resonance across diverse audiences and ability to translate technical compliance and system needs into user-friendly, mission-aligned processes.KEY ROLE-BASED COMPETENCIES
              • Strategic & Systems Thinking: Ability to connect organizational strategy with operational implementation across nonprofit and business contexts.
              • Operational Implementation: Highly organized with a focus on delivering accurate, timely, and high-quality outcomes.
              • Change Management: Skilled at leading system transitions and organizational change with empathy and accountability.
              • Risk Awareness: Proactive identification of compliance vulnerabilities and implementation of preventative solutions.
              • Equity Lens: Ability to embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles into compliance and operations practices.
              • Collaborative Leadership: Builds strong partnerships across programs, operations, and leadership teams.
              • Design thinking: Experience applying design thinking principles to create user-centered HR policies, processes, or system improvements.
              • Lifelong Learner: Active engagement in professional development through industry associations, certifications, or ongoing HR/compliance training.COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
                • $90,000-$100,000 Annually
                • Medical, Dental and Vision health plans. Kaiser and Sutter Health options.
                • 3 weeks paid vacation and sick leave, 13 paid holidays.
                • 4 days paid restorative holiday between Christmas and New Years.
                • Employer sponsored and matched retirement plan.
                • Pre-tax transportation and flexible spending accounts.About RubiconAn $18M non-profit Rubicon, provides direct services at eight locations in Alameda and Contra Costa counties and operates a growing commercial landscape social enterprise program that is a leader in sustainable practices. Rubicon transforms East Bay communities by equipping people to break the cycle of poverty. Recognized as a national leader in workforce development, Rubicon provides individualized one-on-one career advising, job search support, financial education, wellness and legal services, to very low-income people who face significant barriers to achieving economic mobility.Rubicon is a 2022 Great Place to Work, on a journey towards becoming a high-road employer and an anti-racist organization. We are committed to systems change and advocacy through efforts like expanding and deepening Employee Resource Groups; the launch of an internal Racial Justice Task Force; and implementation of talent and culture supports that acknowledge and facilitate healing from the direct and indirect effects of racial trauma.Rubicon actively recruits staff members with a diversity of culture, thought, and lived experiences who are not only highly skilled, but who consistently demonstrate a commitment to our vision of an East Bay without poverty and are passionate about this work.Rubicon is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and values diversity of culture, thought, and lived experiences. We seek talented, qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, conviction history, uniform service membership/veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical conditions, genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression regardless of physical gender, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.Rubicon uses E-Verify to validate the eligibility of our new employees to work legally in the United States.
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Keywords: Rubicon Programs, Fairfield , Senior Manager of People Operations & Compliance, Executive , Richmond, California