Senior Manager, HR Operations

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.

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.

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-Ha…