Senior HR Operations Specialist (Deployment Support)

Metrea•Tampa, FL

About The Position

Metrea is hiring an aviation-focused HR operations professional to support rotational and deployed personnel in mission-critical programs. The role supports workforce stability, regulatory compliance, teammate well-being, retention, operational continuity, and readiness across high-demand technical and security-cleared roles. The position combines strategic people practices with hands-on employee support in a complex, safety-critical, multinational environment. The role coordinates People Team support for personnel assigned across the continental United States and overseas, manages HR readiness before deployment, and supports employee reintegration. It serves as the primary HR contact for deployed and rotational teammates, advises on benefits, leave, compensation, and sensitive employee matters, and works with Total Rewards, Legal, and Security. The position also standardizes processes and communications for deployment and reintegration. This is a full-time exempt position with typical hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and shifts may change with business needs, and the role requires availability on call as needed. The job operates in an office setting and involves less than 10% travel. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 5 years of experience resolving complex employee-relations issues as an HR Manager or HR Operations Specialist.
A strong background in aviation and/or defense; experience in one is essential, and experience in both is highly desirable.
Experience shaping and delivering people initiatives across the employee lifecycle, including workforce planning, talent, engagement, and employee relations.
Experience supporting field-based, rotational, or multi-state workforce populations.
Strong knowledge of federal and state employment law, including FMLA, ADA, USERRA, and wage-and-hour regulations.
Working knowledge of ITAR/DFARS compliance considerations.
Experience supporting security-cleared personnel and OCONUS or international assignments.
Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion.
Flexibility and resilience to thrive in a fast-moving, safety-critical environment.
Legally authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a federal contracting environment.
Experience in the aerospace, aviation, or defense industry.
Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or SHRM-CP certification.
Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Suite programs and HRIS.

Responsibilities

Lead People Team coordination for rotational and deployed personnel across CONUS and OCONUS assignments.
Manage pre-deployment HR readiness, including documentation, benefits review, compensation alignment, compliance verification, and security-clearance coordination.
Ensure compliance with federal contractor requirements, export controls, and labor regulations for domestic and international assignments, including ITAR, DFARS, EEOC, and OFCCP requirements.
Support reintegration, including payroll reconciliation, benefits transitions, PTO alignment, and return-to-home-site onboarding.
Serve as the primary HR contact for deployers and rotational teammates.
Provide proactive support for benefits, leave administration—including FMLA, military leave, and ADA accommodations—hardship cases, and family-related matters.
Develop and maintain a structured communication cadence with deployed employees.
Support crisis-response coordination for deployed personnel when needed.
Collaborate with Total Rewards on deployment premiums, hazard pay when applicable, per diem, differentials, and tax considerations; explain compensation structures and benefits coverage to deployers.
Partner with Legal and Security teams to mitigate risk in sensitive or export-controlled environments.
Provide administrative support for investigations and employee-relations matters involving deployed or rotational staff.
Standardize pre-deployment checklists, reintegration protocols, and communication workflows.