Director, HRIS and Payroll Operations

Thank you for your interest in a career at NeighborHealth, formerly East Boston Neighborhood Health Center! As one of the largest community health centers in the country, NeighborHealth is proud to serve the greater Boston area with a strong commitment to the health and well-being of our patients and communities. Whether you're a nurse or physician providing direct care, a manager leading dedicated teams, or part of the essential support staff who keep our operations running smoothly — every role at NeighborHealth is vital. Together, we’re advancing medicine and delivering the best care experience for our patients and community! Interested in this position? Apply online and create a personal candidate account! Current Employees of NeighborHealth- Please use our internal careers portal to apply for positions. To learn more about working at NeighborHealth and our benefits, please visit out our Careers Page. Time Type: Full time Department: Human Resources All Locations: 300 Ocean Avenue – Revere Position Summary: NeighborHealth is seeking an experienced Director of HRIS and Payroll Operations to lead the strategy, governance, and day-to-day performance of Workday, payroll operations, and HRIS-enabled benefits administration. This role is ideal for a senior HR technology and operations leader with deep Workday expertise who can strengthen controls, improve the employee and manager experience, and translate business needs into scalable, compliant solutions. The Director of HRIS and Payroll Operations provides leadership for Workday and the operational functions that depend on it, including payroll, HR data, integrations, reporting, security, and system benefits administration. The Director establishes the technology roadmap and operating model, ensures accurate and timely payroll and benefits processing, and drives continuous improvement across the employee lifecycle. This position requires a hands-on director who can lead teams, govern complex systems and vendors, and personally engage in configuration, testing, troubleshooting, and issue resolution when needed. The Director partners closely with the CHRO, Finance, Information Technology, Benefits, Compensation, Talent Acquisition, and operational leaders to deliver reliable services, strong internal controls, and data-driven workforce insights. The successful candidate will be able to perform the following responsibilities: HRIS Strategy, Governance & Leadership: Own the enterprise HR technology strategy, roadmap, governance model, and service delivery standards, with Workday as the system of record for human capital data and core HR operations Lead, develop, and hold accountable the HRIS, payroll, and related operations teams; establish clear roles, service-level expectations, performance measures, and succession plans Partner with executive and functional leaders to translate organizational priorities into scalable Workday solutions, balancing user experience, operational efficiency, risk, cost, and long-term maintainability Establish governance for Workday configuration, security, data standards, business processes, integrations, reporting, release management, and production support Oversee vendor relationships, contracts, statements of work, and consulting resources; monitor service quality, project delivery, spend, and return on investment Work with the CHRO on creating and maintaining policies, procedures, controls, documentation, and audit evidence for HRIS, payroll, and HRIS-enabled benefits operations Workday Platform & HRIS Operations: Provide functional leadership and hands-on oversight for Workday HCM and related modules, including Core HCM, Compensation, Recruiting, Talent/Performance, Benefits, Absence, Timekeeping, and Payroll Lead Workday configuration, business process design, tenant management, security role administration, calculated fields, reporting, dashboards, and mass data activities Direct Workday semiannual release planning, feature evaluation, impact analysis, regression testing, change management, deployment, and post-production validation Oversee inbound and outbound integrations between Workday and payroll, benefit carriers, financial systems, identity management, timekeeping, recruiting, and other internal or external platforms; ensure issues are researched and resolved promptly Ensure the integrity, completeness, confidentiality, and appropriate access of employee and payroll data through audits, reconciliations, security reviews, data quality controls, and corrective action plans Develop executive and operational reporting, dashboards, and analytics that support workforce planning, compliance, payroll, benefits, and business decision-making Lead intake, prioritization, and delivery of system enhancements and projects; define requirements, manage risks and dependencies, communicate status, and ensure sustainable documentation and training Payroll Operations: Provide director-level oversight of end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all employees and pay groups Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour, tax, garnishment, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements; partner with Legal, Finance, CHRO, and external advisors on complex matters Direct payroll issue management and root-cause analysis, including retroactive pay, overpayments, off-cycle payments, time and absence discrepancies, deductions, and integrations Partner with Finance on payroll accounting, labor distribution, accruals, reconciliations, audits, and internal control requirements Maintain business continuity and contingency plans for payroll operations, including documented backup procedures, cross-training, access controls, and recovery protocols Use payroll metrics and service data to improve accuracy, timeliness, customer service, controls, and process efficiency Workday Benefits Operations: Provide HRIS leadership for Workday Benefits configuration and operations, including eligibility rules, enrollment events, life events, evidence of insurability, dependent management, benefit deductions, and carrier integrations Ensure Workday benefit business processes, security, reporting, and integrations support regulatory, plan, and operational requirements, including ACA-related data and reporting as applicable Lead testing and production validation for benefit changes and integrations, with documented controls and sign-offs to protect employee coverage and payroll accuracy Identify opportunities to improve the employee benefits experience through self-service, automation, clearer workflows, and stronger data quality Risk, Compliance & Service Delivery: Maintain strict confidentiality and ensure HR, payroll, and system benefits data are handled in accordance with organizational policy, privacy requirements, and role-based access standards Serve as a senior escalation point for complex Workday issues; communicate clearly with stakeholders and ensure timely, customer-focused resolution Coordinate internal and external audits, control testing, compliance reviews, and remediation activities related to functional areas Develop and deliver training, job aids, and change communications for HR staff, payroll users, managers, and employees; build organizational capability and adoption Stay current on Workday functionality, industry practices, regulatory developments, and emerging HR technology through Workday Community, user groups, training, and professional networks Other Duties: Please note, this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. What You’ll Bring Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Systems, Finance, Accounting, or related experience required 7-10 years of progressive experience in HRIS, payroll, HR operations, or related disciplines, including at least 5 years leading projects and teams At least 7 years of hands-on Workday functional experience, with advanced knowledge of Core HCM and strong experience in U.S. Payroll, Benefits, Absence Management, Timekeeping, security, reporting, and integrations Demonstrated experience supporting Workday Payroll and Benefits operations, open enrollment, eligibility and event configuration, deductions, carrier integrations, and reconciliation processes Experience in healthcare, a multi-site organization, or another complex, highly regulated environment strongly preferred Strong knowledge of HR data governance, privacy, internal controls, payroll compliance, wage and hour requirements, and HR technology risk management Proven ability to lead Workday releases, implementations, optimization initiatives, integrations, testing, change management, and cross-functional projects Advanced analytical, reporting, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify root causes, assess risk, and communicate actionable recommendations to executives Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, customer service, and written and verbal communication skills Ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and provide hands-on support during critical payroll, benefits, and system events Compensation Range: $141,440-$232,960, dependent on years of experience EEO & Accommodation Statement: NeighborHealth is an equal employment/affirmative action employer. We ensure equal employment opportunities for all, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or any other non-job-related characteristic. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io to let us know the nature of your request Federal Trade Commission Statement: According to the FTC, there has been a rise in employment offer scams. Our current job openings are listed on our website. We do not ask or require downloads of any applications, or “apps.” Job offers are not extended over text messages or social media platforms. We do not ask individuals to purchase equipment for or prior to employment. E-Verify Program Participation Statement: NeighborHealth participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program, E-Verify. As an E-Verify employer, all prospective employees must complete a background check before beginning employment. There’s a reason NeighborHealth (formerly East Boston Neighborhood Health Center) is ranked as one of the "Top Places to Work" by The Boston Globe. It's because we're committed to maintaining a supportive and welcoming environment — for both our employees and our patients — that reflects our mission and culture. We are proud to offer benefits that support you inside and outside of work. We strive to offer a variety of schedules, a diverse and inclusive workforce, and a patient-driven purpose that supports our local community. Additionally, we utilize our Education & Training Institute as a resource for our large employee workforce who seek to broaden their skill base and advance their careers. We hope you consider joining our team! Medical & Dental Coverage Life and Disability Insurance Privileges at Boston Medical Center for Providers 401(K) Retirement Plan Educational Assistance Flexible Spending & Transportation Accounts Paid Holidays, Vacations, Sick and Personal Time A Generous Staff Development Benefit Excellent Malpractice Coverage A Designated Medical Staff Office for Physician Support Free Parking And Much More…