Human Resources Operations Director

About the Company

Our client is looking to hire a Human Resources Operations Director (HRD) to serve the team and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

About the Role

The HR Operations Director leads day-to-day human resources function with primary emphasis on employee relations, benefits administration, leave management, and oversight of the HR Business Partner team. This role ensures that HR services are delivered consistently, compassionately, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to leadership on people matters and drives continuous improvement of HR processes, policies, and programs that support a positive and productive employee experience.

Responsibilities

HRBP Team Oversight & Leadership

• Directly manage and mentor the HR Business Partner team, providing guidance on day-to-day HR support for assigned business units. This team includes two HRBPs and a Benefits Specialist.
• Facilitate regular HRBP team meetings to share best practices, discuss emerging issues, and ensure consistent application of HR policies and programs.
• Support HRBPs in navigating complex situations involving performance improvement, organizational change, workforce planning, and employee engagement.
• Identify development opportunities for HRBP team members and cultivate a high-performing, collaborative HR function.

Employee Relations

• Serve as the senior point of contact for complex employee relations matters including workplace investigations, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and grievance procedures.
• Coach and counsel managers and HRBPs on performance management conversations, corrective action plans, and termination processes to ensure consistency and legal compliance.
• Monitor trends in employee relations cases and recommend proactive interventions, training, or policy updates to mitigate risk and improve the employee experience.
• Ensure thorough documentation of all employee relations matters and maintain confidential records in accordance with company policy and applicable regulations.
• Partner with Legal Counsel on sensitive employment matters, EEO complaints, and agency charges as needed.

Benefits Administration

• Oversee the design, implementation, and ongoing administration of all employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement/401(k), and ancillary plans.
• Manage annual open enrollment processes, vendor relationships, plan audits, and billing reconciliation.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other applicable federal and state benefits regulations.
• Evaluate benefit plan performance, utilization data, and employee feedback to recommend cost-effective enhancements that support recruitment and retention goals.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex benefits claims, appeals, and employee inquiries.

Leave Administration

• Direct the administration of all leave programs including FMLA, ADA interactive process/accommodations, short-term and long-term disability, workers' compensation, and company-specific leave policies.
• Ensure accurate tracking, timely communication, and compliant management of all leave cases from initiation through return-to-work.
• Coordinate with benefits carriers, third-party administrators, and payroll to ensure seamless processing of leave-related transactions.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Oversee core HR operational processes including employee onboarding/offboarding, HRIS administration, personnel file maintenance, and policy management.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations; lead internal HR compliance audits and remediation efforts.
• Maintain and optimize HRIS systems and HR technology tools; evaluate and recommend enhancements to improve efficiency and data integrity.
• Develop and maintain HR reports, dashboards, and scorecards to support data-driven decision-making across the HR function.
• Advise and support employee engagement initiatives, including event planning, recognition programs, and culture-building activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 8 years of progressive HR experience with significant depth in employee relations, benefits, and leave administration, including at least 3 years in a leadership/management role.
• 5 years of experience managing HRIS systems, UKG preferred.
• HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP) preferred.

Required Skills

• Well-rounded, professional human resources experience in areas such as employee relations, safety and compliance, systems administration, talent development, performance management, talent acquisition, and/or policy creation/application.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing HR policies and procedures from a benefits administration, HR data reporting, and overall organizational perspective.
• Experience managing benefits programs, including claims escalations, billing and audit, plan design and legal/best practice compliance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a track record of building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders both up and downstream.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously while providing delegating tasks to team members and periodic status updates to business stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience mining, reviewing, and applying data to assist the business in informed decision-making.
• Strong knowledge of HR laws and regulations related to benefits administration and HR data reporting, including experience with HR compliance audits.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Our client is committed to diversity and inclusivity.