Job Title: HR Manager
Location: Portland, OR  (In Office)
Reports To: CEO & VP of Services

About the Role

We're looking for an HR Manager to own core HR operations and help scale our people practices across a growing, multi-state workforce. This is a hands-on, generalist role spanning recruiting, compliance, benefits administration, onboarding, employee relations, and policy development. The company is consistently growing organically and also has begun buying smaller businesses as part of its expansion strategy.  We highly value our culture and people, therefore this role plays a critical function in the company's management team.

Key Responsibilities

Recruiting & Hiring

• Own full-cycle recruiting across all functions (e.g., engineering, sales, marketing, product), continuously refining the hiring process to reduce time-to-fill
• Evaluate, implement, and administer HR systems to improve efficiency and drive team-wide adoption
• Partner with hiring managers on job descriptions, interview processes, and workforce planning

Compliance & Payroll

• End-to-End Payroll Processing: Fully own, prepare, and process accurate bi-monthly payroll cycles for hourly and salaried personnel
• Manage federal, state, and local tax compliance across the company's multi-state footprint (e.g., Oregon, Washington, Colorado, California, New York), including registration, withholding, and reporting requirements 
• Complete all insurance renewals including Workers Comp, Cybersecurity and other needed coverages. 

Employee Relations & Leave

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and managers on employee relations matters, including conflict resolution, investigations, and performance management
• Administer employee leaves of absence (maternity, paternity, disability, state-paid short- and long-term leave, etc.), maintaining confidentiality of related records and accommodations
• Partner with outside counsel on employment law questions and compliance matters as needed

Onboarding, Performance & Culture

• Administer and continuously improve onboarding programs, including new hire orientation, training, and cross-departmental integration touchpoints
• Conduct employee exit interviews and surface themes to inform retention strategies 
• Run company-wide performance review processes and cycles
• Lead employee recognition and culture-building initiatives (e.g., recognition programs, staff meetings, onsite/offsite events for remote and hybrid teams) to support morale and engagement
• Conduct check-ins with new employees and stay interviews with current employees to see where there is room for improvement

Benefits & Policy

• Lead Open Enrollment end-to-end, including plan selection (medical, dental, vision), HRIS/benefits platform configuration, and confirming employee enrollments
  Draft, refine, and maintain HR policies, employee handbook sections, and offer letter templates that align business needs with compliance across all states where the company operates

• Support benefits renewal processes and serve as a go-to resource for employee benefits questions

General

• Maintain accurate HR records and systems, and serve as a point of contact for employee questions on policies, leaves, and procedures
• Identify opportunities to streamline HR processes and workflows using tools and automation
• Assist in M&A diligence and transactions, as well as participate in target transitions

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR generalist experience
• Demonstrated experience scaling HR functions at a growing company, including implementing new HR systems and processes that flex with headcount and complexity
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment law and tax compliance across multiple states
• Proven experience managing employee relations issues with sound judgment, discretion, and empathy
• Comfortable acting as a trusted advisor to leadership
• Experience owning payroll processing and benefits administration, including Open Enrollment (experience with platforms like ADP Workforce Now a plus)
• Excellent written communication skills, particularly for sensitive HR documentation
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and process-improvement instincts
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related field preferred; PHR/SHRM-CP a plus

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with AI tools for HR workflow automation 
• Experience designing employee recognition or engagement programs

Studies have shown that people from historically underestimated groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We know from experience and past hires that the best person for this role will likely only check some boxes listed here. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet all the qualifications described.

Alma Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.