Manager, People Operations

At the San Francisco 49ers, our mission is simple but powerful: to create meaningful moments that inspire and connect. Whether it’s on the field, in the community, or behind the scenes, we’re united by the belief that the work we do has the power to bring people together and leave a lasting impact.

Success here takes more than passion; it’s about bringing your best to every challenge. We thrive by balancing priorities with precision, making thoughtful decisions in fast-paced environments, and always looking ahead to what’s next. Our team is built on core competencies that shape how we work: adaptability, integrity, collaboration, strong communication, and a relentless focus on continuous improvement.

Together, these qualities fuel our ability to deliver world-class experiences for our fans, partners, and community.

If you’re excited about being part of a supportive team where you can develop your skills, share your ideas, and help make a difference, we’d love to have you join us.

Position Summary

The People Operations Manager plays a key role in delivering and continuously improving programs that support employees. This role partners closely with leaders and cross-functional teams to manage and execute benefits, wellness, compensation, and compliance initiatives, ensuring programs are competitive, compliant, and aligned with organizational goals.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Manages the administration and continuous improvement of employee benefits programs, including health, voluntary benefits, COBRA, PTO, and company holidays, while serving as the primary liaison with brokers and third-party vendors.
• Designs and manages Employee Wellness Program initiatives, including vendor coordination, budget management, and on-site execution to support employee well-being and engagement.
• Reviews, audits, and processes benefits enrollments and monthly billing, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Administers leave of absence programs, coordinating documentation, tracking, and internal communication to ensure a seamless employee experience and compliance.
• Leads the ADA interactive process, partnering with employees and managers to implement reasonable accommodations in a timely and compliant manner.
• Partners with Risk Management on Workers’ Compensation matters, ensuring proper documentation, communication and compliance with applicable programs and regulations.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including ownership of reporting requirements such as Form 5500, EEO-1, California Pay Data Reporting, and ACA filings.
• Supports and communicates the organization’s compensation philosophy, helping to position programs that attract, retain, and motivate talent.
• Partners in merit/compensation review cycles, providing guidance on pay decisions, internal equity, and market competitiveness in collaboration with leadership and Finance.
• Collaborate with Finance to manage compensation plans.
• Maintains and enhances compensation structures and systems, including job levels, salary bands, and pay ranges.
• Benchmarks and evaluates benefits and compensation programs, leveraging surveys and industry insights to inform program design, effectiveness, and competitiveness.
• Manages vendor relationships and supports optimization of HR systems, including HRIS, benefits administration, and compliance tracking tools.
• Produces and analyzes HR data and reporting (compensation, benefits, compliance, workforce metrics, etc.) to deliver insights to support data-driven decision-making.
• Maintains accurate employee data within HRIS and timekeeping systems.
• Manages HR systems and tools to drive optimization, data integrity and process automation.
• Maintains deep knowledge of HR best practices and employment laws, ensuring ongoing compliance and proactively identifying risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Provides operational support and partnership to broader People Operations initiatives as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Required Abilities and

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to actively listen and communicate with empathy, using both verbal and nonverbal cues to understand employee needs and respond thoughtfully.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess information, evaluate situations, and determine appropriate solutions.
• Ability to build trust and credibility by delivering responsive, reliable, and people-centered support to employees, leaders, and cross-functional partners.
• Proven ability to develop strong relationships across all levels of an organization through authentic, inclusive, and engaging communication.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and execute key objectives in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong time management and prioritization skills, with the ability to balance competing responsibilities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly, professionally, and with sound judgment.

Education and Experience

At least 5-7 years’ relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred.

Knowledge of computerized information systems and human resources applications.

Advanced Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word skills, including the development of complex spreadsheets and presentations, and experience preparing, documenting, and presenting narrative reports and statistical analyses.

Knowledge of current federal and California state labor and benefit laws and regulations required.

Experience administering benefits, compensation practices and leave programs required.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

The employee will be sitting in a typical office environment the majority of the time and may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions.

The employee is frequently required to sit, use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

This position requires the ability to work extended hours and/or weekends.

Travel:0% of travel time expected for the position.