HR & People Operations Manager

About Colla Health Colla Health is a tech-enabled healthcare services company integrating behavioral health into oncology care. We partner with leading cancer centers to deliver high-quality, accessible mental health services that improve patient outcomes and support clinical teams. Role Overview We are seeking a highly organized and execution-oriented HR & People Operations Manager to serve as the sole owner of HR and people operations at Colla Health. This is a full-time, salaried role working closely with the CEO and COO to build and run strong operational foundations across HR, compliance, and people systems — independently, without a broader HR team around you. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building structure, managing critical administrative processes, and driving projects to completion in a fast-paced startup environment. Because you will be our only dedicated HR hire, you will also be asked to take on adjacent operational, compliance, or administrative work outside traditional HR scope when the business needs it — HR remains your primary focus, but versatility matters here. Key Responsibilities HR Administration & Compliance Manage HR administrative processes including state registrations, filings, and employment compliance Support payroll coordination, employee onboarding/offboarding, and benefits administration Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and requirements Maintain employee records and documentation with strong attention to detail People Operations & Systems Own and manage HR systems (HRIS, payroll, benefits platforms), ensuring accuracy and efficiency Identify opportunities to streamline and improve people operations workflows Support implementation and optimization of HR tools and processes Project Management Lead and support cross-functional HR and people ops projects (e.g., policy updates, system implementations, process improvements) Track key deliverables and timelines, ensuring execution against priorities Partner with leadership to operationalize new initiatives as the company scales Business Operations & Compliance Support Support cross-functional business operations, compliance, or administrative projects outside core HR scope as needed (e.g., business registrations and filings, coordinating with outside tax, legal, or accounting advisors, vendor and contract administration) Partner with the CEO and COO on ad hoc operational priorities as the company scales, while keeping HR responsibilities as the primary focus of the role Qualifications 5–8+ years of experience in HR, People Operations, or HR Generalist roles, including experience serving as the sole or lead HR person owning the function end-to-end Strong knowledge of HR administration, compliance, and employment processes Experience working with HR systems (e.g., Gusto, Rippling, Justworks, or similar) Excellent project management and organizational skills High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities Comfortable working in a startup or fast-paced, evolving environment Comfortable taking on operational, compliance, or administrative work outside traditional HR scope when needed, without losing focus on HR fundamentals What We’re Looking For A doer who can operate independently and drive execution Someone who brings structure and clarity to ambiguous environments Strong communicator who can work closely with leadership Pragmatic and solutions-oriented mindset Someone who can flex beyond core HR into broader business operations when needed, while keeping HR as the top priority