People Operations Manager

ABOUT MIGHTY ACORN

At Mighty Acorn, we help government agencies navigate complex change safely and leave their teams better prepared to own what comes next. The result is resilient services that build trust in government by improving outcomes for the public and the staff who deliver them. Our goal is a world where “good enough for government work https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/G/bo38871754.html” returns to its pedestal: fast, reliable, and frustration-free.

PEOPLE OPERATIONS MANAGER AT MIGHTY ACORN

Mighty Acorn Digital is expanding our operations team and seeking a versatile, detail-oriented and curious People Operations Manager with at least 6 years of experience working in professional services. As a growing government contracting company with employees working remotely across multiple states, Mighty Acorn needs a people-first partner who can build reliable processes and coordinate across the company.

This role is hands-on and cross-functional. The Manager owns day-to-day People Operations coordination and documentation; internal hiring teams own candidate selection, practice area Directors own performance decisions, and company leadership owns policy, compensation, and business priorities. The Manager coordinates with Finance, Operations, the Contracts & Compliance Manager, and employment counsel or other qualified advisers as needed.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, growing organization; the People Operations Manager is strategic, adaptable, and execution-focused. A successful People Operations Manager at Mighty Acorn will have a strong bias toward action and a desire to see their coworkers excel in a comfortable, communicative, and friendly work environment.

While this role is remote, you must be located in and legally able to work in the US and have at least a 5-hour overlap with 9a-5p ET.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Own:

• Maintain the employee handbook, code of conduct, and internal people documentation; coordinate policy updates with leadership and employment counsel, and keep approved guidance clear and current.
• Spearhead research projects relevant to topics like health insurance, state employment taxes, HRIS and PEO solutions, and more, presenting proposals on your findings to our Director of Operations.
• Coordinate employment-law administration for employees working remotely across multiple states. Maintain a state-by-state obligations calendar and coordinate applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including FMLA, state leave programs, workplace accommodations, required notices, and records, with managers, payroll and benefits providers, and employment counsel as appropriate.
• Administer the performance-review calendar and 90-day check-ins, including reminders and documentation; managers own feedback, ratings, and employment decisions.
• Coordinate intake and routing for employee questions or concerns under the Code of Conduct; document and promptly refer sensitive matters to the designated leader or employment counsel, and track assigned follow-up.
• Coordinate leadership-sponsored DEIA activities and maintain action items; leadership sets priorities, approves resources, and owns decisions.
• Submit 1099s for eligible subcontractors/independent contractors every year.
• Coordinate with the Contracts & Compliance Manager on staffing requirements, contractor agreement workflow, and a shared current-engagement list. People Operations maintains staffing and personnel information for all FTE and PTE; Contracts maintains agreement records and contract requirements.
• Administer periodic eNPS surveys, summarize results, and present recommendations to leadership; leaders own decisions and follow through on workplace changes.
• Own end-to-end talent acquisition needs, which include but are not limited to: sourcing candidates, promoting job openings, screening resumes, conducting initial interviews, and scheduling further discussions. Directors, managers, and leads are responsible for surfacing staffing needs.

Assist:

• Work alongside our Director of Operations and Sr. Operations Manager to manage all aspects of company events, including our annual in-person retreats.
• Coordinate company-side onboarding with practice area directors, engagement managers, and the Contracts & Compliance Manager. People Operations maintains personnel records and employee onboarding; Contracts coordinates agency and project-specific requirements.
• Assist managers with Performance Improvement Plan implementation and oversee milestones.
• Assist with projects that ensure transparency and competitiveness in overall compensation, including annual benchmarking.
• Support the overall experience for full-time employees, part-time employees, and subcontractors, ensuring that our company culture remains strong as we continue to grow.
• Assist our Director of Operations and Sr. Operations Manager with completing offboarding activities when needed including personnel records, equipment, access notifications, and transition of open items.

TOP 3 OUTCOMES:

• A recruiting process that results in a strong hire in 30 days or less, eventually with minimal oversight from the Director of Operations.
• Regular monitoring of the company eNPS with strategic planning for maintaining and improving employee satisfaction.
• One leadership-approved People Operations improvement is implemented within the first 6 months, with a named sponsor, defined scope, and agreed decision authority

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• 6 or more years of experience in People Operations or HR coordination, preferably in a remote or distributed professional services organization.
• At least 4 years of experience working in government contracting / professional services.
• Background in scaling people operations at a growing public interest technology firm.
• Experience coordinating employment requirements across multiple states, including FMLA and state leave programs, workplace accommodations, required notices, and timely escalation to counsel or qualified advisers.
• Experience with skillful navigation and resolution of interpersonal conflict.
• Proven ability to research and prepare your findings for cross-functional audiences.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to seek understanding through asking questions.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity, balancing diverse needs and competing priorities, and clarifying ownership when a process crosses teams.
• Experience fostering inclusive workplaces.
• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

YOUR TEAM

• You will report to:
• Our Director of Operations
• You will work directly with:
• Our Senior Operations Manager
• Our Finance Manager
• Our Contracts & Compliance Manager
• You will also work closely with:
• Our other practice area Directors
• The company founders
• Team leads and managers
• And of course, you should consider all of our employees and contractors your constituents!

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• An ability to work efficiently, sometimes under tight deadlines.
• A preference for transparency and an ability to be direct and transparent in your own communication.
• An ability to adapt quickly and cope with temporarily ambiguous situations as requirements change.
• This role requires work be performed from within the contiguous United States.
• Candidates must either hold active US citizenship or a green card, and should possess work authorization that doesn’t require any present or future visa sponsorship by Mighty Acorn Digital.
• Candidates selected for the role must pass a criminal background check before their start date.
• Candidates must have a fast (>100Mbps) and reliable internet connection and have a dedicated workspace with background noise at an appropriate level for audio calls.

If you don’t meet every requirement but believe you’d be great in this role, we’d love to hear from you! We’re committed to building diverse teams, and research shows that women and underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every qualification. Don’t let that hold you back - let’s talk!

PLEASE ONLY SUBMIT THROUGH THIS APPLICATION.

Please apply only through this application process. Direct emails regarding this position will be ignored unless you’re seeking a reasonable accommodation. Further, we aren’t seeking partnerships with recruiters or agencies for this role; unsolicited resumes will not be considered. Only candidates who apply through this application will be considered. Please don’t also send your application materials in a follow-up email.

Mighty Acorn Digital is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to fostering workplace diversity and inclusion. We firmly reject discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, age, gender, religious or political beliefs, national origin or heritage, marital status, disability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, or any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Mighty Acorn participates in the E-Verify program. Upon hire, we’ll share your Form I-9 details with the US federal government to validate your eligibility to work in the US.

Please contact recruiting@mightyacorn.com if you’d like to request reasonable accommodation during the application or interviewing process.