Human Resources Operations Specialist

Role Overview

• Prepare, process, and audit US payroll accurately and on time, in close partnership with Finance and the HR Operations team.
• Own multi-state payroll compliance: tax registrations, unemployment accounts, SUI rate updates, and jurisdiction-specific requirements across all states where AlertMedia has employees.
• Support international payroll coordination for our global population in partnership with the HR Operations team and in-country vendors.
• Conduct regular payroll audits: reconcile deductions, verify data integrity across Rippling, and catch and resolve discrepancies before they become employee-facing issues.
• Manage payroll-related employee questions with accuracy and responsiveness.
• Partner with Finance on payroll reporting, cost tracking, and reconciliation.
• Stay current on US federal and state payroll regulations, tax law changes, and international payroll requirements relevant to our footprint.
• Manage day-to-day US benefits administration: enrollments, life events, qualifying event changes, employee questions, and coverage troubleshooting.
• Support annual open enrollment end-to-end: system configuration in Rippling, employee communications, education sessions, enrollment assistance, and post-enrollment audits.
• Conduct regular benefits audits including carrier reconciliations, eligibility confirmations, billing reviews and resolve discrepancies proactively.
• Partner with Finance on monthly benefits billing and cost reconciliation.
• Assist in administering global benefits programs in coordination with the HR Operations team including UK, Ireland, and Mexico.
• Serve as the primary employee contact for benefits questions; resolve issues with empathy, accuracy, and speed.
• Maintain current, employee-friendly benefits documentation, resources, and knowledge base articles.
• Stay current on regulatory changes affecting benefits: ACA, ERISA, COBRA, Section 125, and international equivalents.
• Own the full leave administration lifecycle for all leave types: FMLA, ADA accommodations, short-term disability, long-term disability, parental leave (maternity and paternity), military leave, bereavement, and state-specific programs.
• Serve as the employee and manager guide through leave: intake conversations, eligibility determinations, documentation, required notices, pay coordination, return-to-work planning, and touchpoints throughout.
• Administer global leave programs in alignment with local law: UK statutory maternity/paternity/shared parental leave, Irish parental and sick leave entitlements, Mexican IMSS maternity benefits and sick leave, Canadian provincial leave programs, and Netherlands statutory leave frameworks.
• Own and maintain the Leave Playbook, keeping country-specific guidance, regulatory changes, and process documentation current for the People team.
• Partner with HRBPs and People Partners on sensitive leave situations requiring additional coordination or accommodation.
• Maintain accurate leave tracking and records in Rippling; ensure timely notifications, approvals, and pay continuity coordination with Finance and payroll.
• Identify recurring leave administration friction points and drive process improvements.
• Serve as a Rippling power user: employee record management, data changes, and module support.
• Maintain data accuracy across employee records, benefits enrollments, and leave records; run regular audits and reconciliations.
• Build and maintain standard People reports for benefits, leave, headcount, and ad-hoc requests.
• Maintain accurate data in our HR Bot to ensure employee-facing information is current and reliable.
• Identify and escalate HRIS workflow gaps or data integrity risks; partner with the HR Systems & AI Automation Analyst on improvements.
• Support recurring compliance activities: Form 5500 benefits testing, ACA reporting, COBRA administration, SOC/ISO audits, and employment-related filings.
• Assist the HR Operations Manager with global compliance activities across international jurisdictions.
• Maintain policy documentation and support employee-facing communications for benefits and leave policy updates.
• Stay current on US federal, multi-state, and international leave and benefits regulations.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in HR Operations with demonstrated depth in the following: US payroll processing, benefits administration, and leave management.
• Hands-on experience processing multi-state US payroll end-to-end, not just supporting it.
• Hands-on experience administering FMLA, STD/LTD, parental leave, ADA accommodations, and state leave programs from intake through return-to-work.
• Working knowledge of US payroll law, multi-state tax compliance, and federal/state wage and hour requirements.
• Working knowledge of US leave law: FMLA, ADA, USERRA, ADAAA, and key state programs (CA, NY, WA, CO, CT, etc.).
• Some exposure to international leave and benefits frameworks: UK, Ireland, Mexico, Canada, and the Netherlands preferred.
• Experience with Rippling HRIS required; must be comfortable as a daily Rippling user, not just an occasional one.
• Active user of AI tools to optimize processes and improve efficiencies
• Comfortable working in Excel, pulling reports, auditing data, and catching discrepancies before they become problems.
• Deeply empathetic communicator — you know how to hold space for employees navigating hard moments while keeping the administration moving.
• High ownership, strong follow-through, and sound judgment with confidential employee information.
• Proactive about compliance and regulatory updates; you don't wait to be told when something has changed.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary + Company-wide bonus program
• Generous and flexible time off and parental leave policies
• Health benefits
• Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance are 100% paid for employees!
• 401K with generous company match
• Amazing rewards and incentives – we love celebrating each other!
• Commitment to community service with opportunities to give back
• A Best Places to Work company 10 years in a row and numerous other awards
• Access to new downtown office with 360 views of Austin, high-tech building gym and nearby running trails
• Ongoing career development opportunities through our Learning & Development team
• You'll do meaningful work—while growing your career in a fast-moving, global company with an award-winning culture