Human Resources Operations Manager

Position Title: Senior HR Operations Manager

Location: Newark, DE

Salary: $110,000 to $130,000

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

On-Site or Hybrid: On-site

Benefits: This position is eligible for medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

This is a hands-on operational leadership seat for an established organization of roughly 250 employees. You will develop and own an HR department overseeing payroll, benefits, compliance, talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, and much more

.It is a build-out tactical opportunity: the person in this seat will consolidate functions currently spread across other departments, own them at an operational level, and over time hire and lead a small team beneath them. Strong candidates will bring genuine payroll and benefits depth alongside the ability to manage talent and employee relations, not a purely generalist background

• Oversee and audit bi-weekly payroll processing for approximately 250 employees
• Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and proper controls across each pay cycle
• Serve as escalation point for payroll questions and discrepancies

• Manage annual benefits renewals across health, dental, vision, and 401(k)
• Lead Open Enrollment end to end, including employee communication and education
• Guide employees through benefits options and act as the main point of contact for benefits questions

• Act as primary contact for the 401(k) broker
• Ensure timely employee deferrals, employer matches, and accurate loan administration
• Maintain a strong working relationship with the retirement plan partner

• Maintain compliance with ACA, FMLA, ERISA, and applicable federal and state labor laws
• Keep accurate, audit-ready records and support internal and external audits
• Report on HR metrics to support decision-making

• Manage the recruitment and selection process across the organization
• Oversee employee relations, addressing demands, grievances, and workplace concerns
• Serve as a bridge between management and employees to support a positive work environment

• Manage relationships with brokers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators
• Coordinate vendor deliverables, renewals, and service issues

• Oversee onboarding and support talent needs at an operational level
• Hire, develop, and lead a payroll clerk and a benefits administration associates
• Bring structure and ownership to functions currently distributed across other teams

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of HR management experience with demonstrated depth in payroll and benefits administration
• Strong working knowledge of compliance frameworks including ACA, FMLA, and ERISA
• Proven experience managing vendors, brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators
• Experience overseeing or auditing multi-cycle payroll for an organization of scale
• Experience managing talent acquisition and employee relations
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information
• Strong communication skills and the ability to operate as a department head, not a sole processor
• HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP) preferred
• Experience with Paychex is a plus