Manager, Strategy Operations - Payroll

Justworks•New York, NY

12d•$155,500 - $171,050•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Head of Payroll, the Manager, Strategy Operations – Payroll is a strategic operator who helps the Payroll business execute effectively as it is being built and scaled. You work at the intersection of strategy, execution, and operating design – translating ambitious goals into clear plans, operating rhythms, and mechanisms that enable Payroll to grow sustainably. You thrive in creation environments where new products, services, and operating models are still taking shape. You are energized by building something from the ground up, while also bringing enough structure and discipline to ensure progress, learning, and accountability. You are comfortable rolling up your sleeves to drive execution, while keeping an eye on the longer-term systems and capabilities the Payroll business will need. You bring strong business acumen, execution rigor, and cross-functional collaboration skills. You are motivated by helping leaders make better decisions, aligning teams around shared priorities, and building the foundations for a scalable, profitable Payroll business. In this role, success looks like: Payroll executes with increasing clarity and momentum, cross-functional teams are aligned around shared priorities, and the business builds scalable systems that support growth, retention, and strong financial performance.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of professional experience, ideally in program/project management, strategy operations, and/or consulting
Minimum 1+ Years with Justworks highly preferred.
Experience in SaaS, fintech, B2B services, or other regulated or operationally complex environments preferred
High business and financial acumen; comfort working with KPIs, unit economics, and performance metrics
Strong analytical skills and familiarity with data tools (e.g., Excel, SQL)
Record of exceptional performance and demonstrated excellence in leadership of cross-functional projects
Demonstrated ability to succeed and thrive in an entrepreneurial environment and not be hindered by ambiguity or competing priorities
Strong analytical and communication skills
Passionate about solving complex problems. Will rely on business acumen, strategic mindset, systems thinking, and underlying data to help steer conversations and decision-making
Strong sense of ownership, ability to proactively remove obstacles, and willingness to go above and beyond to chase down loose ends that lead to outstanding results
Focus on results and outcome, not just process. Have experience establishing processes that are appropriate and effective
Creative problem solver, effective negotiator, and results-oriented team player
Unquestionable professional ethics, strong judgment, trustworthiness, and commitment to excellence

Responsibilities

Operate and continuously improve the core execution rhythms for the Payroll business, including planning cycles, prioritization forums, operating cadences, and performance tracking.
Translate Payroll strategy and business objectives into clear goals, workplans, milestones, and accountability mechanisms.
Create visibility into priorities, progress, risks, and trade-offs across Payroll initiatives.
Support the development of scalable processes, tooling, and services that reduce operational complexity and improve cost-to-serve.
Ensure alignment between Payroll execution and enterprise-level planning, financial, and operating forums.
Introduce lightweight structure that enables speed and learning without slowing down innovation.
Own defined workstreams within high-priority Payroll initiatives focused on scalability, customer experience, retention, and financial performance.
Partner closely with Technology, Operations, Product, Finance, and Revenue to coordinate dependencies and drive execution.
Translate strategic ideas (e.g., new services, product capabilities, monetization approaches) into executable plans.
Identify gaps, risks, or misalignments in execution and drive resolution through strong collaboration and influence.
Support experimentation and iteration as Payroll tests and refines new offerings and ways of working.
Bring structure to ambiguous, early-stage problems by clarifying scope, success criteria, and next steps.
Develop clear documentation, operating artifacts, and narratives that help teams stay aligned.
Support leaders in evangelizing Payroll as a business unit by grounding discussions in data, financial impact, and customer outcomes.
Reinforce a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement as the Payroll organization matures.
Help teams balance short-term delivery with longer-term capability building.