Senior People Ops Manager – Payroll, Systems

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Pennsylvania.

📋 Description

• Manage the entire payroll process for the US and UK, encompassing timesheets, payroll modifications, initial reviews, accuracy checks, controls, reconciliations, approvals, audit trails, documentation, and resolution of provider issues.

• Oversee benefits administration, including COBRA, open enrollment, US 401(k), UK pension management, HRIS leave administration, and workers’ compensation.

• Take charge of HRIS architecture, configuration, integrations, data integrity, governance, reporting, troubleshooting, vendor relationships, and platform performance.

• Create and sustain compliant policies across US federal and state jurisdictions, the UK, and countries covered by EOR.

• Manage the compliance calendar for HR activities including filings, renewals, notices, audits, and policy reviews.

• Facilitate introductions to immigration counsel, manage vendors, timelines, and maintain HRIS documentation.

• Assist in compensation review reporting while the Head of People oversees the compensation strategy.

• Develop the people infrastructure for new FROs, which includes entity and EOR setup, payroll and benefits activation, policy creation, and Notion workspaces.

• Coordinate the people workstream for FRO launches, identifying dependencies and risks.

• Manage operational wind-downs for FROs, encompassing terminations, final pay, benefits cessation, platform and entity closure, and records retention.

• Report directly to the Head of People while collaborating with People Ops, HRBP, and Launch teams.

• Within six months, assume full ownership of payroll and retirement administration, audit salary data, establish UK timecard/hourly payroll processes, develop a 12-month roadmap, implement payroll controls and a compliance calendar, mitigate high-risk policy gaps, and support FRO launches and wind-downs.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 12 years of experience in HR operations, payroll administration, or a closely related field; or at least 8 years with a directly relevant master’s degree.

• At least 5 years of direct and accountable payroll administration experience across multiple jurisdictions, including California.

• Proven experience in establishing or significantly developing people operations processes for new entities, locations, or countries.

• Hands-on experience in benefits administration, including the coordination of at least one open enrollment cycle.

• Demonstrated experience managing an HRIS, including configuration, integrations, data integrity, governance, and reporting.

• Ability to create complete, compliant policy suites across various states or countries, with knowledge on when to consult legal counsel.

• Strong documentation and process-building capabilities, with examples of playbooks, controls, or operational systems developed.

• Familiarity with AI-enabled tools for documentation, reporting, and workflow automation.

• Experience with UK payroll, including PAYE, RTI, and pension administration (preferred).

• Background in a PEO environment, ideally with TriNet, as well as experience with Rippling or comparable international payroll platforms (preferred).

• Exposure to international employer of record arrangements (preferred).

• Experience in nonprofits, startups, research organizations, or other fast-paced, mission-driven settings (preferred).

• Experience supporting multiple legal entities (preferred).

🏝️ Benefits

• An exceptional opportunity to build institutional architecture for frontier science and collaborate with experts from diverse fields.

• Competitive salary ranging from $165,000 to $175,000.

• Additional 5–10% premium for high labor cost locations or the NYC office.

• Up to a 6% 401k match.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, with most plans fully covered for both employees and dependents.

• Company-paid life insurance, AD&D, long- and short-term disability insurance, and optional supplemental insurance options.

• 19 holidays, including an entire week off at the end of the year.

• 3 weeks of PTO with increases based on tenure.

• Separate allocations for sick leave and parental leave.

• Fertility benefits and childcare reimbursement available.

• Support for education and professional development.

• Wellness allowance for fitness and wellness activities.

• Quarterly offsite team retreats and additional opportunities to meet colleagues in person.