Director, HRIS and Payroll Operations

NeighborHealth•Revere, MA

19h•$141,440 - $232,960•Onsite

About The Position

NeighborHealth is seeking an experienced Director of HRIS and Payroll Operations to lead the strategy, governance, and day-to-day performance of Workday, payroll operations, and HRIS-enabled benefits administration. This role is ideal for a senior HR technology and operations leader with deep Workday expertise who can strengthen controls, improve the employee and manager experience, and translate business needs into scalable, compliant solutions. The Director of HRIS and Payroll Operations provides leadership for Workday and the operational functions that depend on it, including payroll, HR data, integrations, reporting, security, and system benefits administration. The Director establishes the technology roadmap and operating model, ensures accurate and timely payroll and benefits processing, and drives continuous improvement across the employee lifecycle. This position requires a hands-on director who can lead teams, govern complex systems and vendors, and personally engage in configuration, testing, troubleshooting, and issue resolution when needed. The Director partners closely with the CHRO, Finance, Information Technology, Benefits, Compensation, Talent Acquisition, and operational leaders to deliver reliable services, strong internal controls, and data-driven workforce insights.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Systems, Finance, Accounting, or related experience required
7-10 years of progressive experience in HRIS, payroll, HR operations, or related disciplines, including at least 5 years leading projects and teams
At least 7 years of hands-on Workday functional experience, with advanced knowledge of Core HCM and strong experience in U.S. Payroll, Benefits, Absence Management, Timekeeping, security, reporting, and integrations
Demonstrated experience supporting Workday Payroll and Benefits operations, open enrollment, eligibility and event configuration, deductions, carrier integrations, and reconciliation processes
Strong knowledge of HR data governance, privacy, internal controls, payroll compliance, wage and hour requirements, and HR technology risk management
Proven ability to lead Workday releases, implementations, optimization initiatives, integrations, testing, change management, and cross-functional projects
Advanced analytical, reporting, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify root causes, assess risk, and communicate actionable recommendations to executives
Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, customer service, and written and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and provide hands-on support during critical payroll, benefits, and system events

Nice To Haves

Experience in healthcare, a multi-site organization, or another complex, highly regulated environment strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Own the enterprise HR technology strategy, roadmap, governance model, and service delivery standards, with Workday as the system of record for human capital data and core HR operations
Lead, develop, and hold accountable the HRIS, payroll, and related operations teams; establish clear roles, service-level expectations, performance measures, and succession plans
Partner with executive and functional leaders to translate organizational priorities into scalable Workday solutions, balancing user experience, operational efficiency, risk, cost, and long-term maintainability
Establish governance for Workday configuration, security, data standards, business processes, integrations, reporting, release management, and production support
Oversee vendor relationships, contracts, statements of work, and consulting resources; monitor service quality, project delivery, spend, and return on investment
Work with the CHRO on creating and maintaining policies, procedures, controls, documentation, and audit evidence for HRIS, payroll, and HRIS-enabled benefits operations
Provide functional leadership and hands-on oversight for Workday HCM and related modules, including Core HCM, Compensation, Recruiting, Talent/Performance, Benefits, Absence, Timekeeping, and Payroll
Lead Workday configuration, business process design, tenant management, security role administration, calculated fields, reporting, dashboards, and mass data activities
Direct Workday semiannual release planning, feature evaluation, impact analysis, regression testing, change management, deployment, and post-production validation
Oversee inbound and outbound integrations between Workday and payroll, benefit carriers, financial systems, identity management, timekeeping, recruiting, and other internal or external platforms; ensure issues are researched and resolved promptly
Ensure the integrity, completeness, confidentiality, and appropriate access of employee and payroll data through audits, reconciliations, security reviews, data quality controls, and corrective action plans
Develop executive and operational reporting, dashboards, and analytics that support workforce planning, compliance, payroll, benefits, and business decision-making
Lead intake, prioritization, and delivery of system enhancements and projects; define requirements, manage risks and dependencies, communicate status, and ensure sustainable documentation and training
Provide director-level oversight of end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all employees and pay groups
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour, tax, garnishment, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements; partner with Legal, Finance, CHRO, and external advisors on complex matters
Direct payroll issue management and root-cause analysis, including retroactive pay, overpayments, off-cycle payments, time and absence discrepancies, deductions, and integrations
Partner with Finance on payroll accounting, labor distribution, accruals, reconciliations, audits, and internal control requirements
Maintain business continuity and contingency plans for payroll operations, including documented backup procedures, cross-training, access controls, and recovery protocols
Use payroll metrics and service data to improve accuracy, timeliness, customer service, controls, and process efficiency
Provide HRIS leadership for Workday Benefits configuration and operations, including eligibility rules, enrollment events, life events, evidence of insurability, dependent management, benefit deductions, and carrier integrations
Ensure Workday benefit business processes, security, reporting, and integrations support regulatory, plan, and operational requirements, including ACA-related data and reporting as applicable
Lead testing and production validation for benefit changes and integrations, with documented controls and sign-offs to protect employee coverage and payroll accuracy
Identify opportunities to improve the employee benefits experience through self-service, automation, clearer workflows, and stronger data quality
Maintain strict confidentiality and ensure HR, payroll, and system benefits data are handled in accordance with organizational policy, privacy requirements, and role-based access standards
Serve as a senior escalation point for complex Workday issues; communicate clearly with stakeholders and ensure timely, customer-focused resolution
Coordinate internal and external audits, control testing, compliance reviews, and remediation activities related to functional areas
Develop and deliver training, job aids, and change communications for HR staff, payroll users, managers, and employees; build organizational capability and adoption
Stay current on Workday functionality, industry practices, regulatory developments, and emerging HR technology through Workday Community, user groups, training, and professional networks