Position Summary The Senior Manager, People Operations, Payroll & Benefits serves as a strategic payroll and HR leader responsible for payroll administration, benefits, compliance, employee relations, talent acquisition, compensation, workforce planning, and HR operations. This role partners closely with leadership to ensure operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and an exceptional employee experience across multiple entities and locations. Key Responsibilities Payroll Management & Tax Compliance Manage end-to-end payroll processing across multiple companies and pay groups Review payroll audits, reconciliations, and payroll controls Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements Coordinate quarterly and annual tax filings and year-end reporting Manage payroll system implementations, upgrades, and integrations Resolve payroll discrepancies and employee inquiries Partner with Finance on payroll reporting and account reconciliations Support multi-state registrations and wage-and-hour compliance Benefits, Retirement & Leave Administration Manager system compliance and administration of health, welfare, and voluntary benefit programs Support annual open enrollment planning and execution Partner with brokers and carriers on renewals and plan design Manage benefit invoice reconciliations and enrollment audits Oversee 401(k) administration, testing, and audit support Administer FMLA, ADA, Paid Family Leave, and other leave programs Coordinate STD, LTD, and return-to-work programs Develop employee communications and benefits education initiatives Compliance, Risk Management & Safety Maintain compliance with FLSA, ACA, ADA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, OSHA, and related laws Support administering HR policies and procedures in payroll platform Lead internal and external compliance audits Administer workers compensation claims and reporting Monitor legislative changes and regulatory requirements Maintain HR records retention and documentation standards Talent Acquisition & Employee Lifecycle Support full-cycle recruiting and workforce planning initiatives Develop sourcing strategies and candidate pipelines Support interviewing, offer development, and onboarding Backup for background checks and pre-employment screenings Support new hire onboarding Administer COBRA and offboarding requirements Compensation, HR Operations & Employee Relations Support merit increase and incentive compensation processes Conduct compensation benchmarking and market analysis Maintain HRIS data integrity and employee records Provide guidance on employee relations and policy interpretation Support performance management and talent development initiatives Drive HR process improvements and technology enhancements Workforce Planning & Analytics Prepare executive HR dashboards and metrics Analyze turnover, retention, vacancy, and labor cost trends Maintain headcount reporting and organizational charts Support annual budgeting and workforce forecasting Develop data-driven recommendations for leadership Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, Finance, Management, or equivalent experience 7+ years of progressive HR experience 5+ years of multi-state payroll administration experience Experience with benefits, leave management, compliance, and employee relations Experience leading audits, process improvements, and HR initiatives Proficiency with HRIS, payroll, and benefits systems Core Competencies Payroll Administration Compensation Management Payroll Tax Compliance Leave Administration |

Workers Compensation Benefits & Retirement Administration Audit & Risk Management Employee Relations HRIS Administration Workforce Analytics Strategic HR Partnership Project Management Continuous Improvement Pay:

$78,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Indian Trail, NC 28079