Talent & People Operations Specialist

At Element Biosciences, we are passionate about our mission to empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity. We have built a highly efficient product-driven organization where employees can learn, grow, and thrive in a challenging but encouraging environment. We are committed to scientific integrity, collegiality, honesty, objectivity, and openness. We are seeking a highly organized and detail-orientated Talent and People Operations Specialist who will play a pivotal role in in delivering a seamless, high-quality employee experience from candidate engagement through onboarding and offboarding. This individual will serve as a key partner to both Talent Acquisition and People Operations teams, ensuring operational excellence, efficiency, and consistency across the full employee lifecycle. This is an incredible opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, and brings strong interpersonal and communication skills. Candidates who have a Process-driven mindset with a passion for continuous improvement, including leveraging tools and automation to streamline repetitive tasks will excel in this role. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience managing complex interview scheduling, supporting recruiters throughout the candidate lifecycle, and coordinating thoughtful, well-executed onboarding experiences that set employees up for success from day one. The ideal candidate also has experience navigating HRIS systems (ADP a plus) and ATS Systems (Greenhouse a plus) and ensuring data accuracy. This role requires a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and a commitment to delivering a best-in-class experience for candidates, new hires, and internal stakeholders alike. This role is based on-site role at our San Diego HQ. If you possess the following and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore this role. Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Partner with the People Team and Hiring Managers to deliver a seamless experience from candidate engagement through onboarding (for both US and international employees); Responsibilities include interview scheduling, reference and background checks, onboarding coordination, new hire preparation (including swag), and ensuring all hiring documentation is complete and compliant, and all data is entered into related People systems accurately Develop and maintain effective relationships with hiring managers and key onboarding stakeholders, including IT, Finance, Business Operations, and Administrative teams, to ensure alignment and operational efficiency Coordinate and schedule all stages of the interview process, collaborating closely with recruiters and hiring managers to ensure a timely, efficient, and high-quality candidate experience in a fast-paced environment Coordinate, schedule, and support all aspects of the onboarding experience. Organize and facilitate bi-weekly onboarding sessions, including delivering presentations on company culture, mission, and values Support key People Operations processes within various HR systems and tech from onboarding through offboarding. Support internal and external audits by preparing accurate and timely documentation as needed Act as first point of contact for all candidate and employee inquiries(for COEs and People Partners); triaging and escalating to others as necessary. Lead on all Tier 1-2 People Team tickets Administer and monitor background checks, proactively following up on discrepancies and collecting necessary supporting documentation to ensure compliance Manage accurate and up-to-date employee records across People platforms, conducting regular audits and process checks to ensure data accuracy and compliance Gather and analyze feedback from new hires to identify opportunities for enhancement and drive continuous improvement in onboarding programs Effectively prioritize, multitask, and resolve issues related to candidate and employee experience in a dynamic environment Lead and manage the summer internship program – coordinating all events and activities and acting as the primary contact for interns and hiring managers Act as a brand ambassador to promote the Element brand during on-site interviews and hiring events. Foster local university relationships, including attending on-site events, career fairs, etc Manage and support ad hoc/special projects and initiatives) and other administrative tasks (e.g. Culture Awards) to improve people operations and recruiting. effectiveness Education and Experience: Bachelors degree with 2+ years of human resources/people operations experience; experience with recruiting support and/or scheduling experience in a high-volume environment is a plus Comfortable wearing multiple hats and has an entrepreneurial spirit; willing to jump in and help the team where needed Accountability is key; Reliable and dedicated to delivering their best work on time Excellent verbal and written communication skills Outstanding organizational and time management skills, with an impeccable attention to detail; Ability to monitor multiple schedules and consistently navigate competing priorities Experience using an Applicant Tracking System (Greenhouse is a plus, but not necessary) Experience with HR Onboarding Systems (ADP is a plus, but not necessary) Experience with Teams, Zoom, Outlook, Word, and Excel Physical Requirements: Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 15 pounds Location: San Diego (on-site) Travel: Up to 5% or as needed Job Type: Full-time/Exempt Base Compensation Pay Range: $85,000 - $104,000 In addition to base compensation noted above, you will be eligible for stock options, discretionary annual bonus, no cost health insurance plans, 401k with company match, and flexible paid time off. Please note: Base compensation will depend on multiple factors, including geographic location, qualifications, and experience. We foster an environment such that all people are afforded the freedom to pursue their passions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.