Human Resources & Payroll Manager

Southern Association of Independent Schools, Inc.; Roswell (GA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life insurance

FSA/ benefits

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Job summary

The Cottage School in Roswell, GA, seeks an HR & Payroll Manager to oversee daily HR and payroll operations, reporting to the CFO and Head of School. The role emphasizes compliance, benefits administration, recruiting, and employee relations on two campuses.

Ideal candidates have 3–5 years of HR/payroll experience, a relevant degree, and strong Excel/Word skills. This full-time, on-site position offers a comprehensive benefits package and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field; 3–5+ years of relevant experience.
• Payroll processing experience including all deductions.
• Leaves of absence management (FMLA, medical, state leaves).
• Knowledge of HR functions and employment laws.
• Full-cycle recruiting experience; Indeed recruiter experience preferred.
• Broad knowledge of benefits and insurances (health, dental, vision, life, FSA, 401(k)).
• Strong computer literacy with MS Excel, Word, and Adobe.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day HR and payroll functions; report to CFO and Head of School.
• Partner with leadership on talent management and employee relations.
• Handle onboarding, offboarding, recruiting, and leave management.
• Administer HR policies and programs; coordinate benefits and compliance.
• Maintain employee records and assist with time and attendance.

Skills

Customer service mindset

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Team player

Self-starter

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

HR/payroll certifications preferred (PHR, CPP)

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

Adobe

Job description

Job Title: HR & Payroll Manager

Full-Time: In-person, on site daily

Salary range: $65,000 - $70,000

Build something meaningful with us ….

Are you looking for a career that serves a meaningful purpose and makes an impact on the lives of many? Look no further; The Cottage School is the place for you!

Celebrating different learning styles ...

At The Cottage School, our mission is to build a sense of self for students with special learning needs through academic and experiential programming. We prepare individuals to fulfill their true potential as confident, productive, and independent adults. This mission drives our daily work.

Founded in 1985, The Cottage School (TCS) has two campuses, both located in Roswell, GA. The main campus serves grades 6-12 across 23+ beautifully wooded acres while the elementary campus caters to grades K-5 on 2+ wooded acres. We are fully accredited by AdvanceEd and Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). TCS has received recognition for excellence from distinguished educators, counselors, and psychologists and has been named one of the Top 50 Best Private Special Needs Schools in the United States by the Masters in Special Education Resource Guide. Most importantly, our results are recognized by our most valued audience: our students and their families.

At TCS, we believe that a structured environment with a low student-to-teacher ratio can significantly improve academic success while addressing our students' areas of weaknesses. We offer a combination of academic and experiential programs tailored to various learning styles and skills. Every student has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) to set academic and personal goals.

About the position…

The HR & Payroll Manager (HRPRM) supports the day-to-day execution of core human resources and payroll functions, reporting directly to the CFO and Head of School. This position aligns HR initiatives with organizational goals while ensuring smooth delivery of HR services at the employee level.

The HRPRM partners with leadership to drive talent management, employee engagement, and employee relations. They will act as a trusted resource for both employees and managers, addressing workplace concerns, conducting investigations, resolving conflicts and providing guidance on disciplinary actions. Approaching employee relations matters with professionalism and impartiality is essential, as is maintaining appropriate boundaries while ensuring compliance within company policy.

The HRPRM is also responsible for core administrative HR and Payroll functions that support the employee lifecycle, including but not limited to recruiting, onboarding, offboarding, semi-monthly payroll processing, maintaining employee records, leave of absence management, time and attendance management, administering HR policies and programs, coordinating benefits, and ensuring compliance with employment laws and company policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate will have a customer service mindset combined with a practical, hands-on approach, executing HR and Payroll assignments with accuracy and efficiency. Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail are essential for success in this dual-capacity role.

The HRPRM has a significant impact on all aspects of the employee lifecycle and plays a vital role within the organization by contributing to the following HR and Payroll services:

• Compensation and benefits
• Talent recruitment and management
• Time and attendance, Leave of absence management
• Onboarding and Offboarding
• Employee relations, engagement and retention
• Employee policies and compliance

The above statements are intended to describe a general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

This is an excellent opportunity to deepen your knowledge in all areas of HR and Payroll while seeking continuous improvements for efficiency.

We are looking for ….

• A pleasant and professional individual who is customer service-oriented.
• A team player who is willing to assist others and seek help when needed.
• A confident self-starter who understands their impact on others.
• A continuous learner and critical thinker who is adept at problem-solving.
• A flexible and adaptable person who will visit both of our campuses.
• Someone who delivers assignments on time and within budget (if applicable) and proactively communicates if there's a risk of not meeting deadlines.
• An individual who can ensure the security and confidentiality of company and employee information while using discretion and diplomacy.
• A person who can work independently but also thrive in a team environment.
• Someone persistent with solid follow up and follow through.
• Someone who is punctual, dependable, and reliable.

Education and skills for success

• Bachelor's Degree in human resources or a related field with at least 3 - 5 years of demonstrated relevant experience. A combination of education and related experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree.
• HR and Payroll certifications preferred but not required (PHR, CPP).
• Demonstrated experience processing payroll including all deductions.
• Demonstrated experience managing and/or overseeing leaves of absence, including FMLA, medical leaves, and state-specific leave laws.
• Knowledge of general HR functions and employment related laws.
• Full cycle recruiting experience (Indeed recruiter experience preferred).
• Broad knowledge in all benefits and insurances such as health (including HSA), dental, vision, life, STD, LTD, FSA, FMLA, 401(k) preferred.
• Strong computer literacy with high proficiency using MS Excel, Word, and Adobe.

What we offer…

• Medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, FSA, voluntary life and additional wellness plans.
• 401(k) with 100% Match up to 3% of salary and 50% of the next 2%.
• $25,000 life insurance provided by the organization.
• 36 paid days off in years 1 & 2 (including Thanksgiving week and two weeks for Christmas and New Year); Increases to 41 days at the start of year 3.