Senior Manager, People Operations

About Citizen

Citizen is the No. 1 public safety app in the U.S., with a mission to make the world a safer place. Citizen provides 911 alerts so people can use their phones to keep themselves, and the people and places they love, safe. Citizen has notified people to evacuate burning buildings, deterred school buses from nearby terrorist attacks, and led to the rescue of kidnapped children and missing people.

Citizen’s 911 alerts are accompanied by live stories, real-time updates, and user-generated content so app users never have to wonder why there are helicopters overhead or fire engines flying by. By broadcasting from the scene of an incident, communicating with one another, and reading live updates, communities are empowered by Citizen. We act fast, break news, and give people the immediate information they need to stay safe. And we’re just getting started.

Our flagship paid product—Citizen Premium—is a only-of-its-kind personal safety subscription that allows users to reach a digital guardian 24/7 for $20/mo. Subscribers used Citizen Premium to guide emergency response to remote hiking locations, or travel safely on late-night walks.

Citizen Plus, which sits between the free Citizen app and Citizen Premium at $6/mo, currently unlocks 6 new features. Available for the first time ever, Citizen Plus includes the powerful ability to listen to police and fire radios, customize your alerts, unlock past incidents, create alert zones, view nearby registered offenders, and see crime statistics.

Already relied on by millions of people every day, Citizen will expand even further across the United States this year to keep more users safe and informed. We’re looking for hardworking, mission-driven individuals to help bring Citizen to hundreds of cities nationwide.

Citizen is backed by 8VC, Founders Fund, Goodwater Capital, and Greycroft and has raised $100M+ in VC funding.

About The Role

Citizen is seeking a Senior Manager, People Operations to oversee and manage all aspects of the People function, including compliance, employee experience, payroll, talent acquisition, total rewards, technology, and analytics. The ideal candidate will be a detail-oriented, self-motivated leader with a strong understanding of labor laws, reporting requirements, benefits audits, payroll operations, and union dynamics. This hands-on role requires the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, performance-driven environment, with a focus on prioritization, execution excellence, and navigating ambiguity. Reporting to the Head of Finance and Business Operations, the Senior Manager will be responsible for all People activities and may manage up to two direct reports depending on experience.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance & Risk Management

• Oversee compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws and reporting requirements (e.g., FLSA employee classification, state annual reporting).

• Manage employee relations matters, including investigations, complaints, corrective actions, and documentation.

• Lead the annual 401(k) audit in accordance with ERISA and other regulatory requirements.

• Ensure proper management of short-term and long-term leave of absences (e.g., FMLA, PFL, STD, LTD, etc).

Employee Experience

• Champion a positive employee experience from onboarding to offboarding, ensuring clear communication and efficient processes.

• Identify and address organizational and people issues, ensuring resolution and maintaining scalability.

• Lead the semi-annual performance review process, aligning employee satisfaction, growth, and development with company goals.

• Manage the annual employee engagement survey to provide two-way feedback and continuous improvement, nurturing a positive work environment.

• Regularly update the Employee Handbook to reflect best practices, legal compliance, and company culture.

Payroll & Benefits

• Oversee payroll operations to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing across 40+ states for non-exempt employees, with a focus on process improvements and automation.

• Manage the transition to a consolidated payroll system, integrating time and attendance with HRIS while ensuring continued accuracy and efficiency.

• Ensure accurate payroll calculations, withholdings, and timely remittance of taxes (federal, state, local), including income, Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance.

• Oversee the filing of required tax forms (e.g., Form 941, Form 940, W-2s, 1099s) to ensure compliance with filing deadlines and avoid penalties. 

• Manage the open enrollment process for benefits, including health, dental, vision, 401(k), and other employee benefits.

Talent Acquisition

• Lead and optimize the recruiting process to attract top talent, streamline hiring, and ensure a positive candidate experience.

• Develop sourcing, interviewing, and hiring strategies to align with business needs and timelines.

• Build strong relationships with hiring managers to ensure a deep understanding of role requirements, team culture, and organizational goals.

• Monitor and improve recruitment metrics such as time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, and candidate quality.

Technology & Analytics

• Lead the optimization of HRIS and other technologies, including vendor research, system migrations, and integrations.

• Analyze HR data to provide insights on employee retention, engagement, diversity, performance, and other key metrics to ensure goal-alignment and to drive decision-making.

• Stay current with HR technology trends to ensure the organization is leveraging the best tools available.

Total Rewards

• Develop and manage the company’s total rewards strategy, including compensation, benefits, and recognition programs.

• Partner with department leaders to establish clear career ladders, outlining required skills and competencies for growth.

• Regularly review and benchmark compensation structures to ensure competitiveness in the market.

Key Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Human Resources or People Operations, with a focus on compliance, employee experience, talent acquisition, and total rewards.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Business Administration, or a related field; HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) are a plus.

• Proven expertise in labor laws, benefits administration, payroll, and employee relations; experience with unionized employees is a plus.

• Strong experience in recruiting top talent while maintaining agility and alignment with business needs.

• Experience with HR systems, including managing migrations and integrations; strong analytical skills and the ability to derive actionable insights from HR data.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to synthesize information for a wide range of audiences.

• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to identify and address process gaps.

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.

• Proficiency in Google Workspace, particularly Sheets and Slides; proven ability to deliver clear, impactful presentations to diverse audiences, including leadership and company-wide groups.

Salary Range & Benefits

The below represents the expected salary range for this position in New York, New York. We take a number of factors into account when determining compensation including your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Salary Range: $160,000 to $172,000 annually + equity + benefits

Citizen offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, paid time off, company holidays, stock option plan, commuter benefits, and various wellness perks.

Citizen is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected class.