People Operations Associate

Vast is looking for a  People Operations Associate, reporting to the Senior Manager, People Operations, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations. This role ensures accurate, compliant employee data and documentation throughout the employee lifecycle, with a focus on HRIS data management, separations, and Workers’ Compensation, while supporting international workforce operations, process improvement, and reporting.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, exercises sound judgment, and thrives in a fast-paced environment. At more senior levels, they operate independently, manage complex issues, identify risks, and drive scalable, compliant People Operations processes.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

HRIS Data Integrity & Change Management — 30%

Manage employee data and HRIS changes in Rippling, ensuring accuracy, documentation, and appropriate approvals

Partner with the HRIS Associate to support workflows, reporting, system testing, and issue resolution

Conduct regular data audits, resolve discrepancies, and partner cross-functionally to maintain accurate and compliant employee records

Separations, Termination Documentation & Offboarding — 25%

Manage employee separations and terminations, ensuring timely completion of documentation, system updates, stakeholder coordination, and final pay requirements

Own the Separation Agreement process, including preparation, approvals, signature tracking, deadlines, and record-keeping

Partner with People Business Partners, Legal, and Payroll to ensure separation documentation and off-boarding actions are accurate and compliant

Escalate complex or high-risk separation matters as appropriate

Workers’ Compensation — 25%

Manage Workers’ Compensation claims from injury reporting through return-to-work and claim closure

File claims and provide required employee notices and documentation within applicable deadlines

Serve as the primary People Operations contact for employees, managers, insurance carriers, EHS, and other stakeholders throughout the claims process

Coordinate return-to-work and modified-duty plans and maintain accurate, confidential, and audit-ready records

Monitor claims, deadlines, and trends and identify potential risks or process improvements

International Hiring & Workforce Support — 10%

Support international hiring and workforce administration, including employment documentation, contracts, onboarding, employee changes, and separations

Partner with internal teams and external vendors to support international workforce requirements and compliance

Maintain accurate global employee and contractor records in Rippling and flag potential compliance or operational risks

Process Improvement — 5%

Identify and implement improvements across People Operations processes, including employee changes, offboarding, Workers’ Compensation, international workforce administration, and compliance

Develop and maintain SOPs and supporting documentation to improve consistency, scalability, and audit readiness

Reporting & Cross-Functional Partnership — 5%

Partner with HRIS and cross-functional teams to provide operational metrics, compliance reporting, and audit support

Identify trends, gaps, and risks and provide actionable insights to People Operations leadership

Collaborate with People Business Partners, Payroll, Talent Acquisition, Finance, IT, Legal, EHS, and other teams to resolve operational issues and support People initiatives

Minimum Qualifications:

High School Diploma

3+ years of progressive experience in People Operations, HR Operations, HR Administration, or a related function. Candidates considered for the Senior People Operations Associate level should demonstrate deeper functional expertise, experience independently managing complex or sensitive employee matters, and a track record of improving or scaling People Operations processes

Hands-on experience managing employee data and employee actions in an HRIS; Rippling strongly preferred. This role requires an expert HRIS user, not a system administrator

Experience managing employee separations and termination documentation, including coordinating time-sensitive documentation, offboarding actions, and cross-functional requirements

Experience managing Workers’ Compensation claims, including intake, carrier coordination, claim administration, and return-to-work processes

Experience supporting international hiring or workforce administration, including employment documentation and employee changes

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy

High level of discretion and ability to handle sensitive and confidential employee information with integrity

Advanced proficiency in Google Workspace, particularly Google Sheets, and/or Microsoft Excel for reporting and analysis

Clear communicator who works effectively across People Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Finance, IT, Legal, Environmental Health & Safety, external vendors, managers, and business leaders

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, or a related field

Experience preparing or managing Separation Agreements and supporting complex or high-volume employee separations and offboarding

Experience working with global employment partners, employer-of-record (EOR) providers, or international payroll providers

Experience supporting multi-location organizations

Familiarity with California employment practices and compliance requirements, including California Workers’ Compensation

Working knowledge of employment requirements outside the U.S

A track record of improving People Operations processes at scale, including documentation, data integrity, offboarding, Workers’ Compensation, or compliance processes

Project management experience

Additional Requirements:

Ability to travel up to 10% of the time

Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones

Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted

Specific certifications, as appropriate

Pay Ranges:

People Operations Associate II: $92,000 - $131,000

Senior People Operations Associate: $103,000 - $147,000

Pay Range: California

$92,000—$147,000 USD