People Operations Manager

Role Overview

People Operations Manager for Salma Health, owning the operational backbone of the People function across HRIS administration, payroll, benefits, leave, compliance, and HR process design. This is a high-ownership “build-it” role requiring deep systems configuration, multi-entity payroll operations, and SOP creation to make processes repeatable.

Location: Remote (PST hours)

Key Responsibilities

HRIS & PEO Management

• Serve as the primary Rippling administrator: configuration, workflows, integrations, access controls, and data integrity.
• Manage the day-to-day PEO relationship: employee data accuracy, carrier feeds, and vendor escalations; act as an internal expert on PEO capabilities/limitations.
• Lead evaluation and execution of future system migrations, including PEO-to-in-house transition planning and execution.
• Lead UAT for HRIS upgrades; act as internal escalation point for HRIS issues and vendor coordination.

Payroll, Benefits & Leave Administration

• Own end-to-end payroll processing across multiple entities (MSO and PC), including off-cycle, bonus, and complex transactions.
• Be first point of escalation for payroll issues.
• Process and audit compensation changes (salary adjustments, promotions, off-cycle increases, bonus payouts) ensuring accuracy, approvals, and timely payroll execution.
• Act as SME on California wage and hour law (overtime, premium pay, meal/rest break penalties, alternative workweek schedules, final pay).
• Apply familiarity with healthcare/provider payroll and wRVU-based compensation models.
• Oversee federal/state/local tax compliance.
• Administer benefits across MSO and PC structures (open enrollment and employee inquiries).
• Manage leave of absence programs end-to-end: CFRA, PDL, PFL, SDI, STD/LTD, parental leave, Workers’ Compensation, including top-up calculations, EDD/Guardian coordination, and return-to-work.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Own core People Operations workflows: onboarding, offboarding, job changes, and org updates; build scalable SOPs/playbooks/process guides.
• Maintain HR compliance across the employee lifecycle: I-9s, new hire reporting, multi-state obligations, required postings, record-keeping.
• Monitor changes to California and federal employment law; proactively flag policy/process updates.
• Support audits, regulatory filings, and data requests (e.g., 401(k), workers’ comp).

Data & Reporting

• Maintain accurate employee records and build recurring People metrics: headcount, turnover, compliance tracking, benefits participation, leave utilization.
• Provide ad hoc reporting and analysis to support management and cross-functional teams.

Required Qualifications

• 4–6 years in People Operations or HR Operations in a fast-paced, multi-entity or multi-state environment.
• Strong hands-on HRIS experience; Rippling strongly preferred, with ability to own system administration.
• Experience operating within a PEO environment, including working knowledge of PEO structures/limitations and transition planning.
• Solid payroll operations experience with deep California wage and hour expertise; multi-entity payroll processing and compensation change administration.
• Hands-on California leave administration experience (CFRA, PDL, PFL, SDI, Workers’ Compensation).
• Demonstrated ability to build processes, SOPs, and infrastructure from scratch.
• Exceptional attention to detail; discretion managing sensitive information; ability to operate independently.
• Healthcare/clinical organization experience, including familiarity with provider compensation structures (e.g., wRVU-based models).