Global People Operations Specialist

Who we are

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity. 

The Role

Are you a detail-oriented and customer-focused HR professional with a passion for delivering outstanding employee experiences? We’re seeking a People Operations Specialist to join our collaborative and high-performing Global People Services team. This role is based out of our New York office.

In this role, you will serve as a key point of contact for employees across the Americas, providing exceptional support across the entire employee lifecycle—including onboarding, benefits, payroll, compliance, and global mobility. This is an exciting opportunity to play a critical part in enhancing People Operations, ensuring operational excellence, and building efficient, compliant HR processes that truly support our people.

Responsibilities

Employee Lifecycle & People Operations

• Act as the first point of contact for HR queries via our Peopledesk service desk, delivering accurate and timely responses with empathy and professionalism
• Administer onboarding, job changes, and offboarding processes in our HRIS (HiBob), ensuring data integrity across all platforms
• Draft and manage employee documentation (contracts, offers, salary letters, employment verification)
• Partner with the Leadership & Organisational Effectiveness team to deliver orientation sessions for new joiners
• Collaborate with global People teams, Finance, and IT to streamline operations and support process improvement initiatives

Benefits & Leave Administration

• Support the administration of U.S. employee benefits programs (health, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), wellness, COBRA, etc.) in partnership with the global rewards and payroll teams
• Manage employee leave programs in compliance with federal and state laws (FMLA, STD, LTD, PFL, ADA, Workers' Comp)
• Serve as the primary contact for benefits related queries, escalating appropriately and resolving issues efficiently

Payroll Support

• Provide and communicate payroll related changes, ensuring accurate inputs and coordinating changes with the payroll team
• Provide support with payroll-related communications and documentation

Global Mobility & Immigration

• Coordinate immigration processes including visa sponsorships (e.g., H-1B, L-1), extensions, and green card applications in collaboration with people business partners and external counsel
• Support timely and compliant I-9 verification and documentation
• Provide guidance and support to employees navigating global mobility and immigration processes

Compliance, Systems & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and assist with audits and regulatory filings
• Partner with People Technology and Data teams to generate reports and insights on people data
• Maintain consistent and accurate HR records, ensuring seamless system updates and audit readiness

Who you are

• Experience in HR operations, benefits administration, ideally within a global or shared services environment
• Familiarity with U.S. employment and benefits regulations, including FMLA, HIPAA, ERISA, COBRA, and I-9
• Proficiency in HRIS platform administration - experience with HiBob, ADP Workforce Now, and Google Suite is a strong plus
• Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting
• A proactive mindset with a passion for problem-solving, process improvement, and continuous learning
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate across teams
• A customer-first mindset and the emotional intelligence to handle sensitive matters with discretion

The expected base salary for this position ranges from $52,500.00 - $78,750.00. It is not typical for offers to be made at or near the top of the range. Rather, salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered.

#LI-Hybrid 

What we offer

Benefits
We offer excellent benefits including an incentive programme, generous annual and parental leave policies, volunteering days and well-being support throughout the year, as well as free access to all Economist content. Country specific benefits are also offered.

Our Values
Our values are a collective set of beliefs and behaviours that strengthen The Economist Group's purpose and demonstrate where we want to be as an organisation. They reflect on our mission to pursue progress for individuals, organisations and the world.

Independence
We are not bound to any party or interest and encourage exploration and free-thinking. We champion freedom, both within our organisation and around the world.

Integrity
We are bold in our efforts to uncover the truth and stand up for what we believe in. We inspire trust through our rigour, fact-checking and transparency.

Excellence
We aspire to the highest standards in all we do. We are ambitious and inquisitive in our pursuit of continuous progress and innovation.

Inclusivity
We value diversity in thought and background and encourage healthy debate with a breadth of perspectives. We treat our colleagues and customers fairly and respectfully.

Openness
We foster a collaborative and empathetic culture conducive to the interests, wit and initiative of our colleagues. New ideas are our lifeblood.

The Economist Group values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues and potential colleagues regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, gender identity, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status or any other status.