People Operations Associate

Vast is looking for a  People Operations Associate, reporting to the Senior Manager, People Operations, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations. This role ensures accurate, compliant employee data and documentation throughout the employee lifecycle, with a focus on HRIS data management, separations, and Workers’ Compensation, while supporting international workforce operations, process improvement, and reporting.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, exercises sound judgment, and thrives in a fast-paced environment. At more senior levels, they operate independently, manage complex issues, identify risks, and drive scalable, compliant People Operations processes.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. 

Responsibilities: 

HRIS Data Integrity & Change Management — 30%

• Manage employee data and HRIS changes in Rippling, ensuring accuracy, documentation, and appropriate approvals
• Partner with the HRIS Associate to support workflows, reporting, system testing, and issue resolution
• Conduct regular data audits, resolve discrepancies, and partner cross-functionally to maintain accurate and compliant employee records

Separations, Termination Documentation & Offboarding — 25%

• Manage employee separations and terminations, ensuring timely completion of documentation, system updates, stakeholder coordination, and final pay requirements
• Own the Separation Agreement process, including preparation, approvals, signature tracking, deadlines, and record-keeping
• Partner with People Business Partners, Legal, and Payroll to ensure separation documentation and off-boarding actions are accurate and compliant
• Escalate complex or high-risk separation matters as appropriate

Workers’ Compensation — 25%

• Manage Workers’ Compensation claims from injury reporting through return-to-work and claim closure
• File claims and provide required employee notices and documentation within applicable deadlines
• Serve as the primary People Operations contact for employees, managers, insurance carriers, EHS, and other stakeholders throughout the claims process
• Coordinate return-to-work and modified-duty plans and maintain accurate, confidential, and audit-ready records
• Monitor claims, deadlines, and trends and identify potential risks or process improvements

International Hiring & Workforce Support — 10%

• Support international hiring and workforce administration, including employment documentation, contracts, onboarding, employee changes, and separations
• Partner with internal teams and external vendors to support international workforce requirements and compliance
• Maintain accurate global employee and contractor records in Rippling and flag potential compliance or operational risks

Process Improvement — 5%

• Identify and implement improvements across People Operations processes, including employee changes, offboarding, Workers’ Compensation, international workforce administration, and compliance
• Develop and maintain SOPs and supporting documentation to improve consistency, scalability, and audit readiness

Reporting & Cross-Functional Partnership — 5%

• Partner with HRIS and cross-functional teams to provide operational metrics, compliance reporting, and audit support
• Identify trends, gaps, and risks and provide actionable insights to People Operations leadership
• Collaborate with People Business Partners, Payroll, Talent Acquisition, Finance, IT, Legal, EHS, and other teams to resolve operational issues and support People initiatives

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma
• 3+ years of progressive experience in People Operations, HR Operations, HR Administration, or a related function. Candidates considered for the Senior People Operations Associate level should demonstrate deeper functional expertise, experience independently managing complex or sensitive employee matters, and a track record of improving or scaling People Operations processes
• Hands-on experience managing employee data and employee actions in an HRIS; Rippling strongly preferred. This role requires an expert HRIS user, not a system administrator
• Experience managing employee separations and termination documentation, including coordinating time-sensitive documentation, offboarding actions, and cross-functional requirements
• Experience managing Workers’ Compensation claims, including intake, carrier coordination, claim administration, and return-to-work processes
• Experience supporting international hiring or workforce administration, including employment documentation and employee changes
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
• High level of discretion and ability to handle sensitive and confidential employee information with integrity
• Advanced proficiency in Google Workspace, particularly Google Sheets, and/or Microsoft Excel for reporting and analysis
• Clear communicator who works effectively across People Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Finance, IT, Legal, Environmental Health & Safety, external vendors, managers, and business leaders

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, or a related field
• Experience preparing or managing Separation Agreements and supporting complex or high-volume employee separations and offboarding
• Experience working with global employment partners, employer-of-record (EOR) providers, or international payroll providers
• Experience supporting multi-location organizations
• Familiarity with California employment practices and compliance requirements, including California Workers’ Compensation
• Working knowledge of employment requirements outside the U.S
• A track record of improving People Operations processes at scale, including documentation, data integrity, offboarding, Workers’ Compensation, or compliance processes
• Project management experience

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted
• Specific certifications, as appropriate

Pay Ranges:

• People Operations Associate II: $92,000 - $131,000
• Senior People Operations Associate: $103,000 - $147,000