Manager, People Operations

Manager, People Operations

Hawaii-based | Reports to Chief People Officer (CPO)

WHAT YOU’LL DO

This role is responsible for ensuring flawless execution of ProService Hawaii’s core People Operations—payroll, benefits, compensation, compliance, and total rewards—while leading and developing a high-performing People Operations team. You’ll operate at the intersection of operational excellence, risk management, and people leadership, owning outcomes that directly impact employee trust, regulatory compliance, and service reliability at scale. This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-moving environment. Success is measured by error-free execution through others, strong operating discipline, and the ability to simplify and improve complex workflows without compromising accuracy, care, or accountability.

• Lead and develop the People Operations team, translating People strategy into clear operating plans, priorities, and performance expectations

• Own end-to-end execution of payroll, benefits, compensation cycles, Open Enrollment, ROP, and employee support with 100% on-time, accurate delivery

• Serve as the escalation point for People Ops risk, compliance issues, and employee complaints—driving issues to full, well-documented resolution

• Run a disciplined operating rhythm with clear KPIs, standard work, quality controls, and regular inspection to ensure execution stays on track

• Drive continuous improvement by identifying root causes of errors, simplifