About the roleAs the Sr. Manager, you will lead our payroll connection and integration operations teams, directly managing 2 Payroll Connection Managers and overseeing frontline operational teams. Reporting directly to the Director of Customer Operations- Money In, you will translate high-level strategy into actionable operational execution-driving velocity, throughput, and seamless payroll connectivity for our clients and plan participants.
In this role, you serve as a critical strategic bridge between Sales Activation, frontline operations, and cross-functional partners across Product, Engineering, and Customer Success. You will mentor and scale people leaders, manage high-volume payroll connections, and leverage data to continue to improve the payroll connection timeline to elevate customer experience while maintaining a lean, compliant footprint. As the leader of our Integrations Operations Team, you will need to have a deep understanding of our payroll integrations, their gaps and trend analysis to assist the product team on developing long term solutions.
We move fast, you should be ready to lead at speed.
What you get to do every day- Coach & Develop Leaders: Directly manage, mentor, and build leadership bench strength across 2 Payroll Connection Managers and their underlying teams. Establish high performance standards, hold leaders accountable to ambitious KPIs, and cultivate a robust pipeline of future talent.
- Drive Vision & Strategic Alignment: Translate company strategy into actionable operational plans across complex money movement, and payroll synchronization flows. Maintain a broad business perspective, ensuring team priorities align directly with company objectives and broader operational effectiveness.
- Payroll Partner Management & Escalations: Partner directly with external payroll providers and technology partners to manage complex escalations, perform joint root-cause analyses on recurring integration issues, and establish long-term resolutions.
- Operational Excellence & Performance Monitoring: Own high-level metrics for SLA adherence, quality, accuracy, and cycle times. Utilize data, capacity modeling, and optimization reports to continuously elevate throughput and set ambitious goals across teams.
- Cross-Functional Strategic Partnership: Build collaborative relationships with leaders in Customer Success & Operations, Sales Activations, Product & Engineering, and Sales. Act as an operational translator, channeling frontline customer insights to shape product roadmaps while seamlessly operationalizing technical and regulatory changes.
- Risk Management & Controls: Maintain a rigorous control environment across all payroll transaction lifecycles. Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks to prevent financial loss and ensure full compliance in a highly regulated landscape.
- Client Experience & Root Cause Analysis: Foster a client-first mindset that looks beyond vanity metrics to evaluate true customer experience. Lead deep-dive root cause analyses on operational trends and complex escalations to implement long-term structural fixes.
- Process Optimization & Innovation: Drive a culture of innovation by identifying and scaling opportunities for workflow automation, process standardization, and system enhancements to maintain a lean operational footprint.
- Change Leadership & Executive Reporting: Lead teams through rapid organizational and technological change with clarity and empathy. Deliver concise, transparent operational reporting and insights to executive leadership.
- Additional duties as assigned.
What you bring to the role- Experience: 4+ years of operational management experience in financial services, fintech, 401(k) retirement services, or SaaS, with 2+ years specifically managing other People Managers/Leaders.
- Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of payroll integration (APIs, SFTP, file feeds), transaction lifecycles, money movement processes, and operational risk controls within regulated environments.
- Project Management: Demonstrated track record of leading complex operational initiatives that include integration enhancements, operational decisions and governance frameworks; and multi-phased migration plans from strategy through execution.
- Leadership Development: Proven track record of developing direct-report managers, setting clear expectations, managing performance, and building high-performing operational teams.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Demonstrated ability to leverage complex data reports, staffing models, and SLA metrics to drive strategy and prioritize trade-offs.
- Cross-Functional Influence: Exceptional ability to partner with cross-functional leadership (Sales, Product & Engineering, Implementation, CS) to align on shared goals and advocate for operational priorities.
- Change & Process Management: Experience designing end-to-end operational improvements, scaling processes, and leading large teams through organizational change.
Nice to Have- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
- Direct experience with 401(k) recordkeeping systems, payroll integrations, or complex financial reconciliations.
- Formal certification in process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) or continuous improvement frameworks.
- Experience in high-growth, fast-paced fintech environments.
Compensation - At Human Interest, there are a number of factors that are used to determine the appropriate pay range for each position. We take into account the cost of labor for each position in various markets across the U.S. The base salary for this position spans $135,000 - $145,000and represents the minimum in our lowest geographic region to a maximumin our highest geographic region. The salary we offer to a new employee within this range is based on their location within the U.S., their relevant job-related skills, and experience. At Human Interest, base salary is one component of the overall total rewards package. Depending on the position, additional compensation components such as bonuses, commissions, and equity may be offered. All of our employees are offered a robust suite of physical, financial, and mental wellness benefits. In compliance with applicable laws, we do not inquire about salary history, or about criminal history prior to a conditional offer of employment.
Benefits -
- A great 401(k) plan: Our own! Our 401(k) includes a dollar-for-dollar employer match up to 4% of compensation (immediately vested) and $0 plan fees
- Top-of-the-line health plans, as well as dental and vision insurance
- Competitive time off and parental leave
- Addition Wealth: Unlimited access to digital tools, financial professionals, and a knowledge center to help you understand your equity and support your financial wellness
- Lyra: Enhanced Mental Health Support for Employees and dependents
- Carrot: Fertility healthcare and family forming benefits
- Candidly: Student loan resource to help you and your family plan, borrow, and repay student debt
- Monthly work-from-home stipend; quarterly lifestyle stipend
- Engaging team-building experiences, ranging from virtual social events to team offsites, promoting collaboration and camaraderie.
