HRIS & Payroll Consultant Role - Grow HR Tech Skills in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
This role is a fractional/contract HR Technology & Payroll lead — a niche but increasingly in-demand profile as mid-market companies seek senior HR expertise without full-time headcount. It's a strong fit for experienced HR professionals looking to build a consulting career or diversify their client portfolio.
Compensation context: At $30–$50/hr, this sits below typical senior HRIS consultant market rates ($60–$100/hr for independent contractors with Workday/Dayforce expertise), though the lower end may reflect fractional/part-time engagements. Negotiating toward the $50/hr ceiling is advisable for candidates with 7+ years of experience.
Skills you'll develop and leverage:
- Multi-platform HRIS expertise (HiBob, Dayforce, Rippling, Workday, UKG) — highly marketable
- Multi-state payroll compliance — a specialized and scarce skill set
- HCM implementation project management — growing demand as companies modernize HR tech stacks
- Client advisory and stakeholder facilitation — transferable to consulting leadership roles
Culture signals: livingHR is a lean, growth-stage professional services firm. High ownership expectations and a "fast-scaling" environment suggest an entrepreneurial culture — rewarding for self-starters, potentially stressful for those needing structured support.
Green flags: Exposure to diverse clients across industries accelerates career growth rapidly. The long-term talent community model means potential for ongoing relationships. Watch out for: no benefits noted, variable engagement scope, and income unpredictability typical of consulting arrangements.
Position Details
- Location: Remote (FL, CO, IL, MA, NH, RI, ME, CT, GA, SC, NC, TX)
- Type: Contract / Fractional, Client-Facing
- Work Model: Remote-first (Work from Where it Makes Sense – WfWiMS)
- Compensation: $30–$50/hr
Who We Are
livingHR is the remote-first, professional services "work agency" created to make work better. We partner with organizations to deliver human-centric, future-of-work-ready HR-managed services, professional services, and products. We believe in taking exceptional care of our people so they can deliver exceptional outcomes for clients, partners, and communities.
What You'll Do
Own and operate human resources and payroll across industries and company sizes. In addition to providing HR and payroll support, this role will lead HRIS and Payroll implementations for our clients. This is a hands-on role for someone who has run payroll and HR technology in-house, not just implemented it for others. You'll be one of the internal experts on our clients' HR tech stack using systems such as HiBob, Dayforce, Rippling, UKG, Paylocity, Workday, and/or ADP, keeping platforms configured, integrated, compliant, and optimized.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
Payroll Operations
- Own end-to-end payroll processing, accuracy, and compliance across all applicable states
- Manage payroll calendar, tax filings, garnishments, and off-cycle runs
- Serve as the point of escalation for payroll discrepancies and audits
- Administer and maintain the core HRIS platform (e.g., HiBob, Dayforce, Rippling), including workflows, permissions, and data integrity
- Manage system integrations across HRIS, performance, payroll, benefits, and other downstream tools
HRIS/Payroll System Implementations
- Lead configurations for clients implementing new payroll and HCM systems, including change management, new module rollouts, and system upgrades
- Build and maintain automated workflows to reduce manual HR admin
- Partner with People team leaders to translate process needs into system design
Data & Compliance
- Own HR data integrity, reporting, and audit readiness across systems
- Ensure payroll and HRIS practices meet federal, state, and local compliance requirements
- Deliver dashboards and reporting that support workforce planning and OKRs
People Operations & Core HR
- Optimize HR processes, policies, and systems for efficiency and compliance
- Implement core HR practices: onboarding, employee relations, policy development
- Advise on federal, state, and local employment law compliance
What We Are Looking For
Core Competencies
- Generalist across livingHR's focus areas (tech, payroll, innovation, people analytics, operations, people and culture), with strong data storytelling skills
- Client and project management — owns relationships, deadlines, and delivery end to end
- Facilitation — leads implementation workshops and stakeholder sessions with confidence
- Innovation mindset — finds ways to scale work and improve processes
Experience & Qualifications
- 5+ years running payroll and HRIS/HCM systems
- HR Generalist or HRBP background with broad exposure across the employee lifecycle
- Experience working directly with clients in consulting, professional services, PEOs, or agencies
- Hands-on administrator experience with a core HRIS and Payroll platform (e.g., HiBob, Dayforce, and/or Rippling) required
- Deep knowledge of multi-state payroll compliance, tax, and wage/hour requirements
- Strong systems thinking with the ability to troubleshoot integrations independently
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and advisory skills
- Comfort operating in a lean, fast-scaling environment with high ownership expectations
What You Can Expect
livingHR engages contract consultants on a project-by-project basis. Engagement timing, scope, and duration vary based on client needs. Consultants may be considered for multiple full-time or part-time opportunities over time as part of our long-term talent community.
Frequently Asked Questions
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