Associate Director, HR Systems & Operations

Job purpose

The Associate Director, HR Systems & Operations is responsible for leading the advancement of HR infrastructure through innovative operations, cutting-edge systems, and data-driven analytics. This position is key to shaping the future of our HR landscape, optimizing processes, and leveraging technology to enhance the employee experience while supporting our business objectives. The Associate Director will foster a high-performing team, mentor and develop staff, and cultivate a culture of innovation and continuous learning.

The position requires collaboration with business leaders to understand HR needs, deliver tailored solutions, and build strong relationships across the organization. Key focus areas include change management, process optimization, compliance, system implementation, data governance, analytics, and continuous improvement of HR systems and operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead organizational change management initiatives related to HR processes and systems, ensuring smooth adoption and acceptance of changes.
• Lead the end-to-end lifecycle of HR systems, from selection to implementation and maintenance, ensuring alignment with business strategies and operational needs while leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance HR capabilities.
• Direct and oversee the strategic implementation and upgrades of Workday modules, ensuring system configurations are optimized, and seamless integration with other systems is achieved.
• Architect and govern the development of Workday business processes, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and adherence to industry best practices.
• Resolve high-level, complex issues within Workday, providing strategic solutions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee the team by aligning their goals with the organization's objectives and HR priorities, fostering a positive environment through clear and concise communication, active listening, and providing constructive feedback that encourages growth and improvement.
• Establish and maintain data governance protocols, safeguarding the integrity and security of employee data within HR systems, and implementing advanced measures to identify and rectify data quality issues.
• Spearhead the utilization of sophisticated HR data analytics to uncover critical trends, deliver actionable insights, and drive strategic decision-making at the highest levels of the organization. Develop and maintain a suite of key HR metrics and reports to measure performance and catalyze continuous program optimization.
• Relentlessly pursue and implement process improvements within HR operations and systems, spearheading initiatives that dramatically enhance efficiency and effectiveness across the entire HR function.
• Strategically assess and redefine HR processes to maximize efficiency and propel operational excellence to new heights within the organization.
• Develop and implement comprehensive HR policies and procedures that support organizational goals and promote compliance.
• Proactively pursue and implement process improvements within HR operations and systems, spearheading initiatives that dramatically enhance efficiency and effectiveness across the entire HR function.
• Serve as the organization's visionary for HR operations and systems, staying at the forefront of industry trends and best practices, and championing transformative changes to revolutionize HR service delivery.
• Ensure strict adherence to all applicable employment laws and regulations, proactively identifying and mitigating risks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in HR operations and systems, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Extensive hands-on experience with Workday, including system configuration, business process design, and report creation. Experience in leading Workday implementation or major upgrades, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and alignment with business needs.
• Proven track record in optimizing Workday functionality to enhance HR service delivery and employee experience. Strong knowledge of Workday modules such as HCM, Advanced Compensation, Performance Management, and Talent Management.
• Familiarity with Workday security administration, ensuring robust data protection and compliance with regulatory requirements. Ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues within Workday, providing timely and effective solutions.
• Proven expertise in HR analytics and data-driven decision-making.
• Clear and articulate verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be very detail oriented and have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, pro-active approach, results and solutions oriented.
• Committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
• Advanced MS office skills including Project and Visio.
• Experience designing and implementing scalable processes and technology solutions to drive operational efficiency.
• Ability to work on complex HR problems where analysis of situation or data requires an in-depth evaluation of various factors including legal regulations, company culture and strategy, and best practices.