People Operations Specialist

About Us:

The wholesale distribution industry is ready for a revolution, and Proton is leading the charge. The world relies on distributors to sell nearly every physical product, but despite its massive contribution to the global economy, this industry has been left behind in terms of technology. Proton is changing that. With AI-powered sales software, we’re breaking through the complexity of selling millions of products and making it easier for distributors to anticipate customer needs. Our mission is to bring the distribution industry into the modern age and the results speak for themselves. Distributors using Proton see 10x ROI, faster new hire ramp-up, and happier sales teams.

In 2022, we raised a $20M Series A backed by Felicis Ventures (investors in Twitch, Shopify, Opendoor, and many others) and Battery Ventures. This year, we’re laser-focused on driving customer growth. If you’re excited about the opportunity to wear multiple hats, and continuously learn and experiment, now’s the time to join the Proton team.

The role:

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented People Operations Specialist to join our team and support our rapidly growing organization. In this role, you will report to the Head of Finance and Strategy and work cross-functionally with internal stakeholders to execute, manage, and continuously improve key HR and People Operations processes.

You’ll play a vital role in managing day-to-day HR operational functions, with a primary focus on processing payroll and owning the onboarding process. In addition, you’ll contribute to employee engagement initiatives, ensure compliance, and support the success of broader people-related programs.

Location & Schedule:
This is a hybrid position based in the Greater Boston area, requiring 2 days per week in our Cambridge office. The role is part-time at 32 hours per week across 4 days.

Compensation:
The salary range for this role is $50,000 to $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. (This range is based on a 32-hour workweek.) This role is benefits-eligible and includes access to our standard employee benefits package.

What You’ll Do:

Own Key People Operations Domains Including:

Employee Lifecycle & People Experience

• Own and manage end-to-end onboarding and offboarding processes, ensuring every new hire feels welcomed, equipped, and set up for success from day one 
• Drive a positive employee experience through internal communications, milestone celebrations, and culture-building initiatives 
• Support the continuous improvement of lifecycle touchpoints to foster engagement, belonging, and retention

Payroll & Compliance

• Fully own and execute bi-weekly payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations 
• Maintain and update employee data in HRIS and payroll systems (e.g., ADP, OysterHR), ensuring accuracy and integrity
• Manage payroll-related onboarding and offboarding tasks, including tax documentation, direct deposit setup, and final pay processing 
• Act as the primary point of contact for all payroll-related questions and ensure clear, timely employee communication
• Maintain accurate and confidential payroll records and compliance documentation; support tax filings and audit preparation
• Track and ensure up-to-date compliance documentation for labor regulations across multiple states

Performance & Process Optimization

• Coordinate the performance review cycle, including communications, documentation, and timeline management
• Build and continuously improve People Ops processes and SOPs, applying a mindset of efficiency, scalability, and compliance to all work
   

Recruiting Coordination

• Administer and maintain our Applicant Tracking System (ATS) (e.g., Greenhouse), ensuring job listings are up-to-date and well-branded
• Manage and post job listings, ensuring visibility across appropriate platforms
• Coordinate the offer letter process, including drafting, approval routing, and tracking documentation

You’ll Be a Great Fit If You Are:

• Organized and Detail-Oriented: You thrive on checklists, deadlines, and getting the little things right.
• People-Centered: You enjoy making processes smoother for others and building a great employee experience.
• Proactive and Self-Directed: You can manage your workload and identify areas for improvement without needing hand-holding.
• Experienced in Payroll Processing: You’ve owned or regularly managed payroll end-to-end and understand the importance of accuracy, compliance, and confidentiality
  Comfortable With HR Systems: You’re excited to dig into tools like ADP, Greenhouse, Oyster—even if you haven’t used them before.
• A trusted guide through meaningful moments: You bring empathy, discretion, and reliability to every interaction, creating a safe and supportive space for team members as they navigate milestones, transitions, and everything in between.

Preferred Experience:

• 2–4+ years in HR, People Operations, or a related field, ideally in a startup or high-growth environment.
• Experience administering benefits, payroll, and compliance in a multi-state setup.
• Familiarity with tools like ADP, Greenhouse, and Oyster HR (or equivalents).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management and documentation skills.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in HR, Business, or a related field.

Benefits

• Competitive Salaries + Company Stock Options - we want to pay you well (and equitably!) and make you feel like an owner.
• Unlimited PTO + 10 Company Paid Holidays - we even have tools implemented to detect burnout to make sure folks recharge regularly.
• 401k with Employer Contribution (US only, for now!) - we know work isn’t forever, so we contribute up to 3% of your salary to help you prepare whether you directly contribute or not.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance - we cover one medical plan 100% in the USA and cover a premium plan 100% for international employees (for US- this includes a HSA!) and cover 50% for dependents on all our medical plan options.
• 12 Weeks Fully Paid Parental Leave - that goes for primary and secondary caregivers; even if you’re adopting or fostering!
• Company Paid off-sites - time for us to be together, brainstorm, and make magic happen
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