THE ROLE

The People & Operations Manager plays a central role in enabling the People & Culture function to operate effectively across TREES. Reporting to and partnering closely with the Vice President, People & Culture, this role combines people operations, operational project management, systems administration & management, employee experience, and U.S. workplace operations to build scalable processes and deliver an exceptional experience for staff. The role is based in Washington, DC, United States.

This is an operational leadership role for someone who enjoys bringing order to complexity, translating ideas into execution, and continuously improving how work gets done. Success in this role comes from balancing day-to-day operational excellence with long-term process improvement, ensuring the People & Culture function grows alongside the organization.

The role supports three interconnected areas:

People Operations, Systems & Projects, strengthening the operational foundation of the People & Culture function through systems administration & management, process improvement, project management, and knowledge management that benefit staff across the organization.

Central Office Culture & Engagement, supporting the employee experience, engagement, and day-to-day operations of TREES' Central Office team, primarily across the U.S. and Kenya.

U.S. Operations & Governance, overseeing U.S.-specific people operations, workplace operations, Board administration, and organizational compliance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

People Operations, Systems & Projects

Build and continuously improve the operational foundation of the People & Culture function.

Serve as the primary administrator for Rippling, leading system configuration, workflow improvements, reporting, troubleshooting, and ongoing optimization.

Lead continuous improvements to onboarding, offboarding, and employee lifecycle processes that create a consistent experience across the organization.

Design, improve, and maintain People & Culture knowledge management systems, policies, standard operating procedures, templates, and internal resources.

Lead operational projects from planning through implementation, coordinating stakeholders, vendors, timelines, and deliverables.

Translate strategic People & Culture priorities into clear operational plans and successful execution.

Improve workflows, automate iterative processes, and identify opportunities to make work simpler, more efficient, and more scalable.

Support People reporting, data quality, analytics, documentation, and operational insights that inform decision-making.

Partner closely with the Vice President, People & Culture, to implement new systems, processes, and organizational initiatives.

Central Office Culture & Engagement

Support the employee experience for TREES' Central Office team, primarily across the U.S. and Kenya while helping strengthen organizational culture.

Coordinate employee engagement initiatives that foster connection, collaboration, and a positive employee experience.

Plan and coordinate Central Office retreats, organization-wide retreats, all-staff meetings, and internal events.

Support employee recognition programs and culture-building initiatives.

Partner with leaders to create welcoming onboarding experiences and strengthen employee engagement throughout the employee lifecycle.

Coordinate implementation of engagement survey action plans and other People & Culture initiatives.

Serve as a trusted operational partner to leaders in supporting the day-to-day needs of the Central Office team.

U.S. Operations & Governance

Support the operational needs unique to TREES' U.S. presence.

People Operations

Own day-to-day People Operations for U.S.-based employees.

Administer the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, offboarding, employment changes, documentation, policy administration, and employee records.

Manage U.S. benefits administration, including annual renewals, enrollments, employee support, and vendor relationships.

Partner with payroll, benefits providers, and external partners to ensure a seamless employee experience.

Support U.S. employment compliance, People reporting, and operational administration.

Board & Governance

Coordinate Board and Committee meeting logistics, governance calendars, and administrative planning.

Prepare, organize, and distribute Board materials and meeting documentation.

Maintain governance records, documentation, and administrative systems.

Track Board action items and ensure timely follow-up.

U.S. Workplace Operations

Ensure the U.S. office provides a professional, welcoming, and effective workplace experience for employees and visitors.

Manage the organization's relationship with WeWork and coordinate workplace vendors, facilities, supplies, mail, and office services.

Coordinate logistics for in-person meetings, onboarding, visitors, and organizational events hosted in the U.S.

Partner with the IT Manager on employee onboarding logistics, equipment coordination, and other People-related operational needs.

WHO YOU ARE

An enthusiastic advocate for TREES' mission and values. You are inspired by our mission and excited to create an exceptional workplace for the people advancing it.

An experienced People Operations and operations professional. You have successfully managed People Operations, business operations, office operations, or a combination of these functions in a growing organization.

A builder of systems and scalable processes. You naturally look for ways to simplify work, improve workflows, document processes, and create systems that help teams operate more effectively.

A skilled project manager. You can manage multiple priorities simultaneously, coordinate work across stakeholders, and consistently deliver high-quality results.

A continuous improvement thinker. You enjoy identifying inefficiencies, solving operational challenges, and making good processes even better.

A proactive owner. You take initiative, exercise sound judgment, and move work forward with minimal direction while knowing when to seek input.

A collaborative partner. You build trusted relationships, communicate clearly, and work effectively across teams, cultures, and time zones.

Committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. You approach every interaction with empathy, curiosity, and respect, helping create an environment where every employee feels valued and supported.

A trusted partner. You build strong relationships across the organization through sound judgment, reliability, and clear communication. You earn trust by delivering high-quality work and following through on commitments.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

Six or more years of experience in People Operations, business operations, office operations, or a related operational management role.

Experience administering U.S. employee lifecycle processes, benefits administration, and employment compliance.

Experience administering People systems, preferably Rippling or a comparable platform.

Demonstrated experience leading operational or cross-functional projects from planning through implementation.

Experience improving workflows, documenting processes, and implementing operational improvements.

Strong organizational, project management, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Exceptional judgment, attention to detail, and ability to manage confidential information.

Authorized to work in the United States and based in the DMV area or willing to work in a hybrid environment with regular in-person support for the U.S. office.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The anticipated salary range for this position is $85,000–$90,000 USD annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

TREES offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees' health, well-being, and professional growth. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement plan, workers' compensation coverage, generous paid time off, paid holidays, and professional development opportunities.

We are committed to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven workplace where employees can do meaningful work and continue to grow professionally.

APPLY

If this opportunity speaks to you, please apply with 1) a cover letter that explains why TREES’ work excites you and why this role is a fit for you, and 2) your resume byAugust 26th, 2026. Ensure both documents are shared as PDF or Word documents. We review applications on a rolling basis.

Trees for the Future is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or other characteristics or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

We embrace and value diverse skill sets and backgrounds. We are a community of leaders who are proud to represent many different national, racial, ethnic, socio-economic, religious, gender, and other identities. Our diversity as a community is our strength, driving our ability to be empathetic, visionary, and effective leaders.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

WHO WE ARE

At Trees for the Future (TREES), we believe farmers have the power to transform the world. For over 30 years, we’ve been a global leader in agroforestry, partnering with small-holder farming families to build vibrant economies, sustainable food systems, and thriving ecosystems. Through our proven nature-based solution, farmers restore their land, plant thousands of trees, sequester carbon and diversify their farming enterprises, breaking cycles of climate change and generational poverty. By reclaiming their agency and expanding their skills and market connections, farmers are creating new possibilities for their families, communities, and the environment. We’ve worked all around the world and are currently active in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. TREES has planted over 420 million trees to date, restored more than 40,000 hectares of land and partnered with more than 60,000 farmers and their families. Joining our passionate, collaborative team means empowering farmers to lead lasting change for people and the planet.

Learn more at trees.org.

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People and Operations Manager