Senior Manager, HR Operations

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard's undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard's Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Senior Manager of HR Operations provides strategic leadership and oversight of HR operational functions to ensure efficient, compliant, and service-oriented delivery of human resources transactions, data analytics, and services across the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. This role serves as a critical operational partner, leading functional set up and process improvement initiatives. The Senior Manager brings a continuous improvement mindset and a commitment to building scalable, data-driven HR operations that support a diverse and dynamic workforce.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Team Leadership & HR Lifecycle Management

• Manages and develops a team ensuring the accurate and timely processing of all HR lifecycle transactions, including hires/onboarding, rehires, job changes, compensation updates, promotions, transfers, and offboarding/separations for staff.
• Oversees effective and compliant management of Leaves and accommodations for staff and researchers, and partners with Compensation and Analytics to create analytics and reporting capacity for the organization
• Sets clear performance expectations, provides ongoing coaching and feedback, and fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning within the team.
• Monitors team workload, capacity, and coverage, making staffing and prioritization decisions to meet service level commitments.

Service Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Establishes service delivery standards, performance metrics, service level agreements, and accountability frameworks to ensure consistent, high-quality HR service across the organization.
• Leverages data and reporting to identify trends, monitor operational health, and drive decisions that improve HR service quality and responsiveness.
• Leads or sponsors process redesign efforts to streamline workflows, eliminate redundancies, and enhance the overall employee experience.

Cross-Functional Partnerships

• Partners closely with Finance and Payroll to ensure accurate alignment, reconciliation, and integrity of employment data across systems and reporting.
• Collaborates with HR Partners, Compensation, Talent Acquisition, and other HR Centers of Excellence to support integrated and seamless HR service delivery.
• Serves as a key liaison between HR Operations and technology teams to support HRIS enhancements, system implementations, and data governance initiatives.

Compliance & Policy Administration

• Ensures organizational compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, including FMLA, applicable state and local leave laws, FLSA, and other employment-related statutes.
• Administers HR processes in accordance with collective bargaining agreements, where applicable, and ensures consistent interpretation and application of institutional policies.
• Monitors regulatory changes and updates internal processes, documentation, and training to ensure ongoing compliance and risk mitigation.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 8 years' relevant HR experience
• Project and/or program management experience
• Supervisory experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• HR certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience leading HR teams within complex, decentralized, or matrixed organizations.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations, with experience navigating compliance in multi-jurisdiction environments.
• Proficiency with HRIS and data analytics platforms (PeopleSoft strongly preferred) and experience leveraging HR technology to improve efficiency and data accuracy.
• Proven track record of success in process redesign, service delivery optimization, and change management, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience in higher education, academic medical centers, research institutions, or other mission-driven organizations.
• Familiarity with collective bargaining agreement administration and labor relations.
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships across all levels of the organization.

Additional Information

• Work Format: This is a hybrid position with on-campus days tied to meeting client and business needs. Time on-campus, per week, may fluctuate based on service delivery requirements, up to and including 3 days per week.
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal
• Other Information: Candidates are highly encouraged to include a cover letter with a resume. Please note, applications will be accepted thru Friday, July 17th.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University's Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 059. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.


Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.


EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.