At 500 Designs, we are looking for a modern HR leader who can do more than manage people processes. We need someone who can build a smarter, faster, more scalable People function.

As our HR Manager, People Operations & AI, you will lead core HR initiatives while designing systems, automations, and AI agents that dramatically improve the efficiency and impact of the HR team. You will play a key role in shaping employee experience, strengthening compliance, supporting managers, and creating a high performing remote culture across the company.

This role is ideal for someone who blends strong HR expertise with operational excellence, clear communication, and a builder mindset. You are excited by the opportunity to rethink traditional HR workflows and use AI to improve recruiting, onboarding, knowledge management, reporting, employee support, and day to day team operations.

You will work closely with leadership and the People Operations Lead to create an exceptional employee experience that is efficient, thoughtful, and built for scale.

What you will do

Strategic People Leadership

Develop and execute people strategies aligned with 500 Designs’ mission, growth goals, and culture.
Partner with leadership to strengthen organizational design, team health, retention, and performance.
Help shape a people first, high accountability, high trust culture across a fully remote agency environment.
Build scalable HR systems and processes that support growth without adding unnecessary complexity.

AI and HR Systems Innovation

Identify opportunities to use AI, automation, and internal tools to improve HR team efficiency and employee experience.
Design, build, test, and optimize AI agents or AI powered workflows for key HR functions such as onboarding, employee questions, documentation, recruiting coordination, reporting, learning support, and performance workflows.
Partner with operations and leadership to integrate AI tools into HR processes in a practical, secure, and compliant way.
Create documentation, prompts, SOPs, and workflows that make HR knowledge easier to access and execute.
Continuously evaluate new tools, platforms, and automations that can help the People team move faster and work smarter.

Employee Experience and Engagement

Champion a positive and engaging employee experience across the full employee lifecycle.
Support initiatives that improve engagement, retention, communication, recognition, and culture.
Address employee concerns, conflicts, and sensitive matters with professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment.
Help managers and teams build stronger communication, collaboration, and accountability habits.

Compliance, Policies, and Employee Relations

Review, update, and improve HR policies, handbooks, and internal procedures.
Ensure compliance with applicable labor laws, regulations, and company policies.
Manage employee relations matters fairly and consistently, including performance concerns, investigations, and disciplinary processes when needed.
Maintain accurate HR documentation and support a compliant, well organized People Operations function.

Talent Acquisition and Hiring Operations

Oversee and improve the hiring process from job posting through candidate selection.
Partner with recruiting and hiring managers to create a strong candidate experience.
Build more efficient hiring workflows through automation, templates, AI support, and process improvement.
Help attract top talent by strengthening employer branding, role clarity, and selection practices.

Performance, Learning, and Growth

Support performance management systems, manager coaching, and goal setting across the company.
Help drive consistent feedback, accountability, and development conversations.
Create or improve training, onboarding, and enablement programs for employees and managers.
Support career development and succession planning efforts as the company grows.

Compensation, Benefits, and People Analytics

Support benefits administration and annual enrollment processes.
Analyze compensation benchmarks and people data to help ensure competitive and equitable practices.
Build dashboards, reports, and insights that help leadership make better people decisions.
Use HR metrics and AI enabled reporting to track key KPIs and improve People team effectiveness.

Team Leadership

Lead and develop members of the HR and People Operations team.
Foster a collaborative, solutions oriented, and high performance team culture.
Serve as a strategic partner while remaining hands on in execution.

What you need to succeed

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field.
5+ years of progressive HR or People Operations experience, including leadership responsibility.
Strong knowledge of HR principles, employee relations, performance management, and employment law.
Proven ability to improve systems, build processes, and drive operational efficiency.
Experience using AI tools, automation platforms, or workflow systems to improve business operations.
Confidence in building, testing, or managing AI agents, GPT based workflows, automations, or internal knowledge tools that support HR functions.
Strong written communication skills with the ability to create policies, SOPs, training content, and internal documentation clearly.
Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
Ability to handle sensitive information with high integrity and discretion.
Experience with HRIS platforms, Google Workspace, and project management tools such as ClickUp.
Strong spreadsheet skills in Google Sheets or Excel.

Nice to have

Experience in a remote first company, agency, or fast paced creative environment.
Familiarity with no code or low code automation tools, prompt design, AI workflow building, or tool integrations.
Experience building internal assistants, knowledge bases, or process automations for HR or operations teams.
HR certification such as SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, PHR, or SPHR.
Experience with people analytics, dashboards, and reporting.

What is in store for you

Competitive compensation that reflects your experience and impact.
100% remote work flexibility.
Company incentives and performance based rewards.
Profit share opportunities.
Health and wellness support through our Health Card program.
Workspace upgrade allowance for your home office.
Monthly internet support.
Access to training resources and tools that support your professional growth.
Opportunities to participate in internal and external company events, workshops, and culture building experiences.
Free lunch every Monday, also known as Monchdays.
Paid vacation and sick leave.
A culture that values performance, flexibility, ownership, and work life integration.

HR Manager | AI skilled