SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES OPERATIONS MANAGER

Columbia Association

$145K — $155K *
Business Services
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master's preferred.
  • 10 years of progressive HR experience, particularly in management and compliance.
  • 5 years of leadership experience in HR operations or service delivery.
  • Professional certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) is strongly preferred.
  • Proficient in Microsoft 365, Dayforce HRIS, and HR case management tools.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and align the HR Operations team with organizational goals.
  • Coach and develop HR team members for accountability and collaboration.
  • Oversee HR ticketing and case management practices to improve service delivery.
  • Manage HRIS operations and ensure effective technology solutions.
  • Provide leadership for compliance and audit readiness across HR functions.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support complex HR initiatives.
  • Document and standardize HR processes to enhance operational efficiency.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
  • Life insurance and 401(k) plan options.
  • Complimentary Fit & Play membership.
  • Wellness benefits and employee perks programs.
  • Paid leave and additional time off options.
Full Job Description
Senior Human Resources Operations Manager

Position Summary

The Senior Human Resources Operations Manager provides operational leadership and management of the HR Operations Team across HRIS operations, benefits and leave administration, compensation and classification, compliance, audit readiness, workforce administration, recruiting administration, and employee relations support. The role guides HR operational and HRIS escalations and helps ensure consistent, compliant, service-focused HR practices that support team members, team leaders, and effective HR service delivery.

Essential Functions

HR Operations Leadership and Service Delivery
  • In alignment with the Director of HR, Diversity & Inclusion, manage the HR Operations team and align service delivery, workforce priorities, team member support, and operational decisions with organizational goals.
  • Lead, coach, and develop assigned HR team members while reinforcing accountability, execution, collaboration, cross-training, and operational reliability.
  • Oversee HR ticketing and case management practices, including triage, escalation, resolution tracking, service expectations, communications, self-service resources, and reporting.


HRIS Operations Oversight
  • Provide operational leadership to manage the execution of Dayforce HRIS operations to support HR operations and related HR technologies, including input on business rules, workflow governance, reporting priorities, data stewardship, configuration direction, testing strategy, and HR technology roadmap planning.
  • Manage the HRIS Partner and HRIS Analyst as part of the HR Operations team to ensure technology solutions support HR Operations, Payroll, Benefits, Recruiting, Compliance, and workforce administration needs.
  • Provide significant first-level approval for HRIS business process changes, compliance-related system decisions, reporting standards, and cross-functional HR technology initiatives.
  • Provide operational leadership for HRIS Operations and related HR systems, including workflows, configuration priorities, reporting, testing, access recommendations, and HR business requirements.
  • Use HR data, ticket trends, workforce analytics, audit findings, and stakeholder feedback to identify root causes, strengthen controls, and improve service delivery


Benefits, Leave, Compensation, and Lifecycle Administration

  • Provide operational leadership across the following HR administration areas, with responsibility focused on coordination, execution oversight, process consistency, and service delivery:
  • Health and welfare benefits, leave, workers' compensation, unemployment administration, accommodations, wellness, and related team member support programs.
  • Job architecture, classification review, FLSA coordination, salary grade alignment, internal equity review, merit administration, personnel action controls, recruiting administration, onboarding, performance workflows, status changes, separations, communications, and lifecycle reporting.


Compliance, Risk, and Team Member Relations Support

  • Maintain compliance and audit readiness through documentation controls, policy review, personnel record integrity, reporting support, audit response, quality checks, and follow-up on identified gaps.
  • Lead employee relations support for complex or sensitive workplace matters, including accommodations under the ADAAA, investigations, separations, terminations, performance administration, documentation, and team leader coaching.

Additional Responsibilities

Cross-Functional Partnership and Planning
  • Partner with HR leadership, Payroll, Finance, IT, HRIS, Legal, Learning and Organizational Development, senior leadership, and team leaders to coordinate implementation plans, clarify ownership, and support complex HR initiatives.
  • Support the development, documentation, and tracking of HR department goals, initiatives, owners, timelines, and progress updates using designated enterprise tools.


Documentation, Training, and Continuous Improvement

  • Lead HR business process documentation, SOPs, workflow standardization, communications, training materials, cross-training, and knowledge sharing to improve consistency and scalability.
  • Monitor regulatory developments, HR trends, and emerging practices to support continuous improvement, compliance, and effective HR service delivery.


Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Comprehensive understanding of HR operations, compliance, workforce management, benefits, team member support, and system-enabled service delivery.
  • Ability to translate policies, compliance requirements, workforce needs, and business processes into practical workflows, communications, system requirements, and job aids.
  • Sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality when handling sensitive workforce, payroll, benefits, leave, medical, team member relations, compliance, compensation, and HRIS information.
  • Strong communication, facilitation, relationship-building, coaching, analytical, problem-solving, and change management skills.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft 365, Dayforce or comparable HRIS, reporting and analytics tools, Smartsheet, workflow/project management technology, HR ticketing/case management tools, and digital HR service platforms.


Education and Experience

Education: Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Public Administration, Labor/Employee Relations, or related field required. Master's degree in a related field preferred.

Experience: 10 years of progressively responsible human resources experience required, including senior-level experience in HR management, compliance, HRIS functional oversight, benefits, leave, compensation and classification, team member relations, workforce administration, or HR service delivery. Minimum of five years of people leadership experience required.

Licenses/Certifications: Professional certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or equivalent strongly preferred. Smartsheet certification or completion of required workflow/project management training may be required based on departmental standards.

Physical Demands

This position primarily requires sitting, standing, walking, using a computer, reviewing information on screens and in documents, and communicating by phone, email, virtual meeting tools, and in person. The team member must be able to occasionally lift or move files, supplies, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

Work is generally performed in an office or hybrid office environment with routine use of computers, phones, shared workspaces, and virtual meeting tools. The position may require local travel to Columbia Association worksites and properties, extended hours, and occasional evening or weekend work based on business needs, audit timelines, investigations, system implementations, or other operational priorities.

The salary range for this position is $145K to $155K. The actual salary offered will depend on the overall qualifications of the individual applicant for the position and the budgeted amount for the role. CA offers a positive, fun work environment and a generous benefits package. Full-time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k), a free Fit & Play membership, Wellness benefits w/perks and paid leave.

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