Senior Program Manager, HR Operations - 2026-334Role OverviewAstera Labs is scaling at breakneck speed to power the next generation of rack-scale AI infrastructure - and a fast-growing, globally mobile workforce needs an operations engine that never misses a beat. As Senior Program Manager, HR Operations, you will own the programs that keep our people moving and our HR machine humming: driving immigration case management end-to-end, managing our external immigration service provider, and leading cross-functional HR Operations projects that scale with the business.
This is a high-impact, high-visibility role for someone who thrives on turning complexity into clean, repeatable processes. You will partner across HR, Legal, Talent Acquisition, and Finance to deliver flawless employee experiences while building the operational foundation a hyper-growth connectivity company depends on. If you love program management, care deeply about compliance and candidate experience, and want your work to directly enable Astera's momentum, this role is for you.
Key Responsibilities- Immigration Program Management
- Lead end-to-end management of employment-based immigration cases (e.g., H-1B, L-1, TN, PERM, green card processes) across the employee lifecycle.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for employees, hiring managers, and internal stakeholders on immigration matters, ensuring timely, accurate, and empathetic communication.
- Track case status, deadlines, and compliance requirements, proactively escalating risks and driving cases to resolution.
- Managed Service Provider (MSP) Oversight
- Manage the relationship with Astera's external immigration and HR service providers, holding vendors accountable to SLAs, quality standards, and turnaround times.
- Partner with Legal and Finance to govern contracts, budgets, invoicing, and vendor performance reviews.
- Establish reporting and metrics to monitor MSP effectiveness and continuously improve service delivery.
- HR Operations Projects & Process Excellence
- Lead and execute cross-functional HR Operations projects, from scoping through delivery, that scale processes and systems for a rapidly growing workforce.
- Develop, document, and continuously improve standard operating procedures, workflows, and compliance controls.
- Leverage Microsoft tools (Excel, SharePoint, Power Automate, Teams) to build dashboards, streamline workflows, and drive data-informed decisions.
- Partner across HR, Talent Acquisition, Legal, IT, and Finance to ensure seamless, compliant, and efficient operations.
Basic Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience in HR operations, program management, or immigration case management.
- Demonstrated experience managing employment-based immigration processes and working with external immigration counsel or service providers.
- Proven program and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft tools (Excel, SharePoint, Teams, Power Automate) for reporting, workflow automation, and process management.
- Excellent communication, organization, and stakeholder management skills, with a high bar for accuracy and confidentiality.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience supporting HR operations and/or immigration in a high-growth technology or semiconductor company.
- Familiarity with global mobility and cross-border immigration processes beyond the US.
- PMP, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, or related certification.
- Experience managing MSP or vendor relationships, including SLA governance and performance metrics.
- Strong analytical mindset with a track record of process improvement and operational scaling.
Salary range is $139,500 to $155,000 depending on experience, level, and business need. This role may be eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits.
