HR & Payroll Manager

Strive Rehabilitation Partners Location: Houston, Texas Employment Type: Full-Time Department: Human Resources & Administration Reports To: Chief Operating Officer About Strive Rehabilitation Partners Strive Rehabilitation Partners is a growing healthcare organization dedicated to providing compassionate psychological care to patients recovering from serious illness, injury, and other debilitating medical conditions. Our licensed psychologists work alongside interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams in hospitals across multiple states, helping patients and their families navigate the emotional and psychological challenges associated with recovery, disability, and changes in independence. We believe that emotional well-being is an essential part of physical rehabilitation. Our mission is to make high-quality psychological support an integral part of the rehabilitation experience. Position Summary Strive Rehabilitation Partners is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented HR & Payroll Manager to oversee the day-to-day human resources, payroll, and employment compliance functions of our growing organization. This is a hands-on management position for an individual who enjoys developing reliable processes, solving problems, and supporting employees in a professional healthcare environment. The HR & Payroll Manager will serve as the primary resource for employee administration, payroll accuracy, benefits coordination, and employment-related compliance. The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently, exercising sound judgment, and taking ownership of responsibilities from beginning to end. As a member of our administrative team, this individual will work closely with executive leadership, clinical personnel, and other operational functions to ensure that our employees receive responsive support and that our employment practices remain accurate, consistent, and compliant. Key Responsibilities Payroll Administration Manage the complete payroll process, including payroll preparation, review, processing, and reconciliation. Maintain accurate employee compensation records, including salary changes, bonuses, deductions, and other payroll adjustments. Review payroll information for accuracy and resolve discrepancies promptly. Coordinate payroll tax reporting, withholding, and other payroll-related obligations with external providers. Maintain appropriate internal controls and documentation supporting payroll transactions. Administer employee timekeeping, leave balances, and paid time off in accordance with company policies. Serve as the primary point of contact for employee payroll questions and concerns. Human Resources Operations Manage the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employment changes, leaves of absence, and separations. Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential employee personnel files. Coordinate new-hire documentation, employment eligibility verification, background screening, and required acknowledgments. Administer employee benefits enrollment, changes, renewals, and related employee communications. Respond to employee questions regarding company policies, benefits, compensation administration, and employment procedures. Maintain and improve employee handbooks, HR policies, standard operating procedures, and administrative workflows. Support recruiting operations through offer-letter preparation, pre-employment requirements, and onboarding coordination. Coordinate employee performance documentation, corrective actions, and other employee relations matters in partnership with executive leadership. Employment & Healthcare Compliance Monitor and administer employment-related compliance requirements across the states in which Strive operates. Maintain compliance with applicable federal and state employment laws, including wage and hour requirements, leave administration, and personnel recordkeeping. Coordinate required employee training, policy acknowledgments, and compliance documentation. Track employee professional licenses, required certifications, and other employment-related credentials in coordination with the company's clinical credentialing function. Maintain organized records supporting internal reviews, external audits, and healthcare partner requirements. Identify potential compliance gaps, recommend corrective actions, and monitor their completion. Assist executive leadership in maintaining consistent HR practices as the organization expands into additional markets. Process Improvement & Administration Evaluate existing HR and payroll workflows and implement improvements that increase accuracy, efficiency, and accountability. Develop and maintain standardized checklists, tracking systems, and recurring administrative calendars. Establish appropriate review and approval procedures for sensitive employee and payroll changes. Prepare regular reports concerning staffing, payroll, employee compliance, and other relevant operational metrics. Coordinate with accounting, recruiting, credentialing, and other administrative functions to ensure accurate information and timely completion of employee-related activities. Serve as a dependable resource to executive leadership by independently resolving routine operational matters and escalating significant issues appropriately. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. At least five years of progressive experience in human resources, payroll administration, or related business operations. Demonstrated experience independently managing payroll and employee administration. Working knowledge of federal employment regulations and multistate payroll and HR compliance requirements. Experience administering employee benefits, onboarding, personnel records, and HR policies. Proficiency with payroll and HR information systems, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft 365. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated discretion when handling confidential employee, financial, and organizational information. Ability to work independently, identify problems proactively, and follow through to resolution. Preferred Qualifications Prior HR or payroll management experience in a healthcare organization, medical practice, or other regulated professional services environment. Experience supporting employees across multiple states, particularly Texas, Florida, and Nevada. Familiarity with healthcare employee onboarding, professional licensure tracking, and hospital-specific personnel requirements. Professional certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, CPP, or FPC. Experience improving or implementing HR and payroll processes in a growing organization. Experience supporting a geographically distributed workforce. What We're Looking For The ideal candidate is a capable, conscientious professional who takes pride in getting the details right while maintaining a practical, service-oriented approach. We value individuals who demonstrate: Ownership: Takes responsibility for assigned functions and follows issues through to completion. Accuracy: Recognizes the importance of careful documentation, verification, and internal controls. Judgment: Understands when to resolve an issue independently and when to involve leadership. Responsiveness: Treats employee questions and operational problems with appropriate urgency and professionalism. Integrity: Handles sensitive information and employment matters with discretion, fairness, and professionalism. Continuous Improvement: Looks for opportunities to simplify processes, prevent recurring problems, and strengthen organizational practices. Why Join Strive? At Strive Rehabilitation Partners, our work has a direct impact on patients and families facing some of life's most difficult transitions. Although this position does not provide direct patient care, effective human resources and administrative operations are essential to supporting the psychologists who deliver our services. This is an opportunity to take meaningful ownership of an important business function, work directly with senior leadership, and help build the operational foundation of a growing healthcare organization. Strive Rehabilitation Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, and local law. #J-18808-Ljbffr