Job Description
Our promotional merchandise distribution client is seeking a Sr. HR Manager to lead and modernize the HR function for a fully remote, growth-stage organization. This is a high-impact, hands-on role for an experienced HR leader who can own compliance, scale hiring, strengthen culture in a distributed environment, and build a performance-driven workforce.
The Sr. HR Manager will serve as the primary HR business partner to leadership, manage the full employee lifecycle, and oversee multi-state employment compliance. The successful candidate will bring proven experience scaling people operations from approximately 50 employees to 150+ in a fully remote environment, with a track record of building infrastructure, not just maintaining it.
Key Responsibilities. Compliance and Risk Mitigation (Primary Priority):
- Own multi-state employment compliance across all jurisdictions where the company operates.
- Maintain accurate state registrations for unemployment insurance, withholding, and state-specific employment requirements.
- Audit and maintain payroll system configurations for tax accuracy, deductions, garnishments, and jurisdictional setup.
- Ensure compliance with FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEOC, OSHA, state leave laws, pay transparency laws, and applicable local ordinances.
- Maintain and update the employee handbook, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, onboarding and offboarding documentation, and contractor agreements (domestic and international).
- Manage employment-related legal matters in coordination with outside counsel, including separations, departures, and post-employment disputes.
Talent Acquisition and Onboarding:
- Partner with leadership and recruiting agencies to support the company's 2026 hiring plan.
- Own the candidate experience, offer letter generation, background checks, reference checks, and pre-employment processes.
- Lead a structured, repeatable remote onboarding program that ramps new hires to productivity quickly.
- Manage vendor relationships with recruiting partners and applicant tracking infrastructure.
Employee Relations and Performance Management:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations matters across the organization.
- Coach managers on performance management, documentation, corrective action, and termination decisions.
- Lead investigations involving employee feedback or complaints.
- Drive a quarterly performance review cadence and support the design and rollout of performance improvement plans.
Compensation, Benefits, and HRIS:
- Administer the full benefits program (medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k), unlimited PTO).
- Manage the annual benefits renewal in partnership with the broker, including plan design, employee education, and open enrollment.
- Own Paylocity as the system of record: payroll review, time and attendance, employee data integrity, and reporting.
- Support compensation reviews and partner with finance on commission plan documentation for the sales organization.
Culture and Retention in a Remote Environment:
- Build and maintain culture programs designed for a distributed workforce.
- Run regular employee engagement surveys, analyze results, and execute on action plans.
- Partner with leadership on retention strategies, recognition programs, and internal communications.
AI and HR Technology:
- Identify, evaluate, and implement AI and automation tools to streamline HR operations, including recruiting, onboarding, employee documentation, and compliance workflows.
- Champion AI adoption within the HR function and serve as a partner to other departments on people-related automation initiatives.
Required Qualifications:
- 8 to 12 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years at the Senior Manager level or above.
- Demonstrated experience scaling a company.
- PHR, SPHR, or SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP certification preferred.
- Deep expertise in multi-state employment compliance, with hands-on experience managing payroll tax registrations, state-by-state employment law, and HRIS configuration audits.
- Proven Paylocity administration experience, or equivalent enterprise HRIS expertise with rapid Paylocity onboarding capability.
- Strong experience with AI tools and HR automation, including practical implementation of AI-powered solutions in recruiting, onboarding, or employee operations.
- Experience supporting a sales organization, including familiarity with commission plan documentation, sales-specific performance management, and high-volume hiring.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coach senior leaders, draft policy, and operate independently.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience building an HR function from the ground up or rebuilding one during a growth phase.
- Experience with international contractor management.
- Familiarity with non-solicitation enforcement, post-employment disputes, and coordination with outside employment counsel.
What We Offer:
- Fully remote, work-from-anywhere within approved U.S. states.
- Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, disability, and 401(k) benefits.
- Unlimited PTO.
- Direct exposure to executive leadership, including CEO and VP of Operations.
- A high-trust, high-accountability culture where the right hire will own meaningful scope from day one.
- Competitive compensation, commensurate with experience.
Job Tags
Full time, For contractors, Local area, Remote work