Associate Manager, People Programs

Studs is a venture backed, multi-unit retail business that has scaled rapidly and continues to expand nationally. As the business grows, the People function must manage increasing complexity across hiring, onboarding, compliance, workforce planning, training, and field support. 

The People Team at Studs oversees People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Retail Training & Talent, and Piercing Education. The Associate Manager, People Programs supports the coordination and execution of initiatives that cut across these functions.

This is a project and program execution role within the People team. You will drive the planning, sequencing, and execution of cross-functional initiatives that impact our field teams and HQ. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on bringing structure to complexity and ensuring work gets finished - not just started.

This role ensures work is clearly defined, appropriately sequenced, and delivered with consistency across HQ and the field. The Associate Manager partners closely with Retail leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to help initiatives move from planning to sustain. 

Salary Range: $90,000-$100,000

Key Responsibilities:

Initiative Planning & Workstream Management

• Convert People priorities into clear project plans with defined milestones, owners, timelines, and dependencies (e.g., onboarding rollouts, systems updates, hiring process changes, compliance improvements)
• Maintain an organized view of active initiatives and ensure sequencing decisions are intentional and realistic
• Identify overlapping work, resource constraints, and timing conflicts early
• Ensure initiatives move from kickoff through completion with clear handoffs and defined sustainment steps

Meeting Leadership & Accountability Tracking

• Prepare agendas and materials for taskforces and working groups tied to People initiatives (e.g., payroll-related process improvements, onboarding consistency efforts, cross-regional calibration meetings)
• Capture decisions, action items, and deadlines in a consistent format
• Follow up on open items between meetings to maintain momentum
• Surface delays, risks, or unclear ownership before they escalate

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with Retail, Talent Development, People Operations, and Finance to align on timelines and execution expectations
• Ensure initiatives reflect operational realities within studio environments
• Clarify roles and responsibilities when ownership becomes blurred
• Support senior People leaders with structured updates and concise summaries of progress, risks, and tradeoffs

Operating Rhythm & Process Improvement

• Help establish repeatable cadences for tracking and reviewing initiative progress
• Maintain organized documentation and a clear source of truth for active workstreams
• Identify friction in how work is handed off or implemented and recommend practical adjustments
• Contribute to improving how the People function plans, launches, and sustains new initiatives over time

Requirements:

• Experience leading and executing complex, cross-functional work in a retail, service, or multi-unit environment
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams at once
• Demonstrated ability to drive follow-through and accountability without formal authority
• Clear written communication skills, including concise summaries for senior stakeholders
• Comfort operating in environments experiencing growth and change
• High attention to detail and strong judgment about prioritization and sequencing
• Willingness and ability to be based in New York City
• Experience in a corporate or field-facing role within a multi-unit organization
• Experience supporting scaling efforts, system improvements, or operational changes
• Exposure to People, Talent, or Operations functions
• Experience in consulting, strategy, business operations, or program management within a growth-stage environment strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to structure ambiguous problems and drive solutions across stakeholders without formal authority
• Interest in long-term growth within a People or Talent leadership path

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible Work Environment (3 days in office, 2 days work from home)
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (including a plan option with $0 in-network mental health visits)
• Access to Mental Health and Work/Life Resources including Online Therapy, Gender Affirmation Support Services, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Health and Commuter Tax-Advantaged Accounts
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off, Paid Safe & Sick Leave, and Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Sabbatical After 4 Years of Service
• Exclusive Employee Discounts on Piercings and Jewelry (we’ve got your friends and family covered too!)
• Access to PerkSpot and additional benefits such as pet insurance, discounted tickets, personal finance coaching, healthy rewards, and more!