Senior Operations Manager

Howard University seeks a Senior People Operations Officer to serve as the primary operational administrator for all HR, payroll, and hiring transactions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely processing for faculty, staff, adjuncts, student employees, wage workers, and stipend‑supported personnel. Benefits Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support Work‑Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture More details at Job Purpose The Senior People Operations Officer serves as the College’s principal operational administrator for all staff and personnel transactions. The role handles end‑to‑end workflow execution, Workday processing, onboarding, offboarding, and compliance for faculty, staff, adjuncts, student workers, wage workers, and stipend‑supported personnel. Supervisory Authority Responsible for supervising the Budget Coordinator, Administrative III. Formally plans, assigns, directs, and evaluates work performed. Makes merit and promotion recommendations to the Dean and ensures professional development alignment with institutional expectations. Nature and Scope The Officer interacts daily with academic departments, program directors, faculty, HR Business Partners, the Budget Office, Payroll, and the Office of the Provost. The position requires high accuracy, judgment in handling sensitive information, navigating complex approval processes, and ensuring compliance with University policy, hiring standards, and audit expectations. Principal Accountabilities Serve as the College’s senior Workday transaction specialist for all hires, job changes, faculty terminations, PAPs, compensation changes, funding changes, and academic appointments. Coordinate all job posting requests with HR Recruiting and ensure funding alignment before submission. Draft and monitor term sheets, offer letters (where applicable), hiring packets, and background check requirements. Manage onboarding workflows including I‑9, tax documentation, direct deposit, employee access, and new employee orientation tracking. Initiate and track off‑boarding workflows for employees, adjunct faculty, and student workers. Ensure accurate student hiring through FRFs, HAFs, wage‑hire classifications, and Workday setup. Maintain weekly hiring and transaction status reports for CEA leadership. Conduct monthly HR and payroll compliance audits, including cost allocations, active/inactive positions, and pending transactions. Provide training and guidance to department administrators, chairs, and coordinators on Workday processes and personnel workflows. Maintain and update standard operating procedures for hiring, onboarding, terminations, PAPs, and Workday routing. Liaise with HR, Payroll, and the Office of the Provost to resolve transactional issues and ensure timely processing. Serve as subject‑matter expert for Workday HR and Workday Finance functionality relevant to personnel transactions. Provide people‑data inputs to the Assistant Dean for reporting and planning. Manage confidential personnel information in accordance with University policies. Core Competencies Demonstrated ability to provide executive‑level financial and operational guidance in a complex academic environment. Deep knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, accounting controls, and resource stewardship. Ability to interpret policy, influence adoption, and lead change with diplomacy and clarity. Ability to supervise, develop, mentor, and evaluate staff performance and ensure accountability. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex issues clearly. Skilled in Workday Financials, procurement systems, and advanced spreadsheet and reporting tools. Minimum Requirements Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business Administration, or related field (required). Minimum of five (5) years of experience working in higher‑education operations. Workday HR and Workday Finance familiarity. Experience working with academic departments. Administrative operations experience. Proficiency in Workday HR (required); Proficiency in Workday Finance (preferred). Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and shared workflow systems. Ability to run reports, analyze personnel data, and maintain accurate records. Compensation and Range Salary Range: $85,000 – $95,000. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Howard University is a comprehensive, research‑oriented, historically Black private university committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, disability, or protected veteran status. Veterans and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Inquiries regarding accommodations for persons with disabilities or veterans status, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Title IX should be directed to the Office of Employee Relations and Equal Employment Opportunity at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required. The university reserves the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not a contract for employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr Hastings Center, Inc.