Senior Director HR Shared Services

Cooper Machinery Services LLC in; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooper Machinery Services in Houston is seeking a Senior Director of HR Shared Services to lead global benefits, payroll, and HRIS strategy. You will design and optimize processes, partner with finance and legal, and drive data-driven decision-making.

This role requires 12+ years in HR shared services, global payroll experience, and a track record of system implementations and vendor management. Hybrid work in Houston with a focus on building scalable, compliant programs.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive HR shared services experience across Benefits, Payroll, and HRIS.
• Experience managing global or multi-country payroll and benefits operations.
• Experience leading system implementations or consolidations (UKG, ADP, Workday).
• Experience managing vendor relationships and budgets across benefits, payroll, and HRIS.

Responsibilities

• Own design, administration, and continuous improvement of global benefits programs.
• Lead annual open enrollment, plan renewals, and benefits communications with brokers and carriers.
• Oversee payroll processing for all Cooper employees globally, including multi-state and international payrolls.
• Lead HRIS consolidation and data governance to reduce fragmentation and improve reporting.

Skills

HR Shared Services

Vendor management

Data analytics

Cross-functional partner

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

UKG

ADP

Workday

Job description

Senior Director HR Shared Services (Project Management)

Senior Director, HR Shared Services

Human Resources| Houston, TX (Hybrid) | Full-Time, Exempt

Cooper Machinery Services has been powering the energy industry since 1833, and today our legends run stronger than ever. We're looking for a Senior Director, Human Resources.

People. Process. Technology. Impact. Join us as our next HR Shared Services Director and help transform how HR delivers service, support, and value to our employees and business leaders.

What You Will Do:

• Own the design, administration, and continuous improvement of Cooper's global benefits programs, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations (e.g., ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA) across all jurisdictions.
• Lead annual open enrollment, plan renewals, and benefits communications in partnership with brokers and carriers.
• Evaluate and harmonize benefits programs for newly acquired companies, and monitor costs and trends to balance competitiveness with cost management.

Payroll

• Oversee accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all Cooper employees globally, including multi-state and international payrolls, in compliance with applicable wage and tax regulations.
• Lead integration of acquired companies' payroll operations onto Cooper's systems, and drive standardization of payroll policies across business units and geographies.
• Partner with Finance on payroll-related accounting, reporting, and audit requirements.

HRIS & People Data

• Own Cooper's HRIS systems (currently UKG, ADP, and other platforms acquired through M&A), including data integrity, configuration, and system administration.
• Lead consolidation and modernization of HRIS systems as Cooper grows, reducing platform fragmentation from acquisitions and partnering with IT to integrate new systems and data feeds.
• Ensure accurate, secure, and compliant management of employee data, and deliver reliable HR reporting and analytics to support workforce planning.
• Own Cooper's key vendor relationships across benefits (brokers, carriers), payroll (processors, tax filing services), and HRIS (system vendors and implementation partners), including EOR vendors supporting Cooper's international employee population.
• Negotiate vendor contracts, service levels, and budgets in partnership with Finance and the CHRO, and evaluate performance to inform renewal, replacement, or consolidation decisions.
• Own audit and compliance readiness across benefits, payroll, and HRIS functions, including data privacy, wage/hour, and benefits regulatory requirements, and serve as the primary point of contact for related compliance audits and regulatory inquiries
• Lead, coach, and develop a growing team across Benefits, Payroll, and HRIS & People Data, setting clear priorities and professional development goals.
• Foster a culture of accuracy, responsiveness, and continuous improvement within the shared services function.
• Partner closely with HR Business Partners, Finance, Legal, and business leaders as a trusted advisor on benefits, payroll, and HRIS matters, representing HR Shared Services in cross-functional initiatives as needed.

Who You Are:

• 12+ years of progressive HR shared services experience, including direct experience across two or more of Benefits, Payroll, and HRIS/People Data.
• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Direct experience managing global or multi-country payroll and/or benefits operations, with strong working knowledge of applicable regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated experience leading successful system implementations, migrations, or consolidations (e.g., UKG, ADP, Workday, or similar HRIS platforms).
• Experience integrating shared services functions following mergers or acquisitions.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, contracts, and budgets across benefits, payroll, and HRIS, and managing or leading teams of HR operations professionals.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use HR data and reporting to drive decisions, with a results-oriented mindset and strong work ethic.
• Relevant professional certifications preferred (e.g., Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), SHRM-CP/SCP, or PHR/SPHR).

Desired Characteristics:

• Experience operating in a fast-growing, acquisitive organization with evolving processes and systems, comfortable managing multiple, disparate systems while working toward long-term consolidation.
• Industrial background preferred, with exposure to manufacturing or industrial services businesses a plus.
• Hands-on leader who balances strategic system/process design with day-to-day execution and communicates effectively to build trust and credibility with senior leaders and employees at all levels.
• Collaborative partner who demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment, contributing positively to Cooper's HR and broader company culture.

Why Join Us:

• Most benefits are effective on your first day of employment, no waiting period.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Company-paid life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability coverage (6-month short-term disability waiting period).
• Voluntary life, AD&D, and long-term disability buy-up plan.
• Voluntary benefit plans including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• 401(k) with up to 5% company match; employees are 100% vested on Day 1.
• Maternity and parental leave, Arc Fertility Benefits, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health support.

Cooper Machinery Services is an equal opportunity employer and gives all qualified applicants consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.