Vice President of HR Operations

The Vice President of HR Operations at Harbor Global serves as a strategic enterprise leader responsible for building, optimizing, and scaling a global HR operations ecosystem that supports a complex, fast-moving professional services organization. This role oversees the full spectrum of HR operations including global payroll, HRIS, total rewards, talent processes, international compliance, workforce analytics, and employee service delivery -ensuring all systems, programs, and processes are efficient, integrated, and aligned with Harbor Global’s strategic priorities. The VP partners closely with the CHRO and executive leadership team to translate global business strategy into operational plans, drive data-driven decision making, enhance the worldwide employee experience, and lead continuous improvement and automation across all regions. As a transformational global leader, the VP champions operational rigor, cross-functional alignment, and innovation to deliver a scalable HR foundation that accelerates organizational performance across Harbor Global’s professional services footprint.

This is a fully remote position that can be worked from the United States or Canada located in the Atlantic, Eastern or Central Time zone.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Lead the design and execution of a global HR operations strategy that supports Harbor Global’s professional services business model and long-term growth.

• Build and maintain a scalable, integrated HR operations infrastructure including systems, processes, global payroll operations, and service delivery models—across all regions.

• Partner closely with the CHRO and executive leadership to align HR operations with company objectives, workforce planning, and organizational priorities.

• Drive a global HR operating cadence that brings consistency, accuracy, and efficiency to HR processes and payroll cycles, while respecting regional nuances.

Global Systems, Technology & Data

• Oversee the global HRIS ecosystem, ensuring data integrity, system interoperability, and optimization of technology investments supporting HR, timekeeping, and payroll.

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of HR technologies that enhance employee experience, process automation, and reporting including systems supporting global payroll accuracy and compliance.

• Develop and own global workforce analytics, dashboards, and insights that support strategic decision making.

Total Rewards, Payroll & Compliance

• Guide the operationalization of global compensation, benefits, mobility, and rewards programs in partnership with Total Rewards leadership, ensuring seamless integration.

• Ensure global compliance with employment laws, regulations, taxation rules, data privacy, audit requirements, and risk management standards across all operating regions.

• Oversee HR policy governance, ensuring policies are modern, inclusive, clear, and consistently applied worldwide, including policies impacting payroll administration and time collection.

Service Delivery & Employee Experience

• Build and manage a global HR service delivery model, with an employee centric-approach, that provides timely, accurate, and high-quality full employee lifecycle support to employees and leaders.

• Drive continuous improvement of HR operations processes, SLAs, and workflows to enhance global consistency and employee trust.

Cross-Functional & Global Partnership

• Collaborate across Finance, IT, Legal, Operations, and regional leadership to ensure cohesive, compliant, and scalable HR and payroll processes.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to executives on HR operations and global capabilities, risks, and opportunities.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global HR operations and payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and service excellence.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required

• 12+ years of progressive HR operations leadership, including significant experience in professional services or similarly complex, client-driven environments; Experience in a PE backed organization highly desired.

• Demonstrated success leading global HR operations and payroll across multiple countries, regions, and regulatory environments.

• Proven experience implementing, scaling, and optimizing enterprise-grade HRIS and global payroll systems, implementations and integrations (e.g., Workday).

• Strong track record of driving transformation, process automation, and operational efficiencies across global HR and payroll functions.

Leadership & Strategic Skills

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business goals into operational plans that scale with global growth, including planning for global payroll impacts and workforce cost management.

• Exceptional leadership skills with experience managing global teams and influencing senior executives across HR, payroll, and finance.

• Strong financial acumen with deep understanding of labor cost dynamics, payroll budgeting, vendor management, and technology investments.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Advanced skills in workforce analytics, dashboards, and data-driven decision-making—including labor cost modeling, payroll accuracy metrics, and compliance analytics.

• Deep knowledge of global employment regulations, payroll compliance frameworks, tax requirements, and risk mitigation practices.

Personal Attributes

• Highly collaborative leader with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across HR, Finance, and global operations.

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving structure in a fast-paced, evolving environment with complex payroll and HR requirements.

• Demonstrates sound judgment, high integrity, and a global mindset aligned with Harbor Global’s professional services culture.

About Us:

Harbor is the preeminent provider of expert services across strategy, legal technology, operations, and intelligence. Our globally integrated team of 800+ strategists, technologists, and specialists navigate alongside our clients – leading law firms, corporations, and their law departments – to provide essential resources and invaluable insights. Anchored in a rich heritage of deep knowledge, steadfast relationships, and mutual respect, our unwavering dedication lies in shaping the future of the legal industry and fostering enduring partnerships within our community and ecosystem.

Harbor is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, national origin, ancestry, age, parental status, disabled status, veteran status, or any other legally protected classification, in accordance with applicable law.