About Sovereign Co.
Sovereign Co. is a private venture group that backs and builds great companies.
Sovereign was founded on the belief that leaders can move faster and deliver more value when they are free to focus on what they do best. We partner with industry and category experts to identify opportunities, build out teams and solve for necessary functions so they can grow faster and stronger. Our portfolio companies are partners, benefiting from the streamlining effect of Sovereign’s support.
We’re intentional about human relationships that define our work and take joy in what it means to make a difference together. Driven by a competitive spirit and restless by nature, we’re selective about what we start and see it through with total commitment, every time. We earn our wins, learn from our losses and never, ever cross our fingers and hope someone else will figure it out for us.
Reports to: CEO
Work Location: Charleston, SC (Downtown, Hybrid - 3 days in office, typically Tuesday-Thursday)
Compensation: $85,000 - 100,000/annually + benefits
What to Expect
As a Senior Human Resources Manager, you will play a key role in shaping and strengthening people practices across Sovereign Co and its portfolio companies. This role serves as the primary HR leader for the organization and acts as a trusted advisor to leadership and employees, ensuring people strategies align with business priorities and operational realities. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Senior HR Manager operates with a high degree of trust, autonomy, and visibility.
This position blends hands-on HR execution with the opportunity to build and improve infrastructure. The Senior HR Manager owns day-to-day HR operations for Sovereign while also driving the development of scalable, repeatable solutions for use across the broader Sovereign ecosystem. The scope includes influencing how systems are used (e.g., ADP and related tools), how people leaders are supported, and how employee experience evolves over time.
The environment is fast-paced and evolving, and this role has meaningful influence on how people practices mature across multiple businesses. Success requires sound judgement, comfort operating in ambiguity, and the ability to balance progress with professional judgement. The role supports a multi-state workforce and requires the ability to navigate evolving compliance considerations while remaining aligned with business needs.
What You’ll Do
Core Responsibilities
Portfolio Enablement & HR Partnership
- Serve as a trusted HR advisor to company leaders
- Serve as an escalation point for complex people matters, partnering with leaders to guide decisions and outcomes
- Design and deliver training, resources, and guidance to strengthen manager capability
- Build and maintain shared HR tools, templates, and frameworks for use across the Sovereign ecosystem
- Support operational HR needs across the organization (e.g., new state registrations, unemployment responses, compliance filings, etc.)
- Identify gaps in people practices, compliance, or process across the organization and work toward scalable, pragmatic, business-aligned solutions
People Operations
- Provide day-to-day HR support to employees, including questions related to benefits, payroll, policies, and general HR matters
- Assess employee issues and recommend next steps, including escalation to leadership, legal counsel, or external partners when warranted
- Lead employee lifecycle practices (onboarding, offboarding, role changes, documentation), setting standards, driving consistency and efficiency
- Help develop handbooks, policies, procedures, programs, etc.
- Partner with finance and external vendors to support accurate and scalable people operations
- Champion a strong, people-centered employee experience
Systems, Process & Continuous Improvement
- Optimize the use of HR systems and tools (e.g., ADP modules) to improve visibility, adoption, efficiency, and effectiveness
- Identify and implement process improvements across HR workflows
- Leverage technology, automation, and modern tools (including AI) to improve how work gets done
- Use HR data and metrics to identify trends, inform decisions, and guide continuous improvement
What We’re Looking For
- 6-10 years of hands-on HR experience supporting leaders and employees, with demonstrated ownership of core HR functions
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
- Tech-forward mindset with comfort using HR systems and exploring automation and AI tools to improve how people practices, processes, and experiences are designed
- Experience supporting HR functions across multiple states and time zones; experience supporting multiple entities preferred; private equity, venture or portfolio management experience is a plus
- Eagerness to bring creativity and innovation to HR programs, processes, and problem solving
- Experience working within or alongside a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) environment a plus
- Proficiency within HRIS platforms and data analysis to support decision-making and process improvements
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships at all levels of the organization, including founders and external partners
- Self-starter who can work with minimal supervision while also contributing effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional environment
- Adaptability and flexibility to navigate the unique challenges of working across multiple portfolio companies, each with its own culture and business needs
- Desire to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with competing demands and changing priorities
Benefits
At Sovereign we value our employees and are committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond just a paycheck. We believe that taking care of our team members is essential to fostering a healthy and motivated team. When you join Sovereign. you can expect a wide range of benefits designed to enhance your well-being and support your career growth. Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to:
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- 401k with a company match
- Unlimited PTO
- Company Paid Holidays
- Company Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Spending Accounts (FSA, DCFSA)
- Company Paid Basic Life/AD&D Insurance
- Voluntary Life/STD/LTD/AD&D/Legal Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Employee Discount Program
- Professional Development Opportunities
- And more!
Interview Process:
Our interview process is designed to be thoughtful, efficient, and respectful of your time. It typically
includes:
- Step 1: Introductory Conversation (Virtual)
- Step 2: Technical Interview (Virtual)
- Step 3: Conversation with the CEO + Controller (On-site)
- Step 4: Meet & Greet with the Sovereign team (ideally, same day as Step 3)
Sovereign Co. is committed to cultivating a workplace where diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences help drive our innovation and success. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Sovereign Co. is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
