HR & Payroll Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $75,000 - $90,000

Position Summary: Reporting to the Head of Operations, the HR & Payroll Manager oversees the Company's day-to-day Human Resources operations, including employee relations, policy administration, regulatory compliance, payroll oversight, and process improvement. This position serves as the final payroll reviewer and backup payroll administrator while leveraging HR technology to improve operational efficiency.

What We're Looking For: We're seeking a practical HR professional who combines sound judgment, integrity, and hands-on experience with a collaborative leadership style. The successful candidate enjoys solving problems, coaching others, improving processes, and ensuring HR and payroll operations are accurate, compliant, and well executed.

We value demonstrated competence as much as education and certifications and welcome candidates who have built their expertise through practical experience.

Primary Responsibilities

Human Resources Operations

• Provide guidance to managers on employee relations, performance management, investigations, leave administration, and policy interpretation.
• Research employment laws and HR best practices and develop practical, compliant solutions.
• Develop, revise, implement, and communicate HR policies, procedures, forms, and employee communications.

• Oversee HR administration, HRIS, personnel records, onboarding, offboarding, and regulatory compliance.

Payroll & Benefits Administration

• Serve as the final reviewer for payroll prior to submission and act as the backup payroll administrator when needed.
• Oversee employee healthcare benefits and related benefit programs, including annual open enrollment and ongoing benefits administration.

• Serve as the primary liaison with benefit providers, brokers, and other HR vendors.

Leadership & Organizational Support

• Supervise, coach, and develop one HR Generalist while fostering accountability, independent thinking, and professional growth.
• Support employee engagement, performance management, recognition, and other initiatives that contribute to a positive workplace culture.

• Coordinate and maintain documentation of required and voluntary employee training.

Process Improvement & Administration

• Evaluate HR processes and recommend improvements that enhance efficiency, compliance, and employee experience.
• Maintain accurate HR documentation, metrics, and records in accordance with Company policies and legal requirements.

• Assist with HR planning, budgeting, insurance administration, audits, and other operational initiatives as assigned.

Critical Payroll Competency Requirement

Although this position is primarily an HR leadership role, hands-on payroll competency is essential. The successful candidate must possess current, hands-on knowledge of payroll administration and understand the underlying payroll principlesnot simply how to operate payroll software.

• Review, validate, troubleshoot, and correct payroll before submission.
• Understand overtime, PTO, deductions, taxes, benefits, and wage/hour compliance.
• Investigate unexpected payroll results rather than relying solely on automated system output.
• Independently perform payroll processing when necessary.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and progressively responsible Human Resources experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, including experience leading projects, mentoring staff, or supervising employees.
• Current, hands-on experience administering an HRIS, including employee records, workflows, reporting, and system administration.
• Demonstrated current working knowledge of payroll administration, including the ability to independently review, validate, troubleshoot, and process payroll when necessary.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Experience managing employee relations, workplace investigations, corrective actions, performance management, and policy interpretation.
• Experience administering employee healthcare benefits and related benefit programs.
• Experience researching, developing, implementing, and communicating Human Resources policies, procedures, and employee communications.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive employment matters.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, leadership, coaching, and interpersonal skills.

• Proficiency with HR technology platforms as well as Microsoft Office Suite, including the ability to work with spreadsheets, reports, and HR data.

Preferred Qualifications

• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.
• Experience supporting Human Resources operations within a small to mid-sized organization.
• Experience improving Human Resources processes, workflows, or systems.
• Experience implementing, optimizing, or administering HRIS platforms and related HR technologies.

• Experience reviewing or processing multi-state payroll.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance Premium subsidized by employer at 75% for employee & dependents
• Employer-paid life insurance ($50K) & Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• Employer-paid Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance
• 401K 3% Employer Match
• Paid Time Off and eleven (11) paid holidays
• Paid Supplemental Time Off (Jury Duty, Maternity/Paternity, Bereavement)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development and Training (Exam Reimbursement Benefit)

• First Time Homebuyers Benefit

Reporting Structure & Authority: This position reports to the Head of Operations and supervises one HR Generalist. The HR & Payroll Manager exercises independent judgment within assigned responsibilities while recognizing that final authority for organizational strategy, organizational structure, compensation, hiring, and termination decisions remains with executive leadership.

If you are an HR professional who values practical problem-solving, sound judgment, continuous learning, and hands-on leadershipand you take pride in getting the details rightwe encourage you to apply.