Manager, People Operations & Payroll

FTC Solar Inc•Austin, TX

About The Position

We are looking for a Manager, People Operations & Payroll to own the operational backbone of our global HR function. This role runs the systems, data, and processes that keep a multi-country workforce compliant, paid accurately, and well supported — spanning US multi-state payroll oversight, HRIS ownership, compensation administration, workforce reporting, leave administration, and coordination of our international Employer of Record relationships. You will report directly to the CHRO and work alongside a lean, global HR team, with direct supervisory responsibility for our US payroll and benefits function. This is a hands-on role for an experienced HR operations professional who is equally comfortable auditing a payroll register, building a headcount report for the executive team, and administering a merit cycle.

Requirements

8–12 years of progressive HR operations experience, including direct ownership of US multi-state payroll — you have processed and audited payroll yourself, not just partnered with a payroll team
Hands-on experience supervising payroll staff or vendors, with a track record of catching and correcting errors before they process
HRIS administration experience (e.g., ADP, Paylocity, Rippling, UKG, or similar), including integrations and reporting
Strong compensation analytics skills; advanced Excel required
Experience supporting a multi-country workforce, ideally including Employer of Record structures
Working knowledge of US wage and hour law, leave administration, and benefits compliance; experience with non-exempt/manufacturing populations a plus
High judgment with confidential information and comfort operating in a fast-moving, changing environment
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Nice To Haves

CPP, SHRM-CP/SCP, or PHR a plus

Responsibilities

Supervise US multi-state payroll processing end to end, including salaried and non-exempt hourly populations, reviewing and approving each payroll run before it processes
Audit payroll inputs and outputs — timekeeping, overtime, deductions, taxes, garnishments, off-cycle payments — to catch errors before they reach employees
Manage and develop payroll/benefits support resources, setting clear standards, review cadences, and documentation requirements
Serve as escalation point and backup for payroll processing to eliminate single points of failure
Oversee benefits administration, including enrollments, life events, invoicing reconciliation, and annual open enrollment execution
Own the HRIS as system administrator: data integrity, access controls, workflows, integrations with payroll and benefits platforms
Produce recurring and ad hoc workforce reporting — headcount, attrition, span of control, compensation — for the CHRO, executive team, and board materials
Maintain the enterprise headcount and org data model, ensuring changes (hires, terminations, transfers, reorganizations) are captured accurately and on time
Lead the global performance management cycle (goal-setting, reviews, calibration, and feedback).
Enhance tools, frameworks, and processes to support organizational performance and talent development.
Train managers and leaders to drive a fair, consistent, and high-performance culture.
Integrate performance insights into HR dashboards and analytics.
Oversee U.S. HR compliance and support compliance efforts in global jurisdictions.
Maintain audit-ready documentation across employment practices, payroll, benefits, and data privacy.
Track regulatory changes and update policies and processes.
Ensure HR data practices comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other global privacy frameworks.
Administer annual merit, bonus, and equity cycles, including tooling, timelines, manager enablement, and reconciliation with Finance
Maintain compensation data and support benchmarking, band placement, and offer analysis
Administer leave of absence programs (FMLA, ADA accommodations, state leave laws) with rigorous documentation and timelines
Coordinate day-to-day operations with international Employer of Record partners across multiple countries, keeping onboarding, payroll changes, and terminations compliant and on schedule
Maintain the HR compliance calendar — federal/state filings, postings, audits, ACA, EEO-1 — and support internal audit and SOX-related controls as needed
Partner with Legal and Finance on sensitive workforce actions, ensuring documentation, data, and process gates are handled with precision and confidentiality