Corporate Operations & HR Manager

Summary

An entertainment production company is seeking an experienced Corporate Operations & HR Manager to oversee HR, labor compliance, payroll, benefits, general affairs, facilities, and corporate governance at our Los Angeles office.

This role serves as the primary internal point of contact for employees, executive management, external professional vendors, and our parent company in Japan. Rather than managing a large internal team, you will coordinate with external specialists, ensure compliance with California employment laws, and streamline day-to-day corporate operations.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, hands-on professional who can work independently, manage multiple priorities, and build efficient, scalable processes in a lean organization.

Position Details:

• Location: West Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid – Minimum 3 days in-office per week)
  
• Employment Type: Full-time (Exempt)
  
• Salary: $95,000+ annually, depending on experience and qualifications

Key Responsibilities

• Payroll, Benefits Operations & Vendor Management

  • Payroll & Attendance Finalization/Approvals: Verify and finalize timekeeping data in the HCM/TLM system; audit payroll registers and authorize payroll execution. Accurately communicate changes in employee tax withholdings (e.g., Form W-4) and deductions to our payroll provider.
  • Compensation Adjustment Execution: Instruct payroll providers on merit increases and incentive bonuses determined by CAO/CFO, verifying accurate system implementation.
  • Internal Point of Contact for Benefits: Serve as the internal liaison for medical insurance and 401(k) plans; manage open enrollment announcements, respond to employee inquiries, and coordinate enrollment, change, and termination data across vendors.

• HR, Labor Management & California Compliance

  • California Labor Law Compliance: Monitor overtime and meal/rest break compliance via timekeeping data; collect and manage statutory notices and consent forms; oversee access control for physical and electronic employee personnel files (General, Medical, Confidential, Form I-9, etc.) within the HRIS. Stay abreast of statutory changes and implement necessary internal updates.
  • Mandatory Training Administration: Plan and track progress for statutory compliance training, including mandatory California sexual harassment prevention training.
  • Onboarding & Offboarding Administration: Conduct new-hire orientations, execute onboarding/offboarding checklists, coordinate status changes with payroll, benefits, and IT vendors, and verify strict adherence to CA final pay timing rules upon termination.
  • Employee Relations: Serve as the primary internal point of contact for employee HR and labor inquiries. Receive and manage initial concerns/complaints, escalating to legal or HR advisors when necessary.
  • Company Regulations & Employee Handbook Management: Drive annual policy reviews, roll out revised handbooks, and collect/archive signed employee Acknowledgments via electronic signature.
  • Recruitment Operations: Draft and post job descriptions, liaise with recruitment agencies, schedule interviews, and prepare offer letters.
  • Performance Management Cycle: Administer schedules and operations for goal setting, mid-year, and year-end evaluations, managing review workflows.

• General Affairs, Facilities, & Risk Management

  • Office Administration: Act as the primary contact for building management; oversee key/access card administration, office supplies, and physical assets.
  • Primary Contact for Inquiries: Efficiently route incoming main line calls (optimized via cloud phone auto-attendant/call forwarding) and triage incoming website and official LinkedIn inquiries. Coordinate visitor reception and manage holiday gifts/condolences (sharing duties with the Senior Accounting Associate).
  • Internal IT Coordination: Serve as the internal point of contact for our IT MSP (Japanese-capable) to coordinate account creation, hardware provisioning, and SaaS license management.
  • Office Relocation & Expansion Projects: Act as Project Manager for office relocation/expansion projects, overseeing schedule, budget, and internal decision-making alignment.
  • Cal/OSHA Health & Safety Compliance: Administer the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP), including monthly safety inspections and log maintenance; manage annual safety training and handle initial responses to workplace injuries.
  • Corporate Insurance Administration: Provide required data, review coverage scopes, and report to management for annual renewals of Workers' Comp, CGL, D&O, and other corporate policies. Coordinate post-policy Workers' Comp Payroll Audits.

• Corporate Governance, Contract Lifecycle Management & Liaison Duties

  • Contract Expiration Management: Maintain the Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tracking log; manage automated alert triggers for non-renewal/cancellation notice deadlines (e.g., 90-day notice periods), and execute non-renewal notices.
  • Statutory Filing & IP Deadline Management: Track and coordinate deadlines for state and federal corporate filings (California Statement of Information, BEA surveys, etc.), instructing vendors and verifying completed filings. Monitor trademark (USPTO) application and maintenance status.
  • Board of Directors Support: Coordinate circulation, execution, and archiving of Board minutes (Unanimous Written Consents).
  • US-Japan Corporate Liaison: Ensure alignment between US operational practices and Japanese parent company corporate policies, supporting the creation of HR and general affairs reporting materials.

Required Experience

• Experience: 5+ years of hands-on HR and labor compliance experience in the US (including a minimum of 3 years of experience in California).
• Legal Knowledge: Deep practical knowledge of California labor laws (Wage Orders, overtime/break rules, paid vacation/sick leave, worker classification under AB 5 / ABC Test, etc.).
• Vendor Management: Proven track record of managing back-office operations using external vendors and professional advisors (payroll providers, insurance brokers, law firms, IT MSPs, etc.).

Preferred Experience

• Experience setting up or operating a solo back-office in the entertainment industry, a US subsidiary of a Japanese company, or a startup environment.
  
• Bilingual fluency in English and Japanese (business level) for reporting to the Japanese parent company and coordinating with Japanese-capable vendors.
  
• Experience leading office setup or relocation projects.
  
• Experience implementing or operating HRIS and electronic signature platforms.
  
• Professional HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR).