HR & Payroll Specialist

The Salty Donut started in Miami as a family-owned, chef-driven donut shop making small-batch craft donuts that rotate with the seasons. Today we're a growing brand with shops across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Colorado, and the people behind the counter are the reason guests keep coming back. Our HR team's job is to make it easy for those people to do great work: hired well, paid right, supported and set up to grow.

The Role

The HR & Payroll Specialist owns payroll for our shops and corporate team and is a hands-on HR generalist who keeps our people processes running smoothly across a multi-state, multi-unit restaurant team. Working closely with the Director of Human Resources, you'll make sure every shop and corporate employee is paid accurately and on time, and support our teams day to day: answering questions, keeping employee records and data accurate, supporting hiring and onboarding, helping with employee relations matters and making sure our practices follow the rules in every state where we operate.

This role is a great fit for someone who already knows HR and payroll in a fast-paced, hourly workforce, like a restaurant, hospitality or retail group, and wants to deepen their experience and grow with a brand that's expanding.

What You'll Do

Payroll for shops & corporate

• Process accurate, on-time multi-state payroll for hourly shop team members and salaried corporate employees across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Colorado
• Review and reconcile timekeeping each pay period, working with shop managers to resolve missed punches, edits and overtime before payroll closes
• Calculate and process tips, overtime, bonuses, retro pay and final pay in line with each state's rules
• Set up and maintain pay rates, tax withholding, garnishments and benefit and other payroll deductions
• Reconcile payroll registers, deductions and tax filings, and partner with Finance on payroll journal entries and audits
• Serve as the go-to resource for shop and corporate employees and managers on pay, paystubs, direct deposit and W-2 questions
• Track minimum wage and payroll tax changes in every market and update rates and settings before they take effect
• Build and maintain payroll SOPs, calendars and audit checklists

Shop & field support

• Serve as a go-to HR resource for shop managers, field leaders and team members, answering questions on policies, pay, benefits, scheduling and leave
• Help managers apply policies consistently and guide them on documentation, corrective action and employee communication
• Visit Miami-area shops regularly and travel to other markets as needed to support openings and team needs

Employee relations

• Take in employee concerns and complaints, document them and escalate to the Director of HR as appropriate
• Assist with workplace investigations, including scheduling and conducting interviews, gathering statements and documents and preparing summaries
• Track employee relations activity and flag recurring issues or trends

Multi-state compliance

• Support compliance with federal, state and local employment requirements across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Colorado
• Help monitor wage and hour practices, including minimum wage changes, overtime, breaks, timekeeping, tip practices, paid sick leave and final pay
• Keep required postings, I-9s, E-Verify and employee files current and audit-ready
• Help respond to unemployment claims, agency requests, wage audits and other compliance inquiries

Recruiting & onboarding

• Support high-volume hourly hiring and shop leadership searches, including job postings, applicant flow, screening and scheduling
• Coordinate staffing support for new shop openings alongside Operations and the Director of HR
• Run onboarding so every new team member starts with complete paperwork, training and a great first impression
• Track time-to-fill, applicant flow and turnover and share what you see

HR operations & systems

• Process employee lifecycle changes, including new hires, transfers, promotions, pay changes, leaves and separations, accurately and on time
• Maintain clean employee data in our HRIS and payroll system so records, pay rates and deductions stay in sync
• Support benefits administration, open enrollment, ACA tracking and employee benefits questions
• Help build and update SOPs, templates, manager tools and policy documents
• Pull HR reports and metrics as needed

Employee experience & engagement

• Help plan and run employee programs, recognition and engagement efforts across shops
• Conduct and track exit feedback and support retention efforts
• Help bring Salty's culture and values to life in every HR touchpoint

What You Bring

• 24 years of combined HR and payroll experience, ideally as an HR/Payroll Generalist, Specialist, Coordinator or Assistant
• Experience supporting a multi-unit restaurant, QSR, hospitality, retail or similar hourly workforce strongly preferred
• Hands-on experience processing payroll for hourly and salaried employees, including tips, overtime and deductions; multi-state payroll strongly preferred
• Experience with HRIS, payroll, timekeeping and applicant tracking systems (Paylocity experience a plus)
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to keep accurate records across many locations
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive matters
• Clear, friendly communicator who builds trust with shop teams and leaders
• Organized and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, growing environment
• Proficient in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, especially spreadsheets

Bonus points if you have:

• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business or a related field
• aPHR, PHR, SHRM-CP, FPC or CPP certification (or working toward one)
• Experience supporting new store or restaurant openings

Work Environment & Travel

• Based at our Miami support office with regular visits to Miami-area shops
• Occasional travel to other markets for openings, audits and team support
• Occasional work outside standard business hours to support shop teams and urgent employee matters

Why You'll Love It Here

• A chance to grow your HR and payroll career alongside an experienced Director of HR
• Broad, hands-on exposure to every part of HR in a growing multi-state brand
• A team that cares about craft, hospitality and good vibes

The Salty Donut is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.