Onboarding Program Specialist
San Francisco
People – People /
Full-time /
Hybrid
We believe that the way people interact with their finances will drastically improve in the next few years. We’re dedicated to empowering this transformation by building the tools and experiences that thousands of developers use to create their own products. Plaid powers the tools millions of people rely on to live a healthier financial life. We work with thousands of companies like Venmo, SoFi, several of the Fortune 500, and many of the largest banks to make it easy for people to connect their financial accounts to the apps and services they want to use. Plaid’s network covers 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada, UK and Europe. Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, Washington D.C., London and Amsterdam.
The Workplace Experience (WPE) team is responsible for shaping the employee experience at Plaid, ensuring that our workspaces, events, and cultural touchpoints drive connection, collaboration, productivity and engagement.
Within WPE, the Events & Experiences team brings Plaid’s culture to life by designing and executing programs that foster belonging and engagement across both in-office and distributed environments. This team curates a wide range of experiences—from flagship company-wide gatherings to in-office celebrations, DEIB initiatives, virtual events, and milestone moments. By intentionally designing touchpoints across the employee lifecycle, the team reinforces Plaid’s values and helps build a workplace where employees everywhere feel included, supported, and inspired.
We’re looking for an Onboarding Program Specialist to join our Events and Experiences team in San Francisco. In this role, you’ll be the face of Plaid for all new hires, leading our in-person onboarding program and delivering a best-in-class introduction to our culture, values, and ways of working.
Beyond onboarding, you’ll shape the employee experience by managing swag and recognition programs, supporting milestone celebrations, and assisting with events across onsite, offsite, and virtual environments. Partnering closely with People, WPE, DEIB, and Communications teams, you’ll create inclusive, memorable experiences that ensure Plaids feel valued, connected, and excited to show up.
Responsiblities
- Facilitate engaging, in-person onboarding sessions for new hires, ensuring a best-in-class first-week experience.
- Create an inclusive and interactive learning environment that fosters connection, belonging, and knowledge retention.
- Manage end-to-end onboarding logistics, including scheduling, room setup, communications, and coordination with cross-functional partners.
- Partner with IT and People teams to ensure a seamless onboarding experience.
- Deliver presentations and learning modules, adapting to audience needs while staying aligned with Plaid’s culture and strategy.
- Gather and analyze feedback from participants to refine content and continuously improve the onboarding journey.
- Manage Plaid’s swag program end-to-end, including vendor partnerships, inventory management, ordering, and distribution.
- Refresh and innovate swag offerings to reflect Plaid’s culture, values, and brand identity.
- Lead the company milestone and anniversary gifting program, ensuring employees feel recognized and celebrated in meaningful ways.
- Assist with planning and execution of employee events (onsite, offsite, and virtual), including logistics, communications, and day-of support.
- Contribute to flagship events such as the annual holiday party and other company-wide gatherings.
- Support and contribute to programs across the employee journey, ensuring Plaids feel valued, engaged, and connected from onboarding through career milestones.
Required Qualifications
- 3–5 years of experience in onboarding, facilitation, employee experience, HR, or related people programs.
- Proven facilitation skills, with confidence leading in-person sessions for groups of varying sizes.
- Strong program coordination and logistics management experience with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to manage end-to-end program operations — including scheduling, communications, vendor relationships, and inventory management.
- Proven ability to plan and execute events of varying sizes, from small team gatherings to company-wide experiences.
- Strong understanding of employee experience design and a track record of creating inclusive, engaging environments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages for different audiences and channels.
- Collaborative mindset with experience working cross-functionally (e.g., with People, DEIB, Workplace, and Communications teams).Comfort being a visible presence in the office and engaging employees face-to-face.
- Proactive problem solver with the ability to identify opportunities for continuous improvement through feedback and data.
- Availability to work 3 days/week onsite in SF (Tues–Thurs).
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with tools like Slack, Google Workspace, Canva, and event platforms (e.g., Splash, Eventbrite).Experience supporting multi-office or distributed teams.
- Experience planning large-scale or flagship events (e.g., hackathons, holiday parties).
- Experience designing and managing recognition programs (e.g., milestones, anniversaries, or rewards).
- Knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design.
- Prior experience managing swag programs or branded merchandise.
- Knowledge of HR systems, onboarding platforms, or event management tools.
$128,400 - $176,400 a year
The target base salary for this position ranges from $128,400/year to $176,000/year in Zone 1. The target base salary will vary based on the job's location.
Our geographic zones are as follows:
Zone 1 - New York City and San Francisco Bay Area
Zone 2 - Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington D.C.
Zone 3 - Austin, Boston, Denver, Houston, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego
Zone 4 - Raleigh-Durham and all other US cities
Additional compensation in the form(s) of equity and/or commission are dependent on the position offered. Plaid provides a comprehensive benefit plan, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k). Pay is based on factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience and skillset, and location. Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation or benefit plans.
Our mission at Plaid is to unlock financial freedom for everyone. To support that mission, we seek to build a diverse team of driven individuals who care deeply about making the financial ecosystem more equitable. We recognize that strong qualifications can come from both prior work experiences and lived experiences. We encourage you to apply to a role even if your experience doesn't fully match the job description. We are always looking for team members that will bring something unique to Plaid!
Plaid is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion or religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, military or veteran status, disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Plaid is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance with your application or interviews due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations@plaid.com.
