Manager, HR Operations

WorldStrides; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) match

Paid holidays & PTO

Tuition reimbursement

Travel opportunities

Flexible work options

Job summary

WorldStrides is seeking a Manager, HR Operations to run the engine of HR Delivery globally. You will lead the HR Operations team, own end-to-end HR operations, and drive shared services improvements across offices including Mérida. Ensure accurate onboarding, compliant offboarding, and timely HR programs.

You will partner with local HR teams, govern labor compliance, and leverage AI to automate processes while maintaining data integrity and strong employee experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
• 4+ years of HR experience, including 1+ year in HR leadership.
• Experience building or running an HR shared services model.
• Track record of launching enterprise HR programs such as engagement surveys or compensation communications.
• Working knowledge of U.S. employment law and multi-state compliance.
• Hands-on HRIS experience and strong Excel skills.
• Exceptional accuracy with confidential data.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the HR Operations team: manage specialists and generalists; set priorities; build a self-running team.
• Run HR shared services and optimize enhancements.
• Partner with local HR across offices to deliver a consistent employee experience.
• Lead onboarding and offboarding; ensure smooth 90-day ramp and compliant exits.
• Lead employee relations for full-time and seasonal staff; investigate concerns and guide managers.
• Oversee annual HR calendar: engagement, performance, merit, promotions, compensation, policy rollout.
• Ensure HR governance and compliance with labor laws globally.
• Collaborate with Finance on payroll accuracy and headcount reporting.
• Maintain clean HR data for leadership decisions.
• Partner with L&D on analytics; close gaps with proactive training.
• Automate HR operations; reduce errors with better tooling and AI.
• Lead with AI to improve team operations and employee experience.

Skills

HR leadership

HR operations

Excel

HRIS

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Tools

HRIS systems

Job description

WorldStridesis the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.

Job Description:
The Manager, HR Operations, runs the engine behind HR Delivery at WorldStrides. Reporting to the Senior Director of HR Delivery, this leader owns HR operations and HR shared services end to end and leads the HR Generalists and the operations team, alongside the HRBP and L&D teams that complete HR Delivery. The role drives the enterprise HR initiatives that impact every team member’s experience across the globe.

You will turn programs into execution and build processes that scale. You set the standard for accuracy, speed, and team member experience across every HR transaction.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and grow the HR Operations team: manage the HR Operations Specialist and two HR Generalists, set clear priorities, and build a team that runs without single points of failure.
  Own end-to-end HR operations.
• Run HR shared services and optimize for enhancements.
• Partner with local HR support across our offices: work closely with on-site HR teams, including our largest office in Mérida, to deliver one consistent team member experience.
• Lead onboarding and offboarding: a strong first 90 days for new team members and a clean, compliant exit for departing ones.
• Lead employee relations for full-time and seasonal team members: investigate concerns, guide managers, and resolve issues consistently and in line with policy.
• Run the annual HR calendar: lead the engagement survey, performance review cycles, merit and bonus processes, promotion cycles, compensation processes, and policy rollouts, each with a clear plan, owners, and status reporting.
• Drive compliance through execution: partner with Sr Dir of Governance and team on HR governance and compliance, and run HR practices that keep WorldStrides compliant with federal, state, and global labor law.
• Partner across the business: work with Finance on payroll accuracy and headcount reporting, and with HRBPs and hiring managers to keep the team member lifecycle fast from offer through exit.
• Maintain clean HR data that informs decisions at the HR leadership and business leadership levels.
• Partner with L&D on HR inbox analytics: spot recurring questions and gaps, then build proactive training that closes them.
• Automate manual HR operations: eliminate error-prone steps through better process, tooling, and AI agents the team builds and maintains.
• Lead with AI: leverage existing and new AI tools to improve how the team operates and elevate the team member experience.

Success in the first year:

• You have identified problem areas and redesigned workflows to deliver programs and processes faster and smoother with the support of AI or other platforms.
• New team members experience a smooth, welcoming onboarding that sets them up to contribute fast.
• HR shared services meets SLAs, and self-service resolves a growing share of routine questions.
• Every core process has current documentation and a trained backup on the team.
• The team operates as a high-performing unit with clear goals and development plans in place.
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of HR experience, including 1+ years in HR leadership.
• Experience building or running an HR shared services or HR service center model.
• Track record of launching enterprise HR programs such as engagement surveys or compensation communications.
• Working knowledge of U.S. employment law and multi-state compliance.
• Hands-on HRIS experience and strong Excel skills.
• Exceptional accuracy with confidential data.

Preferred

• Experience supporting operations in Mexico or other international locations.
• Experience automating HR workflows, including building AI agents.
• Process improvement or project management training.
• Comprehensive health benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, accident, critical illness, disability insurance, FSA/HSA options with employer HSA contributions, and a generous 401(k) match.
• Generous paid time off including 11 paid company holidays, 25 PTO days the first year (prorated), 1 paid volunteer day, 4 mental health days, and bereavement
• Professional development support, including up to $5,250 annually for tuition reimbursement and up to $1,000 for certifications annually
• Opportunities for paid and discounted travel
• Flexible work schedule providing on-site, remote, and hybrid office opportunities
• Encouraged participation in a wide variety of Employee Resource Groups
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness resources, including fitness centers at select locations
• Paid parental, caregiver, and disability leave
• Team Member Discount Program
• Engaging, collaborative, and fun work environment

The salary range listed for this position represents WorldStrides’ good-faith estimate of the base compensation for the role at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills and qualifications, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. The range does not include other forms of compensation or benefits that may be offered as part of the total rewards package.

Compensation Range

$90,000 - $90,000 USD

WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, WorldStrides is committed to building a diverse workforce, supported by an environment that promotes inclusion and belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

WorldStrides will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, J-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire. Select seasonal roles may consider students on J-1 or F-1 visas.