Head of HR Operations

A financial institution is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Head of HR Operations to lead operational excellence across the employee lifecycle. This individual will play a critical role in designing and scaling HR processes, optimizing systems and workflows, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering a best-in-class employee experience — while also driving the firm's HR technology roadmap, compensation operations, and M&A integration strategy. The ideal candidate combines strong operational discipline with a process improvement mindset and has experience building scalable HR infrastructure in a dynamic, high-performance environment. This role will partner closely with Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and business leadership to support the firm's continued growth. Core Responsibilities People Infrastructure & Process Excellence Design, implement, and continuously improve HR operational processes across the employee lifecycle Own end-to-end onboarding strategy and continuously optimize onboarding programs to support a growing, global workforce Develop and manage performance management cycles, including review frameworks, workflows, and supporting documentation Own compensation operations, including job architecture, pay banding, compensation tracking, reporting structures, and governance controls Establish scalable workforce planning, headcount management, and organizational tracking mechanisms Design and maintain standardized processes for promotions, transfers, employee status changes, and offboarding activities Evaluate, implement, and optimize HR technologies and employee data systems to improve efficiency and reporting capabilities Drive process automation and operational improvements while maintaining strong controls and audit readiness Talent Systems & ATS Optimization Own and continuously optimize the firm's Applicant Tracking System (ATS); hands-on experience with Oracle Recruiting Cloud (ORC) strongly preferred Partner with Talent Acquisition to streamline requisition workflows, candidate pipelines, and reporting Identify and implement automation to reduce time-to-fill and improve the candidate and recruiter experience AI-Enabled HR Operations Evaluate, pilot, and scale AI-enabled tools across recruiting, onboarding, case management, and workforce analytics Establish responsible-AI practices for HR technology, including bias testing, data governance, and appropriate human review Partner with Technology teams to build AI-driven self-service capabilities for employees and managers HR Operations, Compliance & Governance Oversee employee administration activities, ensuring data accuracy and process consistency Manage domestic and international background screening and pre-employment verification processes Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and international employment regulations Maintain accurate employee records and documentation in accordance with regulatory and internal requirements Partner with Payroll, Finance, Compliance, and Legal teams to ensure accurate employee transactions and compensation updates Support benefits administration and vendor management activities Develop and document policies, procedures, and standard operating guidelines to ensure consistency and compliance Own HR audit readiness and serve as the primary point of contact for internal/external HR audits M&A & Organizational Integration Lead HR operational due diligence for acquisitions, including systems, headcount, compensation structures, and compliance risk assessment Design and execute HR integration plans that harmonize HRIS, benefits, policies, and organizational structures Partner with Legal, Finance, and business leadership on Day-1 and Day-100 readiness for transactions Reporting, Analytics & Workforce Insights Develop HR reporting dashboards and workforce analytics to support strategic decision-making Maintain headcount reporting and workforce planning data for leadership review Analyze workforce trends related to hiring, promotions, attrition, and organizational growth Monitor key HR metrics and provide actionable recommendations to improve operational effectiveness Manager & Employee Enablement Serve as a trusted resource to managers on HR processes, performance management, and employee lifecycle activities Develop practical tools, templates, and resources that support management effectiveness and process consistency Support employee engagement initiatives, communications, and organizational programs Lead change management efforts related to new processes, systems, and organizational initiatives Cross-Functional Partnership & Leadership Partner closely with Talent Acquisition, Finance, Legal, Compliance, Technology, and business leadership on workforce-related initiatives Lead annual compensation, promotion, and performance review processes Lead and execute special projects focused on operational scalability, process improvements, and organizational growth Act as a key stakeholder in enterprise-wide HR transformation and technology initiatives Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing HR Operations team Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field Significant progressive experience in HR Operations, People Operations, or Human Resources, including experience leading a team Experience designing and implementing HR processes, programs, and operational frameworks Experience owning or administering compensation programs, including job architecture, pay banding, and pay governance Demonstrated experience administering and optimizing an ATS; Oracle Recruiting Cloud (ORC) experience strongly preferred Experience supporting M&A due diligence and/or post-merger HR integration Strong understanding of employee lifecycle management, HR compliance, and workforce administration Experience evaluating or implementing AI and automation tools within an HR context Experience partnering with Finance, Payroll, Legal, and senior business leaders Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment Strong analytical skills with experience utilizing HR data and metrics to drive decisions Exceptional attention to detail, discretion, and judgment when handling sensitive employee information Preferred Experience within financial services, investment banking, capital markets, professional services, or other highly regulated industries Experience supporting multi-state and international employee populations Experience operating in a high-growth or acquisitive environment Experience with Workday, Oracle HCM, or similar HR systems Experience with compensation/market-pricing tools (e.g., Radford, Mercer, Pave) HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR); CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) a plus #J-18808-Ljbffr