Senior Director, HR Systems & Operations (North York)

Senior Director, HR Systems & Operations (Contract – 2 to 3 Months) Location: North York, Ontario (Hybrid) Duration: 2 to 3 Month Contract Reports To: Chief Human Resources Officer / Executive Leadership Team About the Opportunity Our client, a large and complex organization undergoing significant transformation, is seeking an experienced Senior Director, HR Systems & Operations to provide interim leadership during a critical period of organizational change. This senior leadership role is responsible for overseeing HR Operations, HR Systems, Payroll, Employee Services, and HR Reporting & Analytics. The successful candidate will bring a strong blend of strategic leadership, operational excellence, and HR technology expertise, with a particular focus on optimizing HR processes, enhancing service delivery, and supporting the ongoing evolution of the organization's HR technology landscape. This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned HR Operations leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and can quickly assess, stabilize, and improve people processes, systems, and service delivery functions. Key Responsibilities HR Systems & Technology Leadership Provide leadership and oversight for the organization's HR technology environment, including Workday HCM and related HR systems. Evaluate current HR system capabilities, identify opportunities for optimization, and recommend process improvements. Support system enhancements, upgrades, testing activities, security administration, and integration initiatives. Partner with IT and external vendors to ensure system reliability, compliance, and scalability. Drive adoption of best practices related to HR technology governance and user experience. HR Operations & Shared Services Lead the day-to-day HR Operations and Employee Services functions. Assess current service delivery models and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and employee experience. Establish operational priorities, performance metrics, and service standards. Support the development and implementation of streamlined HR processes and workflows. Payroll Oversight Provide strategic oversight and leadership for payroll operations. Ensure payroll processes remain compliant, accurate, and effective. Collaborate with payroll leaders and external providers to resolve operational challenges and identify process improvements. Reporting & Analytics Lead HR reporting, workforce analytics, and dashboard development initiatives. Deliver actionable insights to executive leadership through data-driven analysis. Support workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, and talent management initiatives through reporting and analytics. Transformation & Continuous Improvement Lead process improvement initiatives using Agile, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies. Assess current-state processes and recommend future-state solutions. Support organizational transformation projects impacting HR systems, operations, and service delivery. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. Leadership & Stakeholder Management Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to HR Operations, HR Systems, Payroll, and Employee Services teams. Build strong relationships with executive leadership, HR business partners, IT leaders, and external vendors. Influence decision-making through strategic recommendations and operational expertise. Act as a trusted advisor on HR operational and technology matters. Qualifications Education University degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Systems, Accounting, or a related discipline. Master's degree is considered an asset. CHRL, CHRE, PMP, Lean Six Sigma, Agile, Scrum, or related certifications are considered strong assets. Experience 10 years of progressive Human Resources experience. 8 years of leadership experience within HR Operations, HR Shared Services, HR Systems, or HR Technology environments. Demonstrated experience leading HRIS and HR technology initiatives. Strong experience with Workday HCM, including system optimization, reporting, security, testing, and release management. Experience overseeing payroll operations within a large, complex organization. Experience leading shared services, employee service centres, or HR operations teams. Proven success leading organizational transformation and process improvement initiatives. Experience working within Agile or continuous improvement environments. Skills & Competencies Strategic leadership and executive presence. Strong business acumen and decision-making ability. Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills. Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities. Strong project and change management skills. Ability to quickly assess operational challenges and implement practical solutions. Exceptional communication and presentation skills. Strong knowledge of employment legislation, HR operations, and governance practices. Preferred Experience Workday HCM leadership and governance. HR Shared Services leadership. Payroll transformation projects. HR Analytics and Workforce Planning. SaaS-based HR technology platforms. Vendor management and contract oversight. Large, multi-site, unionized environments. Compensation $77.00 – $85.00 per hour This is a contract position with an expected duration of 2 to 3 months, based in North York, Ontario. The role offers the opportunity to lead critical HR Systems, HR Operations, Payroll, and Employee Services initiatives within a large and complex organization during a period of transformation. Compensation will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and demonstrated expertise in Workday HCM, HR Operations, Payroll, Shared Services, and organizational transformation. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Want to see how well you match this job?