HR Compliance Job Description Templates for SMBs

#Role 1: HR Compliance Officer

Job Title: HR Compliance Officer
Location: [City / Remote / Hybrid]
Reports to: Head of People or CEO
Type: Full-Time

Purpose of the Role

We’re looking for a proactive HR Compliance Officer to strengthen our governance and compliance framework across the employee lifecycle. You’ll work across departments to ensure our policies, procedures, and practices remain compliant with federal, state, and local employment law while supporting a culture of operational integrity and employee wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead HR compliance audits, risk assessments, and internal controls
  
  
  

• Own and update HR policies and procedures in line with legislative changes
  
  
  

• Liaise with external auditors, regulators, and legal counsel as needed
  
  
  

• Manage employee recordkeeping: right to work checks, I-9 forms, and documentation compliance
  
  
  

• Partner with cross-functional teams (Legal, Payroll, Ops) to ensure alignment across HR practices
  
  
  

• Track compliance KPIs and prepare reports for leadership
  
  
  

Compliance & Governance Focus Areas

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), FLSA, ADA, FMLA, OSHA
  
  
  

• Multi-state regulatory compliance
  
  
  

• Certification or SM&CR-equivalent responsibilities (where applicable)
  
  
  

• Anti-harassment and mandatory workplace training

 Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in HR compliance, HR generalist, or people operations
  
  
  

• Strong understanding of US employment legislation and regulatory frameworks
  
  
  

• Experience in policy drafting, audit reporting, and HRIS maintenance
  
  
  

• CIPD Level 5, SHRM-CP, or PHR certification preferred
  
  
  

• Excellent attention to detail, discretion, and a proactive mindset

#Role 2: HR Generalist – Compliance-Focused

Job Title: HR Generalist – Compliance-Focused
Location: [City / Remote / Hybrid]
Reports to: People Lead / COO
Type: Full-Time

Purpose of the Role

This is a hands-on generalist role with a strong compliance thread. You’ll support the full employee lifecycle while ensuring operational and HR policy compliance across the board. The role spans onboarding, employee relations, recordkeeping, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives across people processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide first-line advice to managers on ER topics (disciplinary, absence, grievances, performance)
  
  
  

• Coordinate onboarding and offboarding in compliance with labor law and internal policy
  
  
  

• Maintain and update employee records, ensuring GDPR/data protection compliance
  
  
  

• Support policy rollouts and HRIS workflows
  
  
  

• Conduct internal policy reviews and ensure updates are communicated organization-wide
  
  
  

• Act as liaison with external HR/legal/compliance partners when required
  
  
  

Person Specification

• 3+ years in a generalist HR position, ideally in a regulated or multi-site environment
  
  
  

• Solid understanding of employee relations and employment law
  
  
  

• Experience managing HR compliance activities (Right to Work, I-9s, document audits)
  
  
  

• Proficient in HR systems and digital documentation
  
  
  

• Able to balance empathy with legal accuracy and business pragmatism
  
  
  

• CIPD Level 5, SHRM-CP, or relevant qualification preferred

#Role 3: Payroll & HR Compliance Specialist

Job Title: Payroll & HR Compliance Specialist
Location: [City / Remote / Hybrid]
Reports to: Finance Director / Head of People
Type: Full-Time

Purpose of the Role

This dual role combines accurate payroll execution with regulatory HR compliance. You'll oversee end-to-end payroll cycles while supporting documentation, tax reporting, and data integrity. You’ll also lead audit readiness efforts, partner with IT and cybersecurity to protect employee data, and support continuous improvement in compliance processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Process timely and accurate payroll across states and jurisdictions
  
  
  

• Maintain records and reporting for ACA, W-2, W-4, and tax compliance
  
  
  

• Support audits and respond to wage and hour inquiries
  
  
  

• Partner with cybersecurity, IT, and data protection teams to ensure controls are met
  
  
  

• Assist in data cleansing and compliance during HR tech migrations
  
  
  

• Ensure compliance with internal policies, wage & hour laws, and tax filings
  
  
  

Requirements

• 3–5 years in payroll or HR operations in a regulated industry
  
  
  

• Experience with multi-state payroll and labor law
  
  
  

• Familiarity with tools like ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, or Paychex
  
  
  

• Strong analytical skills and a structured approach to documentation
  
  
  

• Comfortable working cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, and HRIS teams

#Role 4: People Compliance & Training Coordinator

Job Title: People Compliance & Training Coordinator
Location: [City / Remote / Hybrid]
Reports to: HR Director / Compliance Manager
Type: Full-Time

Purpose of the Role

This role ensures staff stay informed, safe, and compliant with evolving legal, ethical, and policy requirements. You’ll coordinate mandatory training programs, lead compliance documentation efforts, and serve as a key link between HR, compliance, cybersecurity, and IT—especially during policy changes or people tech transformations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage training logs for DEI, harassment, data protection, and health & safety
  
  
  

• Own policy review calendar and coordinate stakeholder inputs
  
  
  

• Support SM&CR (or equivalent governance frameworks) through certifications and training cycles
  
  
  

• Liaise with external compliance teams to align controls
  
  
  

• Support HRIS transformation efforts, including data migration oversight and data residency compliance
  
  
  

• Prepare documentation and reports for leadership or audit committees
  
  
  

Requirements

• 2–4 years in HR, compliance, or learning & development
  
  
  

• Experience managing compliance training in regulated or multi-site settings
  
  
  

• Excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills
  
  
  

• Knowledge of LMS platforms (e.g., Lessonly, Docebo) and digital policy tracking tools
  
  
  

• Familiarity with GDPR, HIPAA, or SM&CR-like regulations is a plus