Senior Operations Manager

Howard University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

PTO and paid holidays

403(b) with company match

Ongoing training and tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Howard University is seeking a full-time Senior People Operations Officer to oversee HR, payroll, and hiring processes. The role requires strong Workday HR proficiency and experience in higher education operations. Key responsibilities include managing hiring workflows, ensuring compliance with policies, and supervising administrative staff. The compensation range is $85,000 - $95,000, alongside benefits such as health insurance and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in higher-education operations.
• Familiarity with Workday HR and Finance.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage hiring and onboarding workflows in Workday.
• Ensure compliance with University hiring standards.
• Supervise administrative operations and staff.

Skills

Workday HR expertise

Financial analysis

Staff supervision

Operational guidance

Microsoft Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance or Business Administration

Tools

Workday HR

Workday Finance

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions that contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff "for fit" makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

Here Is What We Offer

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Job Purpose

The Senior People Operations Officer serves as the College’s principal operational administrator for all HR-, payroll-, and hiring-related transactions. This role ensures the accuracy, compliance, and timely processing of personnel actions for faculty, staff, adjuncts, student employees, wage workers, and stipend-supported personnel. The incumbent functions as the College’s primary point of coordination between CEA leadership, HR, Payroll, the Office of the Provost, and departmental administrators. This is not an HR strategic role; instead, it is a senior-level operational and transactional position responsible for end‑to‑end workflow execution, Workday processing, onboarding, offboarding, and compliance.

Supervisory Authority

Responsible for supervising the Budget Coordinator, Administrative III. Formally plans, assigns, directs, and evaluates work performed. Makes merit and promotion recommendations to the Dean and ensures professional development alignment with institutional expectations.

Nature And Scope

The Senior People Operations Officer interacts daily with academic departments, program directors, faculty, HR Business Partners, the Budget Office, Payroll, and the Office of the Provost. The incumbent must exercise a high degree of accuracy and judgment in handling sensitive personnel information, navigating complex approval processes, and ensuring compliance with University policy, hiring standards, and audit expectations.

Principal Accountabilities

• Serve as the College’s senior Workday transaction specialist for all hires, job changes, faculty terminations, PAPs, compensation changes, funding changes, and academic appointments.
• Coordinate all job posting requests with HR Recruiting and ensure funding alignment prior to submission.
• Draft and monitor term sheets, offer letters (where applicable), hiring packets, and background check requirements.
• Manage onboarding workflows including I‑9, tax documentation, direct deposit, employee access, and new employee orientation tracking.
• Initiate and track offboarding workflows for employees, adjunct faculty, and student workers.
• Ensure accurate student hiring through FRFs, HAFs, wage‑hire classifications, and Workday setup.
• Maintain weekly hiring and transaction status reports for CEA leadership.
• Conduct monthly HR and payroll compliance audits including cost allocations, active/inactive positions, and pending transactions.
• Provide training and guidance to department administrators, chairs, and coordinators on Workday processes and personnel workflows.
• Maintain and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) for hiring, onboarding, terminations, PAPs, and Workday routing.
• Liaise with HR, Payroll, and the Office of the Provost to resolve transactional issues and ensure timely processing.
• Serve as subject‑matter expert for Workday HR and Workday Finance functionality relevant to personnel transactions.
• Provide people‑data inputs to the Assistant Dean for reporting and planning (not financial analysis).
• Maintain confidential personnel information in accordance with University policies.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to provide executive‑level financial and operational guidance in a complex academic environment.
• Deep knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, accounting controls, and resource stewardship.
• Ability to interpret policy, influence adoption, and lead change with diplomacy and clarity in evolving systems.
• Ability to supervise, develop, mentor, and evaluate staff performance and ensure accountability.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex financial and operational issues clearly.
• Skilled in Workday Financials, procurement systems, and advanced spreadsheet and reporting tools.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business Administration, or related field (required)
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience working in higher‑education operations.
• Workday HR and Workday Finance familiarity.
• Experience working with academic departments.
• Administrative operations experience.
• Proficiency in Workday HR required.
• Proficiency in Workday Finance preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and shared workflow systems.
• Ability to run reports, analyze personnel data, and maintain accurate records.

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

Compensation Range: $85,000 - $95,000