People & Operations Manager

About the Organization

Designing Alley is an engineering-focused organization specializing in innovative product development, industrial automation, and high-precision engineering systems.

The company operates within a growing ecosystem of early-stage ventures working across engineering, technology, and sustainability domains.

As the organizations scale, we are establishing a centralized People & Operations function to build structured hiring systems, workforce management processes, and operational frameworks across the ecosystem.

Role Mandate

This is a high-ownership, hands-on role responsible for building and managing people operations across multiple early-stage ventures.

The People & Operations Manager will work closely with the founder and technical teams to:

design structured recruitment systems

manage employee lifecycle processes

coordinate freelancers and industry experts

establish HR policies and documentation frameworks

ensure disciplined administrative execution across the organizations

The role requires a process-builder mindset, capable of creating scalable systems while also managing day-to-day execution.

Core Responsibilities

1. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development

Lead recruitment activities across diverse functional areas, including:

• Engineering and product development
• IT and software roles, including AI & ML
• Chemical and biomedical engineering
• Operations and management
• Sales and marketing
• Research positions

Key responsibilities include:

• Working closely with technical teams to convert role requirements into structured job descriptions
• Managing hiring through multiple channels, including professional networks, hiring platforms, academic institutions, and referrals
• Conducting initial screening interviews, including behavioral and cultural fit assessments
• Coordinating technical interviews with internal teams and external experts
• Managing offer letters, candidate communication, and hiring documentation
• Maintaining structured candidate databases and workforce planning records

The role will also support hiring across multiple engagement models, including:

• Full-time employees
• Freelancers
• Industry experts and long-term consultants

2. Employee Lifecycle Management

Establish and manage structured employee lifecycle processes, including:

• Onboarding and induction programs
• Employment contracts and documentation
• Probation tracking and confirmations
• Performance review coordination
• KPI and performance tracking frameworks
• Employee communication and engagement

The role will also manage employee exits and transitions, ensuring proper documentation and professional closure.

3. Freelancer, Consultant & External Talent Coordination

Many projects require collaboration with external specialists. The role will support:

• Onboarding of freelancers and consultants
• Contract and NDA coordination
• Engagement tracking and documentation
• Coordination between external experts and internal teams

4. HR Policies, Leave Systems & Internal Governance

Design and manage internal policies and systems, including:

• Leave and holiday policies
• Attendance tracking systems
• Travel approval and reimbursement policies
• Work guidelines and operational protocols

The role will ensure that policies remain clear, practical, and scalable as the organizations grow.

5. Administrative & Operational Coordination

Support operational efficiency across the ventures by coordinating:

• Domestic and international travel planning
• Conference participation and professional visits
• Vendor coordination (travel agencies, service providers, consultants)
• Administrative documentation and approvals
• Internal operational follow-ups

The role will also assist founders with organizational coordination and execution tracking when required.

6. Compliance & Documentation Governance

Ensure proper documentation and compliance standards by managing:

• Employment contracts and personnel records
• NDAs and consultant agreements
• HR documentation archives
• Confidential data handling practices
• Coordination with legal and financial advisors where required

The objective is to maintain audit-ready and well-structured documentation systems.

7. Organizational Systems & Process Development

Build scalable systems to support company growth, including:

• HR Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Digital documentation and tracking systems
• HRMS or workflow management tools
• Structured reporting dashboards for leadership

The role will also support workforce planning and capacity forecasting as the organizations expand.

Profile Requirements

We are seeking a proactive professional who is comfortable operating across HR, operations, and administrative domains in a startup environment.

Formal qualifications are secondary to demonstrated capability and execution discipline.

Ideal background includes:

• 47 years of experience in HR, operations, or administrative management
• Experience in engineering firms, technology startups, manufacturing organizations, or R&D environments preferred
• Exposure to multi-entity or startup ecosystems is advantageous
• Strong process-building and documentation discipline
• Ability to operate independently with high ownership

Core Competencies

Talent acquisition and hiring systems

HR documentation and compliance management

Employee lifecycle and performance systems

Administrative coordination and vendor management

Travel planning and logistical coordination

Digital system implementation (HRMS / workflow tools)

High ownership, discretion, and execution reliability

Performance Indicators

Key success indicators for this role include:

• Time-to-hire and hiring quality
• Implementation of structured HR systems
• Accuracy and completeness of HR documentation
• Administrative efficiency and response time
• Workforce stability and operational coordination

Role Evolution

As the organizations grow, the role may evolve into:

Head People & Operations

with expanded responsibility across HR strategy and organizational governance.