Director, U.S. HR Operations

Galderma•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Galderma is the emerging pure-play dermatology category leader, present in approximately 90 countries. We deliver an innovative, science-based portfolio of premium flagship brands and services that span the full spectrum of the fast-growing dermatology market through Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. Since our foundation in 1981, we have dedicated our focus and passion to the human body's largest organ - the skin - meeting individual consumer and patient needs with superior outcomes in partnership with healthcare professionals. Because we understand that the skin, we are in shapes our lives, we are advancing dermatology for every skin story. We look for people who focus on getting results, embrace learning and bring a positive energy. They must combine initiative with a sense of teamwork and collaboration. Above all, they must be passionate about doing something meaningful for consumers, patients, and the healthcare professionals we serve every day. We aim to empower each employee and promote their personal growth while ensuring business needs are met now and into the future. Across our company, we embrace diversity and respect the dignity, privacy, and personal rights of every employee. At Galderma, we actively give our teams reasons to believe in our bold ambition to become the leading dermatology company in the world. With us, you have the ultimate opportunity to gain new and challenging work experiences and create an unparalleled, direct impact. We are looking for the U.S. HR Operations Lead to lead and manage the operational aspects of our U.S. HR department. This role is critical in ensuring that HR processes, systems, and policies are efficient, compliant, and aligned with the organization's strategic goals. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in HR operations, excellent leadership skills, and a deep understanding of employment laws and best practices, as well as payroll fundamentals. As the U.S. HR Operations Lead, you will be responsible for streamlining HR processes, managing HR systems, and ensuring a seamless employee experience. You will work closely with other HR leaders and cross-functional teams to drive operational excellence and support the organization's growth. This position requires a proactive and detail-oriented professional who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution. Additionally, you will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing end-to-end HR cycle processes at the country level, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and alignment with business objectives. This includes employee lifecycle management, payroll, and process standardization to enhance employee experience and operational effectiveness. This role will also oversee HR and payroll administration, ensuring alignment with U.S. regulatory requirements. You will be responsible for managing third-party payroll vendors, including Ceridian and ADP, and will partner cross-functionally to support the implementation and integration of Workday processes with payroll providers, ensuring tax compliance, mitigated risk, and high-quality payroll operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required; Master's degree preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in HR operations, payroll management, and shared services roles, preferably in a publicly listed company and critical experience in smaller startup-like dynamic environments.
Proven experience leading HR Operations in a scaling or evolving environment, with the ability to build and standardize processes, clarify ownership, and drive accountability across cross-functional teams.
Strong knowledge of payroll processes, including balanced knowledge of federal, state, and local tax compliance requirements, including IRS regulations related to payroll tax treatment, reporting, and audit compliance.
Experience with managing internal teams as well as outsourced managed services teams
Proficiency in process improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma or Lean, with a track record of driving operational efficiencies.
Demonstrated expertise in HR systems and implementations.
Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Strong experience in transformation / change management in a multi country / cultural environment, including process re-engineering and end-to-end processes simplification.
Experience leading and developing high-performing teams in a matrixed environment.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with attention to detail and accuracy.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
Fluency in English; proficiency in French is ideal, Spanish highly desirable, and any other language is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop the HR Operations and Payroll team, driving a collaborative, high-performance culture.
Oversee core HR processes (onboarding, offboarding, data management) with a focus on accuracy, consistency, and scalability.
Standardize and document HR workflows, partnering cross-functionally to improve service delivery and employee experience.
Manage U.S. payroll operations, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely processing with strong controls and audit readiness.
Drive payroll process improvements, automation, reporting enhancements, and vendor performance optimization.
Oversee outsourced payroll providers, ensuring SLA adherence, issue resolution, and cost-effective service delivery.
Lead Workday process implementation, optimization, troubleshooting, and data integrity efforts across HR and IT.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, updating policies as requirements evolve.
Lead strategic HR and payroll projects, including system enhancements and global service model expansion.
Develop and maintain reporting and analytics for payroll, HR metrics, and service performance insights.
Manage Workday end-user support and the HR help desk, ensuring timely issue resolution and employee training.
Strengthen internal controls, reconciliations, and cross-functional audits to ensure financial accuracy and operational compliance.