People & Business Operations Manager (U.S. based staffing required)

People & Business Operations Manager Remote (India-Based) | Full-Time | U.S. Business Hours About Us: STEPS Talent is a high-precision staffing firm operating in complex enterprise and consulting environments. We believe operational excellence is a competitive advantage. As we scale, we’re building infrastructure that is disciplined, compliant, and intelligently designed. We are hiring a People & Business Operations Manager to own and mature our People Operations and core back-office systems. This role is not clerical. It is operational ownership. You will operate as a department of one while partnering directly with leadership to ensure our people, payroll, vendors, billing, compliance, and reporting functions run cleanly, efficiently, and predictably. The Role: This position blends: • People Operations • Compliance & Payroll Administration • Vendor & Financial Coordination • Operational Systems Management You will be responsible for execution and for improving how execution happens. Recruiting is not a primary responsibility, though occasional coordination may be required. Core Responsibilities: 1. People Operations & Employee Lifecycle • Own onboarding and offboarding processes for U.S.-based employees and consultants • Maintain accurate employee records and documentation • Manage job changes, compensation updates, and status changes • Serve as first point of contact for HR-related questions • Ensure smooth, compliant employee lifecycle management 2. HR Compliance & Governance • Maintain compliant personnel files and documentation • Ensure adherence to federal, state, and multi-state U.S. labor laws • Support audits and regulatory reporting • Assist with handbook updates and policy rollouts • Monitor emerging compliance requirements (leave laws, classification changes, etc.) 3. Payroll, Benefits & Vendor Coordination • Prepare and validate payroll inputs with payroll provider • Administer benefits enrollment and changes • Liaise with payroll vendors, workers’ compensation providers, insurance brokers, and retirement administrators • Support worker’s comp audits and required filings • Ensure accuracy and timeliness in all payroll-related processes 4. Financial Operations Support • Support Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable processes • Manage client invoicing cycles (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) • Track payments and assist with reconciliation • Coordinate with bookkeeping support and CPA as needed 5. Business Operations & Vendor Management • Manage vendor onboarding, renewals, contracts, and documentation • Maintain organized records of insurance, contracts, and compliance documents • Act as operational liaison for business service providers • Ensure no critical deadlines or renewals lapse 6. Process Optimization & Systems Leverage (Critical) We are not looking for manual processors. We are looking for an operator who: • Identifies repetitive manual processes and simplifies or automates them • Uses modern tools (including AI tools) to increase speed and accuracy • Improves documentation clarity and repeatability • Builds simple dashboards or tracking systems to improve visibility • Reduces friction before it becomes failure Examples: • Using AI tools to draft policy updates or summarize regulatory guidance • Creating workflow checklists that reduce onboarding errors • Improving payroll validation through structured review templates • Designing lightweight dashboards that flag risks before deadlines are missed This is not a technical role — but it requires strong systems fluency and resourcefulness. Qualifications: • 7–12 years of experience in People Operations, HR, Office Management, or Business Operations • Experience operating autonomously as a department of one • Strong working knowledge of U.S. HR processes and labor laws • Experience supporting U.S. payroll and vendor coordination • Working knowledge of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and invoicing processes • Strong documentation discipline and attention to detail • High discretion and trustworthiness • Clear, direct communicator Required Mindset: • Ownership-oriented • Structured and methodical • Calm under pressure • Proactive in preventing problems • Comfortable leveraging AI and modern tools to multiply output We value operators who use technology to increase their effectiveness — not for hype, but for leverage. Must-Haves: • Experience supporting a U.S.-based staffing or consulting company • Direct exposure to U.S. payroll and compliance processes • Demonstrated ability to improve operational efficiency • Proven ability to manage business administration processes independently Nice-to-Haves: • HR Certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, etc.) • Lean / Six Sigma exposure • Experience building dashboards or operational reporting views Why This Role Matters: • True ownership across People Operations and Business Operations • Direct partnership with leadership • Opportunity to design sy