A growing, multi-state professional services firm is seeking an experienced HR & Operations Manager to serve as the backbone of its people operations. This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives on variety, takes pride in keeping complex systems running smoothly, and brings both heart and precision to everything they do.
You'll own the full spectrum of HR, compliance, payroll support, and office administration across 16 states and growing — making this an ideal fit for someone who loves solving puzzles, staying ahead of regulatory changes, and being the go-to person everyone counts on.
What You'll Do
Multi-State Tax & Licensing Compliance
Manage business license tax renewals across all office locations
Handle business tax applications including employee/employer income, local, unemployment, and workers' compensation taxes
Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual filings and payments across multi-state tax agencies
Respond to notices, audits, and unemployment claims
HR Compliance & Policy Administration
Maintain and update the firm handbook to reflect current wage and hour laws across all states of employment
Ensure timekeeping compliance including timesheet corrections, overtime and meal penalty audits, and state-specific payroll policy updates within Paychex
Administer PTO tracking and provide payroll support
Employee Relations & Lifecycle Management
Lead employee onboarding and track training progress through personnel files
Provide day-to-day HR coaching, field employee complaints, and navigate personnel issues with professionalism and care
Prepare and manage Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)
Draft termination letters, severance agreements, and offboarding checklists
Maintain accurate, complete personnel files
Insurance & Benefits Administration
Oversee office insurance administration including renewals, Certificates of Insurance (COIs), audits, and carrier requests
Manage health insurance administration — open enrollment, additions/terminations, monthly bill audits, and responses to carrier investigations
Culture & Engagement
Plan company events and lead employee engagement initiatives that strengthen team connection
Who You Are
A trusted confidant. You handle sensitive information with the highest level of discretion — people trust you because you've earned it.
Exceptionally organized. You manage dozens of moving parts across multiple states without dropping a ball.
A clear communicator. Whether you're coaching a manager through a tough conversation or responding to a state agency, your communication is confident and precise.
Proactive, not reactive. You anticipate compliance deadlines, flag issues before they escalate, and always have a plan.
A natural multitasker. You can pivot from an onboarding call to a tax filing to an employee concern — all before lunch — and still keep your cool.
Qualifications
Proven experience in HR operations, compliance, or office management — ideally in a multi-state environment
Strong working knowledge of wage and hour laws, payroll tax requirements, and employment regulations
Experience with Paychex or similar payroll/HRIS platforms
Familiarity with business licensing, workers' compensation, and unemployment tax processes
A people-first mindset paired with sharp attention to detail
Salary: 90k/year.
Must be based in Emeryville CA , hybrid role policy 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.