About the role

ABOUT 8FLEET 8Fleet is hiring! We are a rapidly growing LA-based technology and logistics startup building the operational infrastructure for both autonomous and non-autonomous rideshare fleets. With our anticipated growth, we are searching for driven, passionate team members to join our People team. You will be involved in every aspect of our operations as we rapidly expand across Los Angeles and beyond, playing a pivotal role in keeping our people operations running smoothly as we scale. ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a Senior Payroll & Benefits Specialist to serve as our payroll and benefits subject matter expert within our growing People Operations team. This role owns complex payroll operations and benefits administration end-to-end for a dynamic, high-volume frontline workforce, operating with significant autonomy and minimal oversight. As our go-to expert for accurate and compliant payroll and benefits processing, you will independently lead audits, resolve escalated issues, and share payroll and benefits expertise with the broader People Operations team. You will also wear a generalist hat, stepping in to support HR functions such as onboarding, employee relations, and core compliance. If you are detail-oriented, highly analytical, process-driven, and thrive operating with autonomy in a fast-paced startup environment, you will excel here. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES PAYROLL AND COMPLIANCE - End-to-End Ownership: Independently own and manage the weekly payroll process for a high volume of non-exempt employees, validating hours, overtime, differentials, and PTO, and driving process improvements as the team and workforce scale. - Exempt Payroll: Reconcile and approve semi-monthly payroll for exempt employees in partnership with our PEO, managing reimbursement processes as needed. - Compliance Expert: Serve as the subject matter expert on state wage and hour laws, proactively monitoring changes across multiple markets and ensuring deep adherence. - Issue Resolution & Escalation: Partner with operations managers to resolve complex, escalated timekeeping and payroll discrepancies, and proactively identify and resolve systemic payroll data issues. - Tax & Deductions: Own the preparation and submission of payroll tax filings, and oversee employee deductions, complex benefit deductions, and garnishments. BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION - Program Management: Administer all employee benefit programs (medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life insurance, FSA/HSA), processing accurate enrollments, changes, and terminations. - Employee Support: Serve as the primary point of contact for escalated benefits and payroll inquiries, assisting employees with claims and liaising with brokers and carriers. - Open Enrollment: Lead annual open enrollment end-to-end, from initial planning and communication through system configuration and deduction audits. - Audits & Integrations: Ensure seamless integration between HRIS/Payroll and vendor platforms, partnering with our HRIS administrator as needed. Independently lead internal and external payroll and benefits audits (e.g., 401(k), Workers' Comp). ONBOARDING & EMPLOYEE RELATIONS - Onboarding & Offboarding: Facilitate new hire paperwork, conduct HR orientations, and coordinate offboarding procedures (exit interviews, final paperwork). - Employee Relations & Support: Provide guidance on HR policies, partner with the HR Manager to resolve escalated employee relations issues, and support engagement initiatives. - Payroll Data Integrity & Peer Collaboration: Maintain clean, accurate payroll-related data across timekeeping and PEO systems, and share payroll and benefits best practices with fellow People Operations Specialists across markets. - Talent Acquisition & Performance: Support background checks, onboarding, and manager coaching on performance documentation as needed. QUALIFICATIONS - 4-6+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience, with demonstrated end-t