Logo
California Institute of Applied Technology

Human Resources Operations Manager

California Institute of Applied Technology, San Diego, California, United States, 92189

Save Job

Overview

Human Resources Operations Manager

role at

California 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 VP

Ensure 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 IT

Document all offboarding activities in personnel files for compliance purposes

HR 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

Industries

Higher Education

#J-18808-Ljbffr