Director, Total Rewards & Workforce Operations

Are you someone who strives for excellence, values accountability, provides the best service, all while reflecting unwavering integrity? Our talented team members across the state follow the behaviors, beliefs and outcomes of these core values to ensure that our vision is met. If you're ready to join the TSTC family and make great memories please complete our application process.Job DescriptionThe Director, Total Rewards & Workforce Operations provides operational leadership and oversight for compensation administration, benefits operations, workforce transactions, payroll readiness coordination, and timekeeping practices at Texas State Technical College (TSTC). This role ensures workforce and pay-impacting activities are executed accurately, timely, consistently, and in alignment with institutional expectations and operational standards.The position leads front-end workforce operations that directly impact teammate pay, benefits, workforce records, and payroll readiness across all campuses. The Director partners closely with Payroll, Finance, HR Systems, Talent Acquisition, HR leadership, and campus leaders to support operational integrity, transaction accuracy, workforce coordination, and service responsiveness.This role leads a small operational team responsible for compensation administration, benefits coordination, workforce transaction processing, operational quality assurance, and workforce operational support. Success in this role is measured through operational accuracy, responsiveness, execution discipline, service quality, audit readiness, and stakeholder confidence.The Director contributes to TSTC’s commitment to being Compellingly Different, Best in Class, and Stronger Over Time through disciplined workforce operations, trusted service delivery, and operational consistency.The employee will demonstrate TSTC’s Core Values of Excellence, Accountability, Service, and Integrity with internal and external stakeholders, customers, students, and community members.Total Rewards & Workforce Operations AdministrationOversee day-to-day operational administration related to compensation, benefits, workforce transactions, and payroll-impacting activities. Ensure compensation actions, benefit-related processes, workforce changes, and operational approvals are administered accurately, timely, and consistently.Coordinate cyclical workforce activities including merit processes, special pay actions, workforce changes, and operational support activities while maintaining established timelines and approval standards.Payroll Readiness, Timekeeping & Workforce CoordinationSupport institutional payroll readiness through oversight of workforce transactions, timekeeping practices, leave coordination, operational approvals, and payroll-impacting workflows. Partner closely with Payroll and Finance to support accurate workforce data, operational alignment, and timely payroll administration.Monitor payroll-impacting transactions, operational delays, workflow gaps, and recurring concerns and support corrective actions, process improvement efforts, and operational education as appropriate.Operational Quality Assurance & Execution DisciplineEstablish and maintain operational controls, validation practices, and workflow standards supporting workforce transaction accuracy and operational reliability. Review transaction readiness, operational sequencing, and workflow execution to reduce errors, rework, and downstream operational impacts.Partner with HR Systems and Payroll to strengthen workflow reliability, reporting visibility, operational controls, and workforce process integrity within Workday.Communication, Service & Stakeholder SupportEstablish and maintain service expectations supporting workforce operations, compensation administration, and benefits-related activities. Communicate operational updates, deadlines, process expectations, and workforce-related information clearly and professionally.Support leaders, teammates, and HR partners with guidance related to workforce operations, pay-impacting processes, approvals, and operational expectations while fostering confidence through responsiveness, professionalism, and dependable follow-through.Reporting, Operational Monitoring & Process ImprovementMonitor operational indicators related to workforce transactions, operational accuracy, response times, quality assurance, and payroll readiness. Identify trends, recurring concerns, process gaps, and operational inefficiencies and support improvement efforts that strengthen operational clarity, consistency, and service reliability.Support operational reporting, audit preparation, reconciliations, and workforce operational reviews using Workday and related systems.Team Leadership & Workforce Operations ManagementProvide leadership, coaching, operational direction, and performance management to a team supporting compensation administration, workforce transactions, benefits coordination, and workforce operations. Establish operational expectations, priorities, accountability measures, and service standards aligned with institutional expectations.Foster a culture of professionalism, accountability, responsiveness, collaboration, and operational excellence across workforce operations activities.Education & ExperienceMinimum QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and documented professional experience as evaluated under TSTC’s equivalency standards.Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in HR operations, compensation administration, payroll operations support, workforce administration, benefits administration, or related operational functions.Experience supporting workforce transactions, compensation administration, payroll-impacting workflows, operational approvals, or timekeeping practices.Experience leading operational processes or coordinating the work of others in a complex operational environment.Preferred QualificationsExperience working within higher education, public sector, manufacturing, healthcare, or another complex multi-site organization.Experience working with HRIS or ERP platforms such as Workday.Experience supporting compensation administration, payroll coordination, workforce operations, or benefits administration.Professional certifications such as SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, CPP, CCP, or related credentials are valued.Skills & AbilitiesStrong understanding of compensation administration, workforce operations, payroll-impacting workflows, and operational coordination practices.Ability to manage workforce transactions, operational timelines, and cyclical activities with a high degree of accuracy and accountability.Ability to establish operational controls, workflow standards, and quality assurance practices supporting operational reliability.Ability to identify operational risks, workflow concerns, or process gaps and support corrective actions and process improvements.Strong communication, stakeholder support, and operational coordination skills.Ability to manage sensitive workforce information with professionalism, confidentiality, and sound judgment.Ability to collaborate effectively across HR, Payroll, Finance, HR Systems, Talent Acquisition, and campus leadership.Ability to support operational improvement initiatives that strengthen service quality, responsiveness, and execution consistency.Core CompetenciesCommunicationCommunicates operational expectations, workforce processes, and pay-impacting information clearly, professionally, and proactively. Supports operational clarity through timely communication and dependable follow-through.Job Knowledge / Job PerformanceDemonstrates applied knowledge of workforce operations, compensation administration, payroll readiness, workforce transactions, and operational processes. Supports accurate and reliable operational execution aligned with institutional expectations.Ownership & AccountabilityTakes ownership of operational outcomes, service quality, workforce transaction accuracy, and execution discipline. Addresses concerns proactively and supports operational consistency and reliability.Planning & ExecutionCoordinates multiple operational activities, deadlines, approvals, and workforce processes while maintaining strong attention to detail, operational sequencing, and execution quality.Critical Thinking & JudgmentUses sound operational judgment when evaluating workforce operational concerns, transaction issues, or payroll-impacting matters. Escalates concerns appropriately and supports practical operational solutions.LeadershipProvides service-oriented leadership focused on accountability, coaching, responsiveness, professionalism, and operational excellence.Extra Duties StatementThis job description outlines the general responsibilities and expectations of the role. It is not intended to include every task or responsibility. Additional duties may be assigned by leadership as needed to support HR operations and institutional priorities.Work Environment & Additional InformationThis position may be considered for telework options based on eligibility under TSTC’s Telework policy aligned with State of Texas requirements.Must be reachable during business hours through standard communication channels as required by the role.Some duties may require work outside standard business hours during peak compensation or benefits cycles.Full-time, FLSA-exempt position.Periodic in-state travel to campuses or meetings beyond the employee’s designated or nearest base campus may be required based on business needs and will comply with TSTC and State of Texas requirements.Position requires sustained attention to confidential, sensitive, and high-impact matters.Equal Opportunity EmployerTexas State Technical College (TSTC), as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. TSTC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.Employment Eligibility VerificationIf hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at TSTC.Background ChecksA criminal history background check will be required for the finalist(s) under consideration for this position. #J-18808-Ljbffr