Fractional Human Resources Manager

Company Overview Ted's Hot Dogs, established in 1927 by Theodore "Ted" Spiro Liaros, is a family-owned restaurant group known for high-quality charcoal-grilled food and outstanding guest service. With multiple restaurants in Western New York, a food truck, and a location in Tempe, Arizona, Ted's continues to operate on the principles of quality, consistency, and community. Position Summary The Human Resources Manager is responsible for leading the day-to-day human resources function across Ted's Hot Dogs' multi-state restaurant operations, including direct oversight and processing of payroll. This is primarily remote role, although candidates with proximity to Buffalo, NY or Phoenix, AZ are preferred. The HR Manager owns end-to-end payroll processing and oversees employee relations, recruiting and onboarding, benefits administration, HRIS, training and development administration, and multi-state compliance. The Human Resources Manager will serve as a trusted partner to ownership, General Managers, Finance, and the Interim CHRO/COO, helping to deliver accurate and timely pay, build a consistent and compliant workplace, and standardize people operations as the company continues to grow. Key Responsibilities 1. Payroll Oversight and Processing

• Own end-to-end weekly payroll processing for all Ted's Hot Dogs locations across New York and Arizona, ensuring accurate and timely pay for hourly, tipped, and salaried team members.
• Review and reconcile timekeeping data, exceptions, missed punches, overtime, spread-of-hours (NY), split-shift premium (NY), and tip allocations prior to each payroll run.
• Process new hires, terminations, rate changes, status changes, garnishments, child support orders, and final pay in compliance with state-specific timing rules.
• Administer payroll deductions for benefits, PTO, 401(k) contributions, travel stipends, and other deductions as applicable.
• Reconcile payroll registers to general ledger entries in partnership with Finance and the Controller, supporting accurate posting in Restaurant365 (R365).
• Oversee payroll tax filings, deposits, and registrations across federal, New York, Arizona, and any future state jurisdictions, working with the payroll provider and external accountants as appropriate.
• Prepare and reconcile year-end payroll filings, including W-2s, 1095-Cs, and related forms, and resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Ensure compliance with tip pooling, tip reporting, and minimum wage rules across all jurisdictions.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries with accuracy, empathy, and discretion, and resolve issues quickly.
• Continuously improve payroll processes, controls, and documentation, including segregation of duties and audit-ready records. 2. Employee Relations and Workplace Culture
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations matters across all Ted's locations, providing consistent, confidential, and timely support to General Managers and team members.
• Conduct and document investigations into employee complaints, policy violations, and workplace concerns in partnership with the Interim COO / CHRO and legal counsel as needed.
• Coach General Managers on performance management, corrective action, and difficult conversations, ensuring consistent and fair treatment across locations.
• Champion a workplace culture rooted in respect, safety, and pride in the Ted's product and brand. 3. Recruiting, Onboarding, and Retention
• Lead full-cycle recruiting for hourly and salaried roles, including job postings, sourcing, screening, interview support, and offers, in close partnership with General Managers and Corporate Department leadership.
• Own new-hire onboarding across all locations, ensuring a consistent and welcoming experience from offer through the 90-day check-in, including accurate and timely setup in payroll and HRIS system.
• Administer I-9 verification and E-Verify for Arizona hires, maintaining accurate and audit-ready records.
• Monitor turnover and retention metrics by location and partner with operations leadership on targeted retention initiatives. 4. HRIS and People Systems
• Serve as the primary owner of HRIS, including employee records, onboarding workflows, compliance reporting, and data integrity across all Ted's locations.
• Add new restaurants and related entities to the platform, ensuring proper configuration of locations, pay groups, tax jurisdictions, and compliance settings.
• Support the flow of information between the payroll platform, Restaurant365 (R365), and POS/time-and-attendance systems to reduce manual work and error risk.
• Maintain accurate employee and pay data, reporting, and dashboards (headcount, turnover, time-to-fill, labor cost trends, compliance training status) for executive and operations leadership. 5. Benefits Administration and Leave Management
• Administer medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and supplemental benefit programs, serving as the go-to resource for employee questions on coverage, eligibility, and enrollment.
• Manage annual open enrollment, including communications, elections, carrier coordination, and DineHR updates.
• Administer paid and unpaid leave programs, including

FMLA, NY

Paid Family Leave, AZ paid sick time under Prop 206, workers' compensation, and short-term disability.

