HR Operations Manager

Project Lead The Way; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Project Lead The Way is seeking a Senior HR Generalist in Indianapolis to manage payroll, benefits, compliance, HRIS, and leave programs across the full team member life cycle. This role collaborates with Finance, IT, and other departments to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and a positive employee experience.

Occasional travel may be required. The ideal candidate will possess SHRM-CP or PHR certification, a Bachelor's in HR/Business, and experience with Paylocity to drive accurate data management

Qualifications

• SHRM-CP / PHR certification required.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience with Paylocity preferred.

Responsibilities

• Process multi-state payroll from start to finish, ensuring accurate and on-time pay.
• Ensure payroll compliance with federal, state, and local laws and tax regulations.
• Administer leave and accommodation programs (FMLA, ADA, etc.) per laws and policies.
• Maintain HRIS data accuracy and system integrity (Paylocity).
• Provide cross-functional HR support and drive process improvements.

Skills

Customer-centric

Communication skills

Multitasking

Initiative

Independence

Discretion & integrity

Accountability

Education

SHRM-CP or PHR certification

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business or related field

Tools

Paylocity

Job description

Description

OVERVIEW

The Senior HR Generalist is responsible for executing a wide range of HR functions across the full Team Member life cycle. This role ensures operational excellence across payroll, benefits, compliance and audit, HRIS/data management, leave-of-absence administration, and related communications. The HR Operations Manager collaborates cross-functionally to deliver a seamless, inclusive, and engaging Team Member experience, while maintaining accuracy, compliance, and efficiency across HR operations. Occasional travel required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll & Compliance

• Responsible for processing multi-state payroll from start to finish, ensuring all Team Members are paid accurately and on time.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and tax regulations.
• Manage document retention and support internal/external audits.
• Administer leave and accommodation programs (FMLA, ADA, etc.) in accordance with applicable laws and internal policies.
• Manage employment eligibility and compliance, including I-9 verification and documentation, new hire reporting, completion tracking for required forms and training, and administration of annual organizational compliance training.

Benefits Administration & Analysis

• Administer benefits programs including enrollment, life events, open enrollment, file feeds, and vendor coordination.
• Reconcile monthly benefits invoices and collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate reporting and timely payment.
• Participate in collaboration efforts with external benefits advisors to assess plan performance and alignment with organizational goals.
• Analyze benefits utilization and cost trends to identify patterns, inform communication and education strategies, and support Team Member utilization.
• Develop and deliver clear, engaging communications to help Team Members understand and maximize their benefits.

HRIS & Reporting

• Maintain and optimize HRIS (Paylocity), ensuring data accuracy and system integrity.
• Provide accurate, timely, and proactive reporting to fulfill team level and cross-functional data needs, support informed decision-making, and enable continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support implementation of self-service tools and automation aligned with organizational goals.
• Manage and maintain HRIS file feeds and system integrations, working with internal stakeholders and external vendors to ensure accurate data transfers, troubleshoot issues, and maintain data integrity across systems.

Cross-Functional Support and Continuous Improvement

• Serve as a subject matter expert and point of contact for HR-related inquiries.
• Manage the Talent Experience inbox, categorizing requests and support needs to ensure appropriate and timely responses.
• Collaborate with Finance, IT, and other departments to ensure alignment and accuracy in shared processes.
• Maintain and publish HR resources on internal platforms to ensure accessibility and clarity.
• Stay current with HR trends, compliance updates, and best practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and recommend enhancements to existing tools and workflows.
• Identify and recommend potential opportunities to incorporate innovative methods and emerging trends within area of expertise.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• SHRM-CP, PHR, or other related HR certification is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field of study, or equivalent related experience.
• Experience with Paylocity preferred.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

• A customer-centric approach to all internal and external interactions.
• Values and leverages the unique strengths and perspectives of each Team Member.
• Takes pride in the work, celebrates success, and has fun.
• Approaches work with curiosity and experimentation.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and be detail oriented.
• Ability to take initiative and work proactively.
• Ability to work independently, resourcefully seek answers, and remove obstacles.
• Results-oriented with the ability to consistently meet deadlines.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters with discretion, integrity, and tact.
• A high sense of urgency.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and balance urgent tasks with strategic projects.
• The ability to influence professionally and constructively.
• Accountable and takes ownership.
• Excellent judgment and ability to adapt to changing priorities with ease and efficiency.