Sr Manager, Payroll & People Operations

Description

Who We Are:

At Starbird, we’re not just serving crispy, crave-worthy chicken — we’re redefining what fast casual can be. We believe food should be fresh, flavorful, and feel-good — and the same goes for how we treat our people.  As a rapidly scaling restaurant brand expanding corporate and franchise locations, our people systems must be as strong as our food and hospitality. We are building operational infrastructure that is compliant, data-driven, scalable, and designed for long-term growth.

Your Role:

The Sr. Manager, Payroll & People Operations is the central nervous system of the team and operational engine of the People & Culture function. This role owns the pay and HRIS systems and pay execution, related compliance programs, benefits administration, and workforce data infrastructure that support a complex, multi-location California workforce. You will directly manage the HRIS Data Lead and together you will help ensure data and compliance integrity across all people systems.

This is a build-and-scale role — not a maintenance role, in a rapidly growing people and culture team. Success requires operational rigor, strong internal controls, comfort in ambiguity, and the ability to balance compliance precision with employee experience.

Who You Are:

• A seasoned People Operations leader with deep expertise in payroll, HR systems and compliance
• Doggedly determined trouble-shooter who consistently looks for ways to overcome challenges and achieve client success
• Highly analytical and detail-oriented, with strong data and process discipline
• Comfortable operating in high-growth, fast-paced environments
• A continuous improvement mindset — always refining systems and eliminating risk
• Strategic enough to see the big picture; tactical enough to execute flawlessly
• A trusted partner to leaders, employees, Finance, Legal, and IT
• Calm under pressure and steady during operational change
• A decisive problem-solver who identifies issues early and deploys practical solutions
• Highly ethical and able to manage confidential information with discretion

What You’ll Do:

General Management 

• Oversee People systems and vendors that support hiring and the employee lifecycle (e.g., ATS, HRIS, onboarding/offboarding, payroll, benefits administration, workers compensation), ensuring reliability, clean handoffs, and strong user experience
• Design, document, and rigorously test critical People processes and internal controls, with a strong focus on auditability, relevant controls where applicable, and long-term scalability
• Manage People and Culture dashboards shared company wide, and all reporting for the department – weekly, quarterly and annual 
• Oversee and directly manage the HRIS Lead ensuring role and goal clarity and daily, weekly, monthly objectives to ensure data, compliance and reporting
• Oversee general people/culture tools and troubleshoot company-wide employee questions/concerns/issues as first line defense
• Escalate larger scale challenges to general management when needed
• Manage a steady, trusted partnership with Finance, Tech, and other operational areas during moments of operational change, or ambiguity, balancing rigor with empathy and speed

Payroll Operations

• Own end-to-end biweekly payroll for exempt and non-exempt team members
• Ensure compliance with California wage & hour laws (overtime, meal/rest, split shifts, etc.)
• Reconcile Harri and Paylocity data for system accuracy
• Reconcile benefits and 401K deductions and contributions accurately 
• Manage PTO and sick leave accrual accuracy and reconciliations
• Oversee payroll audits, corrections, garnishments, and special compensation plans
• Serve as primary liaison to payroll vendors and troubleshoot system issues
• Train the employee base and managers on payroll processes and accountability

Benefits Administration

• Administer health, welfare, retirement, and wellness programs
• Work in partnership with HRBPs to manage open enrollment planning and execution
• Ensure ERISA compliance and accurate eligibility tracking
• Partner with Head of Department,  brokers and vendors on renewals and plan design
• Resolve employee benefit escalations with professionalism and empathy
• Oversee ACA tracking and reporting compliance

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with Federal, California, and city-specific employment regulations
• Oversee timely and ongoing required compliance training (harassment prev