HR Compliance Program Lead

Thumbtack

2d • $112,200 - $178,300 • Remote

About The Position

The HR Compliance Program Lead designs and owns Thumbtack’s HR compliance operating model, translating regulatory requirements into practical, scalable People processes. This individual contributor partners closely with People Operations, Legal, Payroll, HRBPs, and other stakeholders to ensure compliance is implemented consistently across the employee lifecycle, and brings deep multi-state U.S. and Canadian employment compliance expertise with a pragmatic, execution-focused approach. Success means making sound judgment calls, prioritizing by risk and impact, and building audits and controls that are rigorous without being burdensome. The HR Compliance Program Lead serves as the primary accountable owner for HR compliance programs while enabling execution across teams.

Requirements

• 6+ years of experience in HR compliance, HR operations, or a related People function, with hands-on experience operationalizing compliance requirements, designing audits and controls, and partnering with operational teams on execution.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. and Canadian employment laws and regulations, with particular depth in multi-state/province environments and California employment law.
• Demonstrated ability to design compliance frameworks and translate regulatory requirements into practical, scalable operational processes.
• A pragmatic mindset with sound judgment, including the ability to balance compliance rigor with operational realities.
• Strong program management skills, including the ability to prioritize work, manage dependencies, and drive progress across stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex requirements clearly and effectively.
• Comfort operating independently in a fast-paced, evolving environment and influencing without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Own HR compliance programs end-to-end: design, governance, prioritization, sequencing, oversight, and ongoing evolution.
• Translate regulations into practice: turn federal/state/local requirements into clear People processes, guidance, and training/enablement.
• Build and manage lifecycle compliance controls tied to hiring, role changes, compensation changes, and terminations, to include policy maintenance and rollouts.
• Design and run pragmatic audits/monitoring: implement controls, establish a regular review cadence, and drive follow-through with People Ops.
• Lead worker classification oversight (exempt/non-exempt and contingent labor) in partnership with People Ops, Legal, and HRBPs.
• Partner with Legal on interpretation and risk to operationalize requirements consistently and defensibly.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Payroll, HRBPs, and other teams where compliance touches their workflows; serve as the go-to SME for stakeholders.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed