People Operations Specialist Union Square Alliance

About Works Well Industries (WWI)

Works Well Industries (WWI) provides management support services to partner businesses, empowering them to achieve operational excellence and sustainable strategic growth. WWI’s mission is to empower clients with innovative solutions, expert guidance, and unparalleled services, ensuring long-term success in competitive markets and delivering exceptional value to stakeholders.

Works Well Industries (WWI) is the management services company that supports and guides the operational needs of three enterprises:

• District Works – an urban place management company
• Unify Now - a facilities and maintenance services company.
• Oakland Venue Management (OVM) – an events and venue operations company

About the Role

This position will directly support the District Works Team and their Downtown San Francisco program. As our People Operations Specialist, you’ll be a trusted resource for managers and employees across the program. You will serve as the primary People partner for your assigned program, providing day-to-day guidance to managers and employees while partnering closely with the Vice President, People, on complex employee relations matters, investigations, and other high-impact decisions. You’ll help leaders ensure compliance with California employment laws, support benefits administration and workers’ compensation programs, and contribute to a positive employee experience. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys solving problems, building relationships, and helping people succeed in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience supporting hourly employee populations in fast-paced environments and is comfortable navigating complex employee relations issues while maintaining a high level of professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment.

Primary Responsibilities

Employee Relations

• Serve as the primary HR partner to program leadership regarding employee performance, attendance, conduct, and workplace concerns.
• Coach leaders through performance management, progressive discipline, investigations, and corrective action.
• Conduct workplace investigations and recommend appropriate resolutions.
• Respond to employee questions and resolve concerns while maintaining confidentiality.
• Promote consistent application of company policies and employment practices.

Compliance

• Ensure compliance with San Francisco labor regulations and programs, California employment laws, and applicable federal labor regulations.
• Advise leaders on wage and hour compliance, meal and rest break requirements, leaves of absence, accommodations, and employee classifications.
• Assist with policy development and handbook updates.
• Maintain accurate HR records and documentation.

Workers’ Compensation & Leave Administration

• Coordinate program workers’ compensation claims from injury reporting through claim resolution.
• Partner with the WWI team to effectively communicate claim progress and return-to-work processes.
• Using Paylocity (the company’s HRIS system of record), track restricted duty assignments and ensure timely documentation.
• Support leave administration, including coordination with third-party administrators as applicable.

Benefits Administration & Payroll

• Support VP, People in the administration of employee benefit programs, including enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, and annual open enrollment.
• Serve as a resource for employee benefits questions and payroll inquiries.

HR Operations

• Support Program Directors with onboarding and offboarding activities.
• Maintain employee data within Paylocity.
• Prepare employment documents, notices, and correspondence.
• Assist with audits and reporting.
• Support organizational initiatives, training programs, and HR projects.

Ideal Candidate

You enjoy partnering with managers to navigate complex employee situations and are known for providing thoughtful, practical guidance. You have a solid understanding of California employment laws and apply that knowledge with confidence and sound judgment. You’re comfortable supporting a large hourly workforce in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift quickly, and no two days look the same.

You approach your work with empathy while maintaining accountability, balancing the needs of employees, managers, and the organization. You are methodical and look for solutions to problems that are not always obvious. You’re highly organized, able to manage multiple priorities without losing attention to detail, and you communicate with professionalism, discretion, and integrity in every interaction.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of HR experience.
• Experience supporting hourly employees.
• Strong employee relations experience.
• Workers’ compensation administration experience.
• Benefits administration experience.
• Knowledge of California labor laws and federal employment regulations.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Experience with Paylocity or similar HRIS/Time & Labor system a plus

Compensation & Benefits

• $94,000 - $104,000 annual salary (commensurate with experience)
• Performance-based bonus eligibility
• Health, dental, and mental wellness benefits for employees and dependents (contingent on eligibility and company policy)
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Paid vacation and sick time 

How to Apply:

• Visit our website at https://workswell.us
• Click “Careers” to access our open positions
• Select the People Operations Specialist role and follow the link to complete the Paylocity application.