People Operations Lead: Payroll, Benefits & Analytics

Highwire; Virginia; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid work model

401(k) plan with employer matching

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous vacation policy

Wellness benefit program

Mentorship and professional growth

Job summary

Highwire is seeking a Senior Manager, People Operations to lead payroll, benefits, and people analytics for a multistate workforce. This hands-on leader partners with Finance, HR, and outside vendors to ensure accurate payroll processing, robust benefits administration, and insightful workforce analytics.

The role requires deep technical payroll expertise, strong business judgment, and the ability to translate data into actionable strategies.

Qualifications

• Seven+ years in multistate payroll, payroll tax, benefits, and related operations.
• Hands-on experience with Rippling payroll system.
• Experience managing payroll-provider relationships.
• Strong knowledge of payroll tax and quarter/year-end processing.
• Leadership in benefits design and communication.
• Experience with Form 5500 and 401(k) audits.
• Leave administration across multiple states.
• Advanced people analytics and workforce modeling.
• Collaboration with Finance on reconciliations and forecasts.
• Excellent communication and data governance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll administration for multistate workforce.
• Lead 401(k) plan administration and annual audits.
• Design and administer benefits programs with brokers and vendors.
• Build and advance people analytics dashboards and insights.
• Own leave-of-absence administration.
• Ensure compliance with ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA and Section 125.
• Maintain payroll controls and data accuracy.
• Partner with Finance on reconciliations and forecasting.
• Lead cross-functional payroll, benefits and system initiatives.

Skills

Payroll administration

Payroll tax

Benefits administration

People analytics

Rippling

Cross-functional collaboration

Excel/Sheets

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Rippling

HRIS

Excel

Job description

Highwire is seeking a Senior Manager, People Operations to lead payroll, benefits, and people analytics for a multistate workforce. This hands-on leader partners with Finance, HR, and outside vendors to ensure accurate payroll processing, robust benefits administration, and insightful workforce analytics.

The role requires deep technical payroll expertise, strong business judgment, and the ability to translate data into actionable strategies.