Senior Human Resources Manager

Pivotal Talent Search; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Pivotal Talent Search is seeking an HR Manager who acts like an operator, not a bureaucrat. In this hands-on solo HR role, you will run day-to-day operations and own the people function end to end. You will report directly to the President and serve as the connective tissue between leadership and employees, balancing culture with compliance.

This hybrid role is based in El Segundo, requiring three days in the office and a strong focus on culture, engagement, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Onboarding, offboarding, and lifecycle management knowledge.
• Strong understanding of California employment law and compliance requirements.
• Experience handling employee relations and people questions with discretion.
• Knowledge of payroll coordination and benefits administration.
• Ability to maintain accurate HR records and systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the full employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding and beyond.
• Coordinate benefits, leave, and payroll-related tasks.
• Serve as the first point of contact for employee questions and concerns and handle relations professionally.
• Ensure compliance with California and federal employment laws and maintain records.

Skills

HR Generalist

Employment Law

Employee Relations

Onboarding

Payroll Coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources

Job description

We're a growing company looking for an HR Manager who thinks like an operator, not a bureaucrat. In this hands-on solo HR role, you'll run the day-to-day operational work and own the people function end to end. You'll report directly to the President and be the connective tissue between leadership and employees, trusted equally by both. This role is for a builder who cares as much about culture as they do about compliance.

This role would be hyrbid out of the El Segundo, with three days in the office.

What You'll D0

Operational HR

• Manage the full employee lifecycle: onboarding, offboarding, and everything in between
• Administer benefits, leave, and payroll coordination
• Handle employee relations and be the first point of contact for questions and concerns
• Own HR compliance and keep us aligned with California and federal employment law
• Maintain accurate employee records and HR systems

Culture & Engagement

• Serve as the cultural glue for the team, proactively supporting morale, connection, and belonging
• Selective champion initiatives that genuinely serve the team
• Act as a trusted sounding board for employees and a thought partner to the President on people topics
• Gather and act on feedback to keep the team healthy as we grow

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of HR experience, ideally as a generalist or in a solo/near-solo capacity
• Comfortable operating autonomously and making sound judgment calls without a layer above you
• Strong working knowledge of California employment law
• A relational, proactive personality — you notice when something's off and you act on it
• Track record of positively shaping culture at a small or growing company
• The discipline to protect time for culture work even when operational tasks pile up
• Someone who has no allegiance to the standard HR playbook