Senior Manager, People Operations

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States, +2 more countries.

📋 Description

• Lead, mentor, and nurture a team of Associates and Coordinators.

• Establish priorities, work standards, ownership responsibilities, escalation procedures, and the operational framework for People Operations.

• Act as the primary contact for country HR teams regarding payroll, data management, lifecycle events, and ticketing inquiries.

• Manage the complete global payroll process across various entities and employer of record agreements.

• Oversee the payroll calendar, including approvals, controls, reconciliations, month-end tasks, accruals, and personnel cost reporting.

• Supervise payroll service providers, ensuring quality of service, addressing issues, managing invoicing, and facilitating migrations.

• Ensure payroll and statutory compliance across all operational locations.

• Administer annual bonus distribution.

• Manage the ticketing system, including triaging, assignment, SLA performance, and reporting.

• Oversee onboarding, offboarding, transfers, and role transitions.

• Examine recurring challenges and implement long-term solutions.

• Drive the development of tools that enhance functionality and user experience.

• Serve as the escalation point for complex or high-priority requests.

• Manage HRIS operations, ensuring data quality, efficient workflows, automation, integrations, and reporting systems.

• Conduct audit and reporting cycles, generating people reports for leadership decision-making.

• Implement annual compensation cycles, including salary adjustments, increase rollouts, benefits management, and mobility transactions.

• Create compensation analyses, incorporating benchmarking, compa ratio assessments, cost modeling, and equity audits.

• Engage in cross-functional initiatives and organizational projects.

• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Senior Manager of People Operations and stakeholders.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in People Operations, HR operations, or global payroll, with at least 2 years in a managerial role.

• Proven experience managing multi-country payroll and people operations, ideally including Sub-Saharan Africa and employer of record arrangements.

• Demonstrated ownership of an HRIS, including implementation, migration, or significant improvements in data quality.

• A systems-oriented and process-driven mindset, with experience in automating, simplifying, or eliminating workflows.

• Familiarity with employment and statutory regulations across various jurisdictions.

• Strong analytical abilities, including experience in compensation and cost modeling, along with advanced spreadsheet skills.

• Capability to communicate remotely with individuals at all levels and across diverse cultures.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to convey technical people operations information to non-specialist audiences.

• Comfort in navigating incomplete guidance and changing priorities.

• Professional proficiency in English.

• Experience in a global non-profit, international development organization, or mission-driven company with a presence in Africa is preferred.

• Knowledge of employer of record and contractor models across multiple countries, such as Oyster or Remote, is preferred.

• Willingness to learn tools such as Slack, BambooHR, Jira, and Asana.

• Comfort with AI-assisted tools to optimize people operations workflows.

• Strong alignment with GiveDirectly values and a demonstration of emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills, project management capabilities, follow-through, and promoting inclusivity.

• Must have at least a 3-hour overlap with the East Africa timezone and significant overlap with US Eastern hours.

• Ability to travel approximately 3–4 times per year to one of GiveDirectly’s operational countries.

• Please note that GiveDirectly cannot sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas in the U.S. or U.K.

🏝️ Benefits

• A bonus of 10% based on target performance, with potential for additional rewards.

• An annual benefits stipend of $21,393 for employees in the United States, £2,760 for those in the United Kingdom, and $8,453 for employees in Kenya.

• The benefits stipend can be used to cover benefits or taken as additional taxable income.

• Fully remote work environment.

• Opportunities for professional growth.

• Team retreats held approximately 3–4 times a year.

• Reasonable accommodations available during the application or interview process and for essential job functions.

• A referral reward of $3,000 for a Senior Manager or above role if the referred candidate is hired.