• Coordinate with brokers and carriers on plan evaluations, renewals, invoicing, and claims support. 6. Multi-State Compliance and Employment Law
• Keep Ted's compliant with federal, New York, and Arizona employment law, including wage and hour rules, tip credit and tip pooling, spread-of-hours (NY), split-shift premium (NY), and paid sick time under Prop 206 (AZ).
• Manage harassment prevention training (annual, required in NY; required by Ted's policy in all states) and track completion in DineHR.
• Oversee I-9, E-Verify (AZ), EEO, ACA, and OSHA reporting and record retention requirements.
• Maintain and update the employee handbook, HR policies, and SOPs, translating legal requirements into clear, plain-language guidance for General Managers and team members.
• Monitor changes in multi-state employment and payroll tax law and proactively update policies, training, and GM practices. 7. Training, Performance, and Career Development
• Partner with Operations on training programs, performance reviews, and career pathing for hourly and salaried roles, including the Grill Master, Dressing Artist, Dining Host, and Tray Artist progression.
• Support the ongoing rollout of standardized onboarding and training playbooks across all Ted's locations.
• Coordinate compliance training (harassment prevention, food safety support, safety awareness) and track completion across the workforce.
• Support GM development through coaching, resources, and partnership on day-to-day people leadership. 8. Leadership and Collaboration
• Partner closely with the Interim COO / CHRO, ownership, Controller, General Managers, Operations, and Finance to align payroll and HR practices with restaurant realities.
• Serve as a calm, credible point of contact for sensitive HR and payroll matters, maintaining confidentiality and sound judgment at all times.
• Champion continuous improvement across HR and payroll processes, documentation, and systems as Ted's scales and standardizes.
• Support special projects as assigned by the Interim CHRO and ownership, including franchise conversions, location openings, and systems rollouts. Qualifications Education and Credentials
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience, required.
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or

SHRM-SCP

designation preferred but not required. Experience

• 3-5 years of progressive Human Resources and payroll experience, including direct ownership of multi-state, multi-unit payroll processing.
• Demonstrated experience supporting a multi-unit or multi-site restaurant, hospitality, or retail environment, including familiarity with the rhythms of a kitchen and the realities of managing an hourly workforce.
• Hands-on experience running end-to-end payroll, including tipped wages, tip credit and tip pooling, overtime, and state-specific premiums such as NY spread-of-hours and split-shift.
• Working knowledge of multi-state payroll tax registration, deposits, filings, and year-end reporting (W-2, 1095-C, IRS Form 8027).
• Working knowledge of federal employment law plus multi-state experience; New York and Arizona strongly preferred.
• Proven track record running employee relations investigations, handling difficult conversations, and documenting outcomes with empathy and discretion.
• Prior responsibility for administering benefits, leave programs, and open enrollment across multiple locations.
• Experience reconciling payroll registers to the general ledger and partnering with Finance and external accountants.
• Experience maintaining employee handbooks, HR policies, and compliance training programs in a multi-state environment. Technical Skills
• Strong proficiency running payroll in an HRIS/payroll platform; specific knowledge of and experience implementing HRIS / payroll system changes within platforms like: Paylocity, ADP, Paycom, or UKG is a plus.
• Familiarity with restaurant operating systems such as Restaurant365 (R365), POS platforms, and time-and-attendance tools, and how they integrate with payroll.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel (pivot tables, lookups, formulas) for payroll reconciliation, labor cost analysis, and headcount, turnover, and compliance reporting.
• Comfort building and maintaining clean HR and labor dashboards and reporting for executive and operations leadership.
• Working knowledge of multi-state employment and payroll tax law, including New York wage-and-hour rules, tip reporting, and Arizona Prop 206 paid sick time. Competencies and Attributes
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to coach General Managers, de-escalate sensitive situations, and interact confidently with owners and executives.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, and integrity in all employee records, payroll data, and HR documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a primarily remote environment while maintaining strong relationships with on-site restaurant and support teams.
• Hands-on, proactive, and process-improvement mindset, comfortable working in a growing, multi-unit family-owned restaurant business.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and recurring payroll deadlines across multiple locations and states while maintaining accuracy and responsiveness.
• Sound judgment and discretion, with the ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive employee, pay, and business matters. Compensation and Benefits
• Base salary range of $60,000 to $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
• 30-35 hours per week, average.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• 401(k) participation Work Environment and Travel This is primarily a remote position.

Periodic travel to restaurants and the support office may be required, with trips to both Western New York and Tempe, Arizona. Equal Opportunity Statement Ted's Hot Dogs is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Pay:

$68,000.00 - $78,000.00 per year

Work Location:

Remote