Senior Manager, HR Transformation & Strategic Programs

MRA Recruiting Services•Milwaukee, WI

2d•$135,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, HR Transformation and Strategic Programs will lead the HR transformation portfolio by establishing strong portfolio governance, accelerating executive decision-making, and coordinating complex cross-functional initiatives. This role partners closely with the CHRO, HR Leadership Team, functional leaders, and initiative sponsors to improve execution discipline, resolve barriers, assess value realization, and support enterprise-wide transformation efforts.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Organizational Leadership, Management, or a related field
8+ years of progressive experience in HR transformation, HR strategy, human resources leadership, enterprise program or portfolio leadership, management consulting, organizational effectiveness, or a related discipline.
Minimum of 5 years of experience working within Human Resources, including exposure to multiple HR disciplines such as talent acquisition, talent management, learning and development, total rewards, HR operations, workforce planning, employee relations, or HR technology.
Strong understanding of HR operating models, HR service delivery, Centers of Excellence (COEs), HR Business Partner organizations, shared services, and HR transformation best practices
Exceptional executive communication skills, including experience developing leadership presentations, business cases, governance materials, and recommendations for executive audiences.
Demonstrated ability to analyze business, workforce, financial, and operational data; establish success measures and KPIs; and translate insights into executive recommendations.
Proven ability to create structure, governance, and execution plans in ambiguous environments undergoing significant organizational change.
Ability to work onsite minimum 4 days per week at our Milwaukee or Chicago office.
Regular weekly travel between our Milwaukee and Chicago offices is required.
Ability to travel approximately 15% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Formal project or change management training or certification (PMP, Prosci, Agile, Lean Six Sigma, Scrum, or equivalent) preferred.
Professional HR certification preferred (SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, SPHR, PHR, or equivalent) preferred.
Experience leading initiatives across global, multi-site, or highly matrixed organizations preferred.

Responsibilities

Design and manage the HR transformation portfolio operating model, including intake, prioritization, sequencing, governance, escalation, and exception handling.
Evaluate portfolio data, identify risks and trends, frame recommendations, and prepare executive-level decision materials.
Lead governance discussions focused on tradeoffs, dependencies, risks, priorities, and decision closure.
Resolve cross-functional barriers, clarify accountability, negotiate tradeoffs, and escalate unresolved issues with clear options and implications.
Partner with sponsors and functional leaders to define success measures and assess adoption, execution health, value realization, and business impact.
Establish agile portfolio practices and responsible AI-enabled methods to improve scenario planning, synthesis, risk sensing, and decision speed.
Provide portfolio-level project management and change management leadership across strategic HR initiatives.
Review project health, recovery plans, risks, dependencies, milestones, and resource needs while initiative owners retain day-to-day delivery accountability.
Support executive operations by documenting decisions, commitments, owners, due dates, follow-up actions, and portfolio updates.
Maintain portfolio plans, workstream schedules, risks, issues, dependencies, resource requirements, stakeholder assessments, change plans, and adoption measures.
Coach leaders on prioritization, governance, risk management, sponsorship, stakeholder engagement, change management, and sustainable implementation.
Use Microsoft 365 and AI-enabled productivity tools to improve efficiency while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate controls.