HR & Operations Specialist at Mission-Driven AI Research Organization

Mission-driven AI research organization, backed by a leading tech entrepreneur, is looking for an HR & Operations Specialist. This is a unique opportunity to join a small, low-ego team at the center of the AI and computer science research community, in an office that doubles as a convening space for world-class researchers. In this role, you’ll own people operations and complex payroll across multiple entities, including multi-state payroll and 1099 payments for grant programs. You’ll also manage benefits administration, offer letters, and onboarding in Rippling, and drive vendor onboarding and AP for a seven-figure events budget. You’ll be the approachable, go-to person in the office for the team and the researchers it supports, and you’ll pitch in wherever needed, from event setup to podcast production days. Someone who has HR fundamentals dialed in, wants to stretch into broader operations, stays calm under pressure, and loves using new tools and tech. This is a hybrid role, 3 days/week, based in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood. 120-160K DOE + 100% covered benefits, equity incentive plan, quarterly bonus, 401K, unlimited PTO, and lunch provided twice a week.

Responsibilities:

• Own end-to-end payroll across multiple entities, including multi-state compliance and payroll split between entities.


• Manage 1099 contractor payments for grant programs, making sure payments stay compliant and are set up so they don’t interfere with participants’ fellowships.


• Serve as the go-to point of contact for the team and grant program participants on payroll, benefits, and HR questions.


• Own onboarding and offboarding, including offer letters, Rippling setup, and benefits enrollment.


• Administer employee benefits and help expand offerings, including setting up the 401K program.


• Manage vendor onboarding and support accounts payable for a seven-figure annual events budget across 10-20 vendors.


• Maintain accurate, organized HR and vendor records across systems.


• Adapt processes quickly as new programs and initiatives launch, finding creative and compliant solutions when the first approach doesn’t work.


• Pitch in on all-hands moments, from event setup to supporting podcast production days in the office.

• 3+ years of HR or people operations experience, including hands-on ownership of payroll, benefits, and compliance, ideally at a high-growth startup.


• Experience with multi-state payroll and 1099 contractor management.


• Operations experience beyond HR, such as vendor management, AP, or general business operations, and a desire to keep growing across the ops function.


• Exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.


• Calm under pressure, with a solutions-oriented approach and the ability to reassure others when things change quickly.


• Approachable and personable, with high EQ and strong communication skills.


• High ownership and accountability, with a low-ego, all-hands-on-deck mindset.


• Comfortable in a flat organization and excited to wear multiple hats rather than work in a siloed role.


• Excited about the organization’s mission and the AI and research community it supports.


• Proficient with modern workplace tools such as Rippling, Ramp, Xero, Slack, and Google Workspace; experience with AI tools such as Claude is a plus.