HR Operations and Payroll Manager

Job Description

We are partnering with a well-established, mission-driven organization in New York City to hire an experienced HR Operations & Payroll Manager.

This is a hands-on role with primary responsibility for payroll, alongside ownership of benefits administration and broader HR operations. The successful candidate will be comfortable independently running payroll in Dayforce, troubleshooting issues, managing benefits processes, and ensuring smooth day-to-day HR operations.

Payroll & Dayforce

• Own and process semi-monthly payroll for a population of hourly and salaried employees.
• Manage regular and additional pay, deductions, adjustments, off-cycle transactions, and employee changes.
• Coordinate time and attendance inputs and ensure appropriate approvals are completed before payroll is released.
• Maintain and troubleshoot timekeeping and payroll processes within Dayforce.
• Respond to employee payroll questions and maintain accurate, confidential records.
• Identify recurring payroll issues and recommend improvements to systems and processes.

Benefits Administration

• Manage day-to-day administration across health and welfare, retirement, disability, workers' compensation, and pre-tax benefit programs.
• Support annual open enrollment, including system preparation, employee communications, elections, and reconciliation.
• Partner with employees and external providers to resolve benefits and eligibility issues.
• Reconcile benefit invoices, payroll deductions, contributions, and funding.
• Support leave and disability administration.

HR Operations

• Coordinate employee onboarding and offboarding, including HRIS setup, employment documentation, background checks, and I-9 processes.
• Maintain employment records and support contract and agreement administration.
• Support leave administration and track applicable documentation and deadlines.
• Coordinate performance review cycles and reporting.
• Maintain accurate HR, payroll, and benefits records.
• Support year-end reporting, audits, retirement-plan administration, and other payroll and benefits compliance requirements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience across payroll, benefits, and HR operations.
• Strong hands-on experience independently owning recurring payroll cycles.
• 3+ years of hands-on Dayforce payroll experience strongly required, including processing payroll for both hourly and salaried populations.
• 3+ years of benefits administration experience, including open enrollment, carrier billing, reconciliation, and funding.
• Strong Excel skills and general proficiency with workplace productivity tools.
• Experience in a mission-driven or similarly people-focused environment is advantageous.
• Bachelor’s degree and/or HR/payroll certification preferred.
• Spanish language skills are a plus.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential employee information.