People Ops Specialist (Contract)

About Handshake

Handshake is the career network for the AI economy. 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, 1 million employers (including 100% of the Fortune 50), and every foundational AI lab trust Handshake to power career discovery, hiring, and upskilling, from freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond. This unique value is leading to unparalleled growth; in 2025, we tripled our ARR at scale.

Why join Handshake now:

• Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel

• Work hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions

• Join a team with leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, among others

• Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue

About the Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented People Ops Specialist (Contract) to support the day-to-day operations of our People function. This role ensures smooth execution of core HR processes across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, offboarding, HR systems administration, employee support, and policy documentation. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about delivering a seamless and high-quality employee experience.

Key Responsibilities

Onboarding & Offboarding

• Administer high-volume end-to-end onboarding and offboarding processes for employees and contractors.

• Draft contractor agreements, manage HRIS updates, and coordinate closely with IT to ensure timely activation and deactivation of system access.

• Process terminations and employment changes in Workday, send departure communications, and ensure smooth transition workflows.

• Partner with internal stakeholders to continuously improve onboarding programs and enhance the new hire experience.

• Identify and implement process improvements to create scalable, efficient, and seamless lifecycle workflows.

Employee Support & HR Administration

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee inquiries via the HR Helpdesk and People Ops email alias, delivering timely and accurate support.

• Guide employees and managers toward self-service HR resources and internal knowledge tools.

• Manage day-to-day HR operations across the employee lifecycle, including payroll issue coordination and employment data updates.

• Support immigration and mobility processes by preparing documentation, assisting with visa applications, and maintaining compliance for work authorizations.

• Maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive employee information.

HR Processes & Compliance

• Design and refine scalable HR workflows that evolve alongside company growth.

• Optimize and automate HR workflows wherever possible to improve efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience.

• Develop, document, and maintain clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency, scalability, and knowledge continuity across the People team.

• Create and maintain centralized HR documentation and policies, ensuring a clear and up-to-date source of truth.

• Execute core HR administrative processes to support team priorities and employee needs.

• Proactively identify process gaps and recommend improvements to enhance operational effectiveness and compliance.

Desired Capabilities

• 2–4 years of experience in People Operations or a related HR role.

• Hands-on experience with Workday.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong customer-service mindset.

• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

• Experience partnering cross-functionally with teams such as IT, Talent, and Finance.

• Comfort working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Extra Credit

• Exposure to immigration processes and employment documentation.

• Knowledge of U.S. employment laws and HR compliance requirements.

• Experience working in a high-growth startup or tech organization.

• Experience working with Deel or similar global payroll / Employer of Record (EOR) platforms.