Total Rewards and Payroll Manager

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

📋 Description

• Take full responsibility for payroll across a multi-state workforce, covering regular cycles, off-cycle runs, corrections, bonuses, per diems, deductions, and garnishments.

• Ensure payroll controls, reconciliations, variance reviews, payroll tax registrations and filings, year-end processing, and maintain audit-ready records.

• Manage benefits administration, which includes enrollment, eligibility, resolving employee issues, and maintaining relationships with brokers and vendors, along with renewals and utilization.

• Oversee compensation, incentive, and equity programs, entailing salary bands, benchmarking, bonus calculations and payouts, grant records, vesting, exercises, and reporting.

• Control payroll and rewards systems and data, including Rippling configuration, reporting, and ensuring the quality of employee/pay records.

• Address employee payroll and benefits inquiries confidentially and tackle underlying recurring issues.

• Collaborate with the Controller and accounting team on payroll accounting, cash funding, and controls.

• Partner with People leadership on benefits strategy and the compensation calendar.

• Within the first 90 days, assume control of the payroll cycle, stabilize the recurring calendar, and document processes, controls, and exceptions.

• By the end of the first year, develop efficient payroll operations, clear and accessible benefits, timely administration of compensation and equity, and reliable leadership reporting.

⛳️ Requirements

• Proven end-to-end ownership of payroll for a multi-state workforce, including hands-on processing, corrections, garnishments, and year-end responsibilities; must have personally run payroll rather than merely overseeing a vendor.

• Solid understanding of payroll controls and compliance fundamentals: reconciliations, multi-state tax coordination, approval and segregation rules, year-end processing, and audit-ready records in collaboration with accounting.

• Comprehensive experience in benefits administration: enrollment, eligibility, management of brokers or vendors, renewals, employee issues, and utilization.

• Background in administering compensation and equity programs: salary structures or bands, benchmarking support, bonus or incentive calculations and payouts with a clear audit trail, and daily equity administration with external counsel support.

• Proficient in modern payroll and HRIS platforms such as Rippling or similar tools, including configuration, reporting, and data quality management.

• Exercise discretion and judgment with sensitive employee and compensation data, while maintaining clear, direct communication with employees, executives, and vendors.

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or an equivalent payroll certification is a plus.

• Experience in establishing or revamping payroll operations in a growing company is a bonus.

• Familiarity with mixed hourly and salaried workforces, field or project-based teams, or multiple legal entities is desirable.

• Practical experience with equity administration platforms such as Carta or Shareworks, or similar cap-table tools is advantageous.

• Background in energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, construction, or other physical operating environments is a bonus.

🏝️ Benefits

• Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Equity (options) in a rapidly growing startup.

• 401(k) plan with a 4% employer match.

• Unlimited PTO.

• Parental leave.

• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA).

• Commuter benefits, where applicable.

• Opportunities for in-person collaboration during periodic team and company on-sites.