HR Operations Analyst

CME Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career progression

Continuous learning

Inclusive culture

Competitive benefits

Job summary

CME Group is seeking an HR Operations Analyst in Chicago to deliver Tier-1 HR support, manage Workday data, and partner with COEs across Recruiting, ER, Benefits, Payroll, and Global Mobility.

You will ensure SLA adherence, run audits, and leverage AI tools to optimize HR workflows while protecting privacy and compliance. 3+ years in HR operations and a bachelor’s degree are required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in HR operations, HRIS, or Tier-1 HR service delivery.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR,Business Admin, or IS or equivalent.
• Experience leveraging AI/automation to streamline HR workflows is a plus.
• Proficient with Workday HCM and ticketing tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide Tier-1 AskHR support and triage tickets within SLAs.
• Audit and maintain worker data in Workday HCM for accuracy.
• Govern global data privacy and manage contracts and probation processes.
• Support Recruiting, Employee Relations, Benefits, Payroll, and Mobility teams.
• Assist with onboarding, I-9 verification, and payroll readiness.
• Test HR systems, run reports, and analyze metrics for improvements.
• Drive process improvements using AI and automation.

Skills

Operational HR experience

Customer service

Analytical & audit mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR / business or IS

Tools

Workday HCM

JIRA

SharePoint

Google Workspace

Job description

Job Title: HR Operations Analyst 3640 Department: HR Operations

As an HR Operations Analyst at CME Group, you will serve as a primary operational support within the HR division, ensuring high-quality, seamless service across the employee lifecycle. In this multi-faceted role, you will deliver first-tier AskHR query resolution via JIRA, safeguard data integrity within Workday HCM, and partner directly with HR Centers of Excellence (COEs)—including Recruiting, Employee Relations, Benefits, Payroll, and Global Mobility. By driving strict SLA adherence, conducting meticulous data audits, and actively leveraging AI tools and automation to optimize workflows, you will play a critical role in elevating the employee experience and upholding operational excellence at CME Group.

What You’ll Get

• A supportive environment fostering career progression, continuous learning, and an inclusive culture.
• Broad exposure to CME's diverse products and cross‑functional teams.
• A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Explore our full range of benefits

What You’ll Do

First-Level Query & Service Delivery

Proactively manage, triage, and resolve incoming AskHR tickets within established SLAs (e.g., 6-hour initial response window), providing Tier-1 support using the internal knowledge base and resources, and escalating complex cases to Tier-2 resources including the COEs, or HR leadership as appropriate.

Workday Data Management & Auditing

Audit, execute, and maintain worker transactional data (new hires, transfers, pay rate changes, terminations) in Workday HCM to ensure data integrity, compliance, and adherence to records retention schedules.

Global Data Governance & Privacy

Maintain sensitive worker documentation, employment contracts, and international probation processes within strict regional compliance standards and global data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR).

Cross-Functional COE Support

Recruiting

Facilitate end-to-end employee onboarding, candidate documentation uploads, and US Right-to-Work/I-9 verification processes prior to Day 1.

Employee Relations & HRBPs

Assist with offboarding administration, exit interviews, severance agreements, and non-US probation period documentation.

Global Mobility & Immigration

Coordinate administration for visa processing support letters, relocation tasks, right-to-work checks, and payment requests.

Payroll

Ensure all workforce changes are accurate and completed ahead of regional payroll deadlines, and partner with Payroll on any ad-hoc or exception processing.

Systems Support & Testing

Provide first-level technical and functional support for HR systems (Workday, JIRA, SharePoint, Google Workspace), conduct regression testing for system enhancements/new releases, and provide test sign-offs for production deployment.

Reporting & Operational Analytics

Execute standard and ad‑hoc Workday reporting requests while safeguarding confidential data. In addition, analyze service metrics, ticket volume trends, and SLA performance to drive operational visibility and optimization opportunities.

Process Engagement & Optimization

Continuously maintain and enhance HR’s quick reference guides and knowledge base notes to provide consistent and timely support. Drive process improvement by leveraging AI tools, Agentic AI, and automation features within established tools to streamline processes and increase efficiencies.

What You’ll Bring

Experience

3+ years of hands‑on experience in HR operations, HRIS administration, or Tier‑1 HR service delivery within a fast‑paced environment.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Systems, or equivalent practical experience.

AI & Process Automation (Strongly Preferred)

Demonstrated experience leveraging AI tools, Agentic AI, or automated workflow solutions to streamline HR operations, reduce manual effort, and optimize service delivery timelines.

Technical Mastery

Proficient expertise in Workday HCM (data changes, business processes, and report creation) and ticketing/case management platforms (e.g. JIRA or ServiceNow). Proficiency in Google Workspace applications is strongly preferred.

Compliance & Data Privacy

Strong understanding of global data privacy practices (such as GDPR) and regional HR compliance requirements (including US I‑9/Right‑to‑Work verification).

System Testing & Optimization

Experience executing user acceptance testing (UAT), regression testing, and identifying opportunities to enhance tech stack efficiency.

Key Competencies

Customer Service Orientation: Exceptional communication skills with a proven track record of resolving sensitive employee inquiries efficiently and empathetically.

Analytical & Audit Mindset: High attention to detail with strong problem‑solving skills for maintaining data integrity and diagnosing process bottlenecks.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Ability to partner effectively across diverse HR teams (Payroll, Benefits, Mobility, ER, Recruiting) to drive shared operational goals.

Digital Transformation: Rapidly learns and integrates new technical solutions to modernize manual workflows and optimize team productivity.

The pay range for this role is $26.34--$43.94. Actual salary offered will be dependent on a wide array of factors including but not limited to: relevant experience, skills, education and comparison to internal employees (where relevant). Our compensation program also includes an annual target bonus opportunity for all employees, as well as the opportunity to become an owner in the company through our broad-based equity program.

Through our benefits program, we strive to offer flexibility, value and choice. From comprehensive health coverage, to a retirement package that includes both a 401(k) and an active pension plan, to highly competitive education reimbursement provisions, paid time off and a mental health benefit, CME Group offers a holistic benefits package for our team and their dependents.

CME Group: Where Futures are Made

CME Group is the world’s leading derivatives marketplace.

But who we are goes deeper than that.

Here, you can impact markets worldwide.

Transform industries.

And build a career by shaping tomorrow.

We invest in your success and you own it – all while working alongside a team of leading experts who inspire you in ways big and small.

Problem solvers, difference makers, trailblazers. Those are our people. And we’re looking for more. At CME Group, we embrace our employees' unique experiences and skills to ensure that everyone’s perspectives are acknowledged and valued.

As an equal‑opportunity employer, we consider all potential employees without regard to any protected characteristic.

For U.S. employment, CME Group is legally required to validate a new hire’s employment eligibility by having them complete an Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I‑9) companied with legally acceptable proof of identity and work authorization (as listed on the Form I‑9). CME Group uses E-Verify, which is an online system operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility and validate social security numbers. Through participation in the E-Verify program, information entered on Form I‑9 will be provided and compared to information available at both of these agencies.