HR Operations Manager

We are seeking an experienced HR Operations Manager to serve as the operational backbone of our People function. This role plays a critical part in ensuring accurate, compliant, and employee-focused HR operations, with a strong emphasis on payroll oversight, HRIS optimization, and cross-functional partnership with Finance.

• Own end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely processing across all pay cycles
• Serve as the primary point of coordination between HR, Finance, and external payroll partners, acting as the central “air traffic controller” for all payroll activities
• Oversee a third-party payroll data-entry vendor, providing governance, quality assurance, issue resolution, and ongoing partnership management
• Apply prior hands-on payroll processing experience to validate outputs, resolve complex payroll issues, and confidently support employee inquiries
• Partner closely with Finance on payroll timelines, reconciliations, reporting, and exception management
• Manage and optimize HRIS functionality with a strong focus on UKG, ensuring systems are effective, accurate, and scalable
• Support and improve HR workflows and processes, reducing manual effort and identifying opportunities for system automation and integration
• Participate in HRIS implementations, upgrades, or process redesign initiatives, including integration between systems such as ATS, payroll, and HR platforms
• Pull reports and analyze data from Workday to support leadership, Finance, and compensation planning needs
• Assist with preparation for the year-end compensation cycle by providing reporting, data validation, and operational support to senior leadership

• 5+ years of progressive HR operations experience, with deep payroll expertise as a core competency
• Proven, hands-on experience processing payroll and managing payroll operations; UKG experience strongly preferred
• Experience working within Workday for reporting, employee data, and HR operations
• Demonstrated ability to manage vendors and external partners while maintaining accountability and service quality
• Strong HRIS knowledge, including system workflows, process design, and continuous improvement
• Prior involvement in HRIS or payroll system implementations is a plus
• Highly collaborative mindset with experience partnering cross-functionally, particularly with Finance
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to clearly explain complex payroll or HR topics to employees
• Detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable operating as a central coordinator across multiple work streams