HR Operations Manager

Do you want to work with high-caliber professionals in a dynamic and growing company? Are you entrepreneurial, hard-working, and collegial? Join us at SB Energy, a leading infrastructure company backed by SoftBank Group and Ares Infrastructure, pairing cutting-edge innovation with best-in-class execution. Our mission is to deliver reliable and secure data center and power infrastructure to strengthen America's future. Founded in 2019, SB Energy is a SoftBank Group company headquartered in Redwood City, California. In 2026, SoftBank Group and OpenAI announced a $1 billion investment to support SB Energy as their leading development and execution partner for data center campuses, while Ares Infrastructure continues its long-standing support of the company's growth. SB Energy develops, builds, owns, and operates some of the largest and most technically advanced energy and data center infrastructure projects in the United States. Since its founding, the company has rapidly grown into a top-tier integrated platform with more than 3 gigawatts (GW) in operation and a multi-GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide. SB Energy also leverages a strong culture of innovation to identify and integrate new technologies into its projects, including its AI-based digital platform, delivering energy infrastructure that is local, reliable, and matched to load. We are building the energy and infrastructure future—today. Come join us in accelerating the energy and infrastructure transition! Basic Function We are seeking an HR Operations Manager to lead the people operations infrastructure that enables our business to scale. This hands-on role owns payroll, compensation and rewards (including equity administration), policies, compliance, HR systems, reporting, and employee lifecycle processes. The job title, level, scope, and compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and overall profile. The ideal candidate brings strong operational discipline, sound judgment, and a service-oriented mindset. They will partner with Finance, Legal, business leaders, and vendors to deliver accurate, compliant, and employee-friendly programs. Responsibilities Payroll & HR Operations Own end-to-end payroll, including vendor management, review and approval, audits, issue resolution, and process improvement Build out payroll processing to include equity components and SOX compliance Ensure accurate, timely processing of payroll changes, deductions, bonuses, commissions, equity-related items, and other payments Manage employee lifecycle processes, including onboarding, job and compensation changes, leaves, offboarding, and records Establish clear procedures, controls, service standards, and documentation for recurring HR processes Compensation, Rewards & Benefits Support compensation structures, salary ranges, job leveling, market benchmarking, and annual review cycles Administer incentive programs and partner with Finance and leadership on planning, approvals, communications, and reporting Promote consistent, competitive, and equitable pay practices aligned with the company’s compensation philosophy Partner with benefits brokers and vendors on administration, renewals, communications, and issue resolution People Policies & Compliance Develop and maintain scalable people policies, employee handbooks, and operating guidelines Support compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, wage and hour rules, reporting, and record-retention requirements Coordinate audits, required filings, policy acknowledgments, compliance training, and related activities Partner with Legal and external advisors on complex matters and required policy or process changes HR Systems, Data & Reporting Own and optimize HR systems and workflows, ensuring absolute data integrity, access controls, and effective integrations Prepare reports, dashboards, and analyses for workforce planning, compensation, budgeting, audits, and leadership decisions Maintain data governance and audit practices that protect the accuracy, privacy, and security of employee information Automate manual processes and improve the employee and manager experience Employee Support & Cross-Functional Partnership Serve as a point of contact for employees and managers on payroll, policies, benefits, compensation, leave, and HR operations Partner with Finance, Legal, IT, and business leaders to align and execute people processes Support employee relations and performance processes through documentation, policy guidance, and follow-through Contribute to broader initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness, employee experience, and culture Qualifications/Requirements Required Qualifications 8+ years of progressive HR or People Operations experience, with hands-on ownership of payroll, compensation, compliance, or HR operations Strong knowledge of payroll, compensation, employment compliance, and employee lifecycle processes Experience managing HR systems (Paylocity preferred), vendors, data, reporting, audits, and controls Proven ability to build scalable processes while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, and strong employee service Strong project management, analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills Sound judgment, attention to detail, and effectiveness in a fast-paced, evolving environment Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field, equivalent experience, or HR certification Experience supporting a multi-state workforce Experience with job architecture, salary structures, compensation cycles, and incentive or equity programs Familiarity with benefits, leave programs, and HRIS or payroll implementations Location: San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, CA, or Denver, CO. Hybrid. Base Pay: $140,000-$165,000 The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailo