People Operations Manager

At Sonder, we believe that every person deserves to feel safe, supported, and empowered to be at their best - wherever they are. That’s why we’re redefining workplace health, safety, and wellbeing through a seamless blend of technology and human expertise. Sonder’s mobile platform provides 24/7, real-time support from a dedicated team of safety, medical, and mental health professionals - ensuring that our members receive immediate care when they need it most. In critical situations, we go beyond digital support, offering on-the-ground assistance to manage time-sensitive incidents.

By harnessing real-time insights, we enable organisations to take proactive steps toward a healthier, safer future, which leads directly to tangible bottom-line business outcomes.

An Exciting Time to Join Sonder!

Since our founding in 2017, Sonder has experienced rapid growth, expanding operations across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Backed by Australia’s leading venture capital firms, Seek and Blackbird, we are well-capitalised and on a mission to scale globally, partnering with corporations, educational institutions, and government agencies to transform workplace wellbeing at scale.

Our impact and scale:

• 1,000,000+ members across multiple countries
• 200+ team members, plus an extensive network of on-the-ground responders

If you’re passionate about using technology and human expertise to drive meaningful change, join us in shaping the future of workplace wellbeing!

About the role

We’re looking for a People Operations Manager to lead Sonder’s People Operations function; driving efficiency, compliance, and great employee experiences at scale.

In this role, you’ll oversee the systems, processes, and frameworks that underpin Sonder’s employee lifecycle, ensuring they’re efficient, compliant, and aligned to our people strategy. You’ll manage a small but high-impact team, including our Workplace Experience Manager and P&C Coordinator, focused on continuous improvement and delivering seamless operational support to our people and leaders.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys improving how things work, streamlining processes, leveraging technology, and using data to make better people decisions.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead, coach, and develop the People Operations team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee end-to-end HR operations, including onboarding, offboarding, contracts, compliance, data management, and payroll inputs.
• Ensure all people systems (Employment Hero, Greenhouse, Culture Amp) are accurate, efficient, and well-integrated across the organisation.
• Own and maintain Sonder’s people governance framework, policies, processes, and compliance with employment law, Modern Awards, and WHS requirements.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, Risk, and IT to strengthen data integrity, reporting, and automation.
• Deliver regular people metrics and insights to the Chief People Officer and senior leadership team.
• Lead operational projects that simplify and scale people processes, reducing friction and manual effort.
• Support employee relations and policy interpretation, ensuring consistent and fair outcomes.
• Guide the Workplace Experience and P&C Coordination teams to design and deliver programs that enhance engagement, belonging, and the everyday employee experience.

Who we are looking for

You’re an organised and solutions-focused people leader who loves improving systems and processes, and you’re just as comfortable getting into the detail as you are guiding your team.

You bring a mix of strategic thinking and operational precision, balancing speed with accuracy. You thrive in dynamic environments and know how to turn complexity into clarity for others.

You’ll bring:

• 5+ years’ experience in People & Culture or People Operations, including at least 2 years in a management role.
• Proven experience managing or improving HR operations, systems, or shared service functions.
• Strong working knowledge of employment law, Modern Awards, and HR compliance frameworks.
• Hands-on experience with HRIS platforms such as Employment Hero, Greenhouse, or Lattice.
• The ability to interpret data, identify trends, and turn insights into practical action.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills — collaborative, calm under pressure, and commercially minded.
• A focus on delivery and continuous improvement, with a curiosity for how technology can make work better.
• A genuine commitment to building positive, human experiences for Sonder’s people.

Why join Sonder?

At Sonder, we thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance environment with a strong commitment to our people. Our team is a collaborative, vibrant group of passionate professionals, dedicated to making a real impact on people’s lives every day.

• Hybrid and flexible working environment. Enjoy the perfect balance of in-office collaboration and work from home flexibility, empowering you to optimise your productivity and work-life balance.
• Gain free access to the Sonder app for you and your family, offering 24/7 on-demand support for health, wellbeing, and safety.
• $1000 annual contribution as part of your development plan + 2 days of study leave
• Paid parental leave with an attractive return to work policy, 12 weeks for Primary Carers and 4 weeks for Secondary Carers, plus our Primary Carers return to work at 80% for the first 3 months at full pay.
• Participate in our Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP) for you to be a part of Sonder’s success. 
• Salary Packaging and novated leasing 
• ​​Access $250 annually to fund to invest in your wellbeing, empowering you to choose the support that best fits your needs.
• Free coffee on Tuesdays and catered lunch on Thursdays.
• Team social fund to connect with your team, plus monthly company wide social events. 
• Dog-friendly office. 
• Volunteer leave. 2 days per year to participate in meaningful causes and contribute back to the community.

Check out our life page for more info - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sondersafe/life/

At Sonder, we are committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. Our members come from all backgrounds, and we know that a diverse team helps us better understand and support their needs. We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, cultural backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, and religious beliefs. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply. We are an equal opportunity employer and all hiring decisions are based on merit, capability, and alignment with the role.

Due to the nature of our industry, all Sonder employees are required to complete a National Police Check and WWCC 

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