Operations Manager | Payroll Solutions

Deel; Italia; On-site; EUR 86,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock grant opportunities

Flexible office membership (IWG)

Job summary

Deel is hiring an Operations Manager to own automation and drive AI-powered workflows across global payroll processes. You will manage end-to-end projects across multiple workstreams, identify gaps, and build dashboards to surface insights for leadership.

You'll collaborate with engineering, product, and ops teams across 90+ countries, moving fast, escalating blockers, and redesigning processes from scratch where needed.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in operations, preferably in a fast-paced environment (Tech/FinTech start-up experience a plus).
• Comfortable building with AI tools and spending time troubleshooting workflows — not just using AI but actively improving it.
• Engineering background or equivalent technical exposure (computer science degree/ bootcamp/ hands‑on technical projects) preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and mentor small to mid-size teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail with a solutions-oriented mindset.
• KPI-driven, with experience tracking and improving performance metrics.
• Exposure to process automation and operational tooling.
• Background in FinTech, consulting, banking, or fast-paced start-ups preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to turn data into actionable insights (SQL familiarity a plus).
• Collaborative team player with high energy and a bias for action.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operational workflows and identify areas for efficiency improvements.
• Support automation initiatives to reduce manual processes and improve accuracy and speed.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to streamline tools and processes for both internal teams and customers.
• Ensure adherence to operational controls, compliance requirements, and risk management practices.
• Contribute to fraud prevention and regulatory alignment efforts by maintaining strong operational standards.
• Monitor operational performance metrics and elevate risks or gaps to leadership.
• Drive customer-focused process improvements to enhance turnaround times, resolution quality, and escalation handling.
• Expand and improve self-service options to reduce dependency on manual support.
• Implement regular feedback loops to capture insights and inform continuous improvement.
• Coordinate operational readiness for new product or market launches, working closely with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Assist with go-to-market initiatives by removing bottlenecks and ensuring smooth adoption.
• Track and report operational outcomes, providing insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Execute operational projects and strategic initiatives in collaboration with senior leaders.

Skills

Operations management

AI workflow troubleshooting

Engineering background

Team mentorship

Problem solving

Analytics

SQL familiarity

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Akai

Job description

Who We Are Is What We Do.

Deel is the all-in-one payroll and HR platform for global teams. Our vision is to unlock global opportunity for every person, team, and business. Built for the way the world works today, Deel combines HRIS, payroll, compliance, benefits, performance, and equipment management into one seamless platform. With AI-powered tools and a fully owned payroll infrastructure, Deel supports every worker type in 150+ countries—helping businesses scale smarter, faster, and more compliantly.

Who We Are Is What We Do.

Deel is the all-in-one payroll and HR platform for global teams. Our vision is to unlock global opportunity for every person, team, and business. Built for the way the world works today, Deel combines HRIS, payroll, compliance, benefits, performance, and equipment management into one seamless platform. With AI-powered tools and a fully owned payroll infrastructure, Deel supports every worker type in 150+ countries—helping businesses scale smarter, faster, and more compliantly.

Among the largest globally distributed companies in the world, our team of 7,000 spans more than 100 countries, speaks 74 languages, and brings a connected and dynamic culture that drives continuous learning and innovation for our customers.

Why should you be part of our success story?

As the fastest-growing Software as a Service (SaaS) company in history, Deel is transforming how global talent connects with world-class companies – breaking down borders that have traditionally limited both hiring and career opportunities. We're not just building software; we're creating the infrastructure for the future of work, enabling a more diverse and inclusive global economy. In 2024 alone, we paid $11.2 billion to workers in nearly 100 currencies and provided healthcare and benefits to workers in 109 countries—ensuring people get paid and protected, no matter where they are.

Our momentum is reflected in our achievements and customer satisfaction: CNBC Disruptor 50, Forbes Cloud 100, Deloitte Fast 500, and repeated recognition on Y Combinator's top companies list – all while maintaining a 4.83 average rating from 15,000 reviews across G2, Trustpilot, Captera, Apple and Google.

Your experience at Deel will be a career accelerator. At the forefront of the global work revolution, you'll tackle complex challenges that impact millions of people's working lives. With our momentum—backed by a $17.3 billion valuation and $1 B in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in just over five years—you'll drive meaningful impact while building expertise that makes you a sought‑after leader in the transformation of global work.

Summary

The Operations Manager will own and drive automation and operational initiatives across our global payroll processes, with a focus on building, testing, and iterating AI-powered workflows using Akai. You'll manage projects end-to-end across multiple workstreams simultaneously, identify and fix process gaps, and dive into data to build dashboards and surface insights for leadership.

You’ll work closely with engineering, product, and ops teams across 90+ countries, moving fast, escalating blockers proactively, and delivering without being chased. This is a hands‑on role for someone who is as comfortable troubleshooting an AI workflow as they are driving a cross‑functional project or redesigning a process from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operational workflows and identify areas for efficiency improvements.
• Support automation initiatives to reduce manual processes and improve accuracy and speed.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to streamline tools and processes for both internal teams and customers.
• Ensure adherence to operational controls, compliance requirements, and risk management practices.
• Contribute to fraud prevention and regulatory alignment efforts by maintaining strong operational standards.
• Monitor operational performance metrics and elevate risks or gaps to leadership.
• Drive customer‑focused process improvements to enhance turnaround times, resolution quality, and escalation handling.
• Expand and improve self‑service options to reduce dependency on manual support.
• Implement regular feedback loops to capture insights and inform continuous improvement.
• Coordinate operational readiness for new product or market launches, working closely with cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Assist with go‑to‑market initiatives by removing bottlenecks and ensuring smooth adoption.
• Track and report operational outcomes, providing insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Execute operational projects and strategic initiatives in collaboration with senior leaders.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in operations, preferably in a fast‑paced environment (Tech/FinTech start‑up experience a plus).
• Comfortable building with AI tools and spending time troubleshooting workflows — not just using AI but actively improving it.
• Engineering background or equivalent technical exposure (computer science degree/ bootcamp/ hands‑on technical projects) preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and mentor small to mid‑size teams.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail with a solutions‑oriented mindset.
• KPI‑driven, with experience tracking and improving performance metrics.
• Exposure to process automation and operational tooling.
• Background in FinTech, consulting, banking, or fast‑paced start‑ups preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to turn data into actionable insights (SQL familiarity a plus).
• Collaborative team player with high energy and a bias for action.

Total Rewards

Our workforce deserves fair and competitive pay that meets them where they are. With scalable benefits, rewards, and perks, our total rewards programs reflect our commitment to inclusivity and access for all.

• Our salary range reflects gross base salary. For commercial roles with commission eligibility, this figure represents On‑Target Earnings (OTE), inclusive of base salary and target commission.
• Salary ranges are quoted in USD as a consistent global reference. Your offer will be localized to your country's currency using a market‑aligned conversion.
• Final pay is based on objective, job‑related criteria including experience, skills, and location.
• We don't ask about salary history. Offers are based on the role and what you bring to it.

Some things you’ll enjoy

• Stock grant opportunities dependent on your role, employment status and location
• Additional perks and benefits based on your employment status and country
• Optional flexible working office membership, with IWG

At Deel, we’re an equal‑opportunity employer that values diversity and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy or maternity or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Unless otherwise agreed, we will communicate with job applicants using Deel‑specific emails, which include @deel.com and other acquired company emails like @payspace.com and @paygroup.com. You can view the most up‑to‑date job listings at Deel by visiting our careers page. Deel welcomes persons with disabilities to apply to any of our open roles. We will provide application and/or interview accommodations on request throughout the recruitment, selection and assessment process for applicants with disabilities or other needs. If you require application and/or interview accommodations, please inform our Talent Acquisition Team via email ([e-mail]) and a team member will be in touch to ensure your equal participation.

As part of our hiring process, we primarily rely on interviews and role‑related assessments. In limited cases, we may also consider informal background information relevant to the role, in line with our privacy and fairness obligations.

This application process may utilise Automated Employment Decision Tools (AEDT) and AI systems to assist in evaluating candidates based on experience level, technical skills and qualifications. This processing is conducted in compliance with applicable Data Protection, AI Governance and Labour Laws. We ensure human oversight is maintained in all final hiring decisions. Your personal data is not used to train AI models. For more information on how we process your personal data, please see our Recruitment Privacy Policy.

• For NYC Residents: In accordance with NYC Local Law 144, an independent bias audit has been conducted on AEDT