Human Resources Operations Manager

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california institute of applied technologySan Diego (CA)

Human Resources Managers Human Resources Consulting Services

SENIORITY

Manager

SALARY

$83,000 per year

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About the role

Overview: Human Resources Operations Managerrole atCalifornia Institute of Applied Technology(CIAT). The HR Operations Manager plays a key leadership role within the Human Resources team, overseeing day-to-day HR operations and ensuring consistent, compliant, and employee-centered HR practices. This position leads team members, oversees payroll and benefits administration, and serves as the first escalation point for employee inquiries. The HR Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring smooth HR processes, data accuracy, and a positive employee experience across the organization. Base pay range : $83,000.00/yr - $90,000.00/yr. This range is provided by CIAT. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more. Work from Home (WFH)- Remote work must be performed while residing in San Diego, CA

CIAT Campus Locations: San Diego, CA and Albuquerque, NM

Reports to: VP of People & Culture

Status: Exempt

Employment Type: Full-Time

Summary: The HR Operations Manager oversees day-to-day HR operations, ensures compliant and employee-centered HR practices, leads team members, oversees payroll and benefits administration, and serves as the first escalation point for employee inquiries. This role ensures smooth HR processes, data accuracy, and a positive employee experience across the organization.

Responsibilities:

Supervise, mentor, and develop team members, fostering a culture of accountability, service, and growth
Partner with the VP of People & Culture to ensure cohesive communication and alignment across all HR functions
Build and maintain healthy and professional relationships with all team members
Act as a mentor and a resource for HR team members on day-to-day processes, policies, and systems
Share best practices and help develop training materials and reference guides for HR team
Operations Oversight
Manage accurate and timely execution of onboarding, offboarding, employee changes, and HRIS data management
Oversee documentation and compliance in personnel files, benefits administration, and timekeeping processes
Ensure payroll changes are processed accurately and timely in coordination with accounting when necessary
Manage annual open enrollment and benefits renewals, working closely with brokers and carriers to ensure high-quality employee experiences
Employee Relations & Policy Enforcement
Provide guidance and coaching to managers on day-to-day employee relations matters
Conduct or support investigations and documentation of employee concerns in collaboration with the VPEnsure consistent policy interpretation and application across all departments
Compliance & Risk Management
Ensure adherence to all state and federal labor laws, including wage and hour, benefits, and leave compliance across multiple states
Partner with others on internal audits, reporting, and compliance initiatives
Support data integrity within the HRIS and manage periodic audits for accuracy
Oversees the completion of audits including but not limited to: worker’s compensation, 401(k) plan audit and NDT testing and others
Partner with team members and management to ensure smooth onboarding for new hires, including orientation, system access, and compliance documentation
Collaborate with hiring managers to streamline recruiting and selection processes
Support creation and execution of training plans for new hires to ensure successful integration into CIAT’s culture and operations
Exit & Offboarding
Oversee and manage employee separations, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws
Track exit feedback, and provide data and recommendations to the VP for process improvement
Ensure proper completion of final pay, benefits continuation, and retrieval of company assets, in partnership with ITDocument all offboarding activities in personnel files for compliance purposesHR Process Improvement
Streamline HR workflows and ensure operational efficiency and consistency
Develop and maintain HR metrics, dashboards, and process documentation
Identify opportunities to improve employee experience through technology, automation, and communication
Culture & Communication
Promote CIAT’s culture of fairness, consistency, and respect in all HR interactions
Partner with team members to support employee learning and engagement initiatives
Model CIAT’s values, professionalism and HR compliance standards, supporting a collaborative and learning-focused HR team environment
Follow communication guidelines to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and professionalism
Adhere to CIAT’s compliance requirements to ensure all Federal, State, accreditation, and institutional policies and procedures are being met
Embody CIAT’s mission, vision, purpose and values

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational, Psychology or related field (or equivalent experience), and PHR or SHRM-CP certification are preferred
At least 6 years of HR experience, preferably in generalist roles
Minimum of 2 years in a management role, demonstrating the ability to manage and develop HR teams
Experience in managing HR functions across multiple states and a remote workforce is preferred
Experience overseeing payroll, benefits administration, onboarding, and offboarding processes
Experience in higher education
Strong consultation skills and proven track record in HR roles
Expert knowledge of California and Federal labor laws and comfort with HR systems/technology are all a must
Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Ability to influence leaders to align people processes and practices with business objectives
Proficiency with HRIS systems, preferred with Paylocity, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)
Ability to be flexible and willing to take on a variety of assignments, depending on the specific HR needs
Strong organizational skills with the proven ability to prioritize
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively convey information and interact with students, colleagues, and others
Self-motivated with a strong work ethic; dedicated to quality, quantity, results and timeliness
Demonstrated ability to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
Excellent analytical skills, problem resolution skills and general business acumen
Proficient skills in MS Office software products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project and ability to learn additional software products
Exhibits a high degree of flexibility in adapting to a rapidly changing environment
Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, academic departments, and administration to support student success, achieve institutional goals and contribute to a positive and inclusive culture
Position may require work responsibilities outside of normal business hours to accommodate business needs and deadlines
Flexible working longer hours to meet deadlines, if needed
Able to handle sensitive information with a high degree of confidentiality
Possess high ethical standards, being an example of professionalism to others
Must be able to embody CIAT’s mission, vision, purpose and values

Position Details:

Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday. Occasional weekend and evening hours may be required. Although this typically involves working during business hours, on occasion the person in this role may be asked to work early in the morning or evenings.
Seniority level
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type

Full-time Job function Information Technology, Education, and Human Resources IndustriesHigher Education

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