The Trace Is Hiring a People and Operations Manager

By Team Trace

Jul 24, 2026

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The Trace is a nonprofit newsroom exclusively dedicated to reporting on our country’s gun violence crisis. We’re looking for a People and Operations Manager to play a critical role in fostering a positive organizational culture, strengthening organizational effectiveness, managing the employee experience, and running day-to-day operations.

This role combines oversight of people-centered practices in recruitment, HR processes, employee engagement, performance management, professional development, and compliance, as well as overseeing daily financial and administrative processes.

The ideal candidate is an empathetic colleague who is committed to creating a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment. They are a self-starter who combines a systems-oriented mindset with a strong attention to detail. With experience managing complex projects, they take initiative, anticipate organizational needs, and continuously seek ways to improve workflows, policies, and processes. They enjoy balancing hands-on administrative responsibilities with longer-term organizational planning and are eager to serve as a thought partner to the Director of Operations in building the structures, practices, and workflows that enable The Trace team to thrive.

Core Responsibilities:

People Processes

• Manage and strengthen the employee experience, bringing an inclusive and people-centered approach as well as standardized workflows to recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding. Manage the hiring process including applications, scheduling, and candidate communications.
• Manage core HR processes with ADP, including conducting payroll and adjustments, benefits administration, COBRA, PTO, and leave programs. Support employees through qualifying life events, leave processes and open enrollment.
• Build relationships with staff and serve as a trusted resource, being their point of contact and answering day-to-day questions about HR policies, benefits, support, and expense processes, and escalating when appropriate.
• Support the development, implementation, and communication of personnel policies, recommending improvements that reflect organizational values, staff wellbeing, and organizational effectiveness.
• Work with the Director of Operations to partner with managers and support staff growth and performance, providing guidance on coaching, feedback, conflict resolution, performance management, and other matters.
• Enable equitable pay practices by executing annual pay adjustments, equity audits, and rewards statements.
• Maintain HR systems and employee records, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and data retention compliance.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with organizational policies and federal, state, and local laws, proactively identifying risks and executing solutions.

Operations Management

• Partner with the Director of Operations to translate the strategic plan and goals into effective operations practices or initiatives.
• Identify and execute cross-team opportunities to improve systems, streamline workflows, strengthen internal communication, close knowledge gaps, and support the organization’s growth.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures in the operations department and an organization-wide knowledge hub for organizational policies, processes, documentation, and resources.
• Oversee operations resources including our facilities, technology, and equipment, regularly working with our IT vendor. Support external bookkeeper and accountant.
• Support organizational safety, security, and risk management efforts.
• Manage staff expense systems, vendor payments and contracts, and contractor compliance. Help managers track budget usage.
• Project manage roll outs of updates to policies, processes and systems.
• Serve as a key resource for staff, managers, and vendors, providing troubleshooting, training, and support for key organizational systems and tools including Google Workspace, Slack, Bill, and Bill Spend & Expense.

Employee Engagement

• Design and lead employee engagement, recognition, and wellness initiatives to foster a positive company culture. Partner with the staff Wellness Committee and leadership to coordinate skills trainings and workshops, annual retreats, staff surveys, recognition efforts, and other initiatives that strengthen wellbeing.
• Manage and continuously improve the performance review process, including scheduling and tracking annual reviews, goal setting, and regular feedback conversations.
• Help develop and administer professional development programs that provide equitable access to learning, training, and growth for all staff.
• Develop dashboards to track critical employee engagement data.
• Support clear and consistent internal communications that keep staff informed and connected.
• Stay informed on emerging best practices in employee engagement, wellness, and safety, particularly among nonprofit news organizations.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• 4-7 years of experience in operations or people operations
• Excellent project management, organization, prioritization, and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Strategic thinking, while being able to accurately and efficiently execute day-to-day tasks
• Ability to work independently, identify opportunities for improvement, and follow through
• Good judgment to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and empathy, escalating when necessary
• Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to develop and present clear presentations
• Proficiency working in a hybrid environment utilizing Google Workspace, Slack, and Airtable

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience in a newsroom, nonprofit, startup, and/or on small operations or HR teams, particularly in a multi-state organization
• Experience managing hiring, onboarding, offboarding, payroll, performance reviews, and compliance
• Strong understanding of local, state, and federal employment law and regulations, or a willingness to learn
• Demonstrated ability to establish and strengthen processes, systems, and workflows, including an understanding of appropriate use of AI in people operations
• Preference will be given to candidates in New York City (The Trace has remote staff across the U.S. and its New York office has a hybrid work structure)

Compensation and Benefits:

• $90,000-$100,000 annually (or $100,000-$110,000 annually in New York City or the Bay Area)
• 100% covered medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee and dependents
• 401(k) with match up to 5%
• Vacation Days (20 a year)
• Sick Days (10 a year)
• Personal Days (2 a year)
• Paid holidays (15 a year, encompassing federal holidays and one week end of year closure)
• Paid Family Leave (16 weeks)
• Professional development support
• Phone and wifi stipend
• Life Insurance
• Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary benefits include: Health and Dependent Care FSA, Commuter Benefits, Legal Plan, Critical Illness, Accident, AD&D, and Hospital Indemnity Coverage

To Apply:

Please fill out this application form. In lieu of a cover letter, we ask that you answer a few questions to showcase your skills and experience, as well as submit your resume.

The deadline for applying is August 3 at 10am ET.

After applications close, we will endeavor to respond to all applicants. However, due to the large number of applications we receive, this may take time. If you have questions about this opportunity please email jobs@thetrace.org.

At The Trace, we are committed to producing and supporting journalism that is equitable and inclusive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

At Vanta, our mission is to help businesses earn and prove trust. We believe that security should be monitored and verified continuously, and we empower companies to practice better security and prove it with ease. Vanta has a kind and talented team, and while some have prior security experience, many have been successful at Vanta without it.

As the Executive Business Partner to three GTM executives, you will play a critical role in ensuring these executives can focus on their most impactful work. We’re looking for someone who is genuinely motivated by execution and finds energy in getting things done and supporting leaders operating at high velocity. Strong judgment, proactive thinking, adaptability, and the ability to anticipate needs and stay ahead of shifting priorities will be keys for success in this role.

You will join Vanta’s centralized Executive Operations team, a cohesive group that shares best practices, collaborates closely, and provides consistent, high-quality support across the executive team. While this role is primarily execution-focused, you will also support select projects that improve operational effectiveness within the revenue organization and across the EBP team.

We are looking for candidates based in the New York City Area who are able to participate in occasional in-person events and office visits. We will also consider highly qualified candidates located outside of NYC but in the eastern time zone.

What you’ll do as a Executive Business Partner at Vanta:

• Partner closely with the GTM executives, providing excellent administrative and operational support that enables them to focus on their most impactful work. Adapt quickly to the executive’s working style and pace to deliver seamless day-to-day support.
• Act as a trusted gatekeeper, managing complex calendars and scheduling with an understanding of business priorities and context.
• Own travel and logistics end-to-end, planning itineraries and coordinating customer visits, offsites, and internal events with precision and care.
• Streamline communication and coordination, ensuring information flows efficiently between executives, their teams, and cross-functional partners. You will ensure decisions, follow-ups, and priorities are clearly documented and actioned.
• Anticipate needs and solve problems proactively, identifying potential scheduling conflicts, gaps, or dependencies before they arise and offering clear, thoughtful solutions.
• Maintain the highest level of professionalism and discretion, exercising sound judgment when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Collaborate with the broader Executive Operations team to ensure alignment across the Leadership Team on meetings, deliverables, and follow-up actions.

How to be successful in this role:

• 5+ years of professional experience in a similar role, with 2-3+ years as an Executive Business Partner or Executive Assistant supporting a Vice President+ level role in a technology company, preferably for GTM executives
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex priorities and adapt quickly as plans change.Excellent communication and organization skills, able to synthesize and communicate information with clarity and precision.
• Strong business judgment and attention to detail; knows when to escalate and when to act independently.
• Comfortable working across functions and time zones with a high degree of professionalism.
• High emotional intelligence and an instinct for building trust and rapport across teams.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for current or future employer sponsorship.

What you can expect as a Vanta’n:

• Industry-competitive salary and equity
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with 100% of employee-only benefit premiums covered for most medical plans
• 16 weeks paid Parental Leave for all new parents
• Health & wellness stipend
• Remote workspace, internet, and cellphone stipend
• Commuter benefits for team members who report to the SF and NYC office
• Family planning benefits
• Matching 401(k) contribution with immediate vesting
• Flexible PTO policy, plus 80 hours of Sick Time
• 11 company-paid holidays
• Virtual team building activities, lunch and learns, and other company-wide events!
• Offices in SF, NYC, London, Dublin, Tel Aviv, and Sydney

To provide greater transparency to candidates, we share base pay ranges for all US-based job postings regardless of state. We set standard base pay ranges for all roles based on function, level, and country location, benchmarked against similar-stage growth companies. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors and may vary based on candidate location, skills, depth of work experience, and relevant licenses/credentials.

At Vanta, we are committed to hiring diverse talent of different backgrounds and as such, it is important to us to provide an inclusive work environment for all.

About Vanta

We started in 2018, in the wake of several high-profile data breaches. Online security was only becoming more important, but we knew firsthand how hard it could be for fast-growing companies to invest the time and manpower it takes to build a solid security foundation. Vanta was inspired by a vision to restore trust in internet businesses by enabling companies to improve and prove their security. From our early days automating security monitoring for compliance standards like SOC 2, HIPAA and ISO 27001 to creating the world's leading Trust Management Platform, our vision remains unchanged.

Now more than ever, making security continuous—not just a point-in-time check— is essential. Thousands of companies rely on Vanta to build, maintain and demonstrate their trust— all in a way that's real-time and transparent.

Referral Instructions

If you are being referred for the role, please contact that person to apply on your behalf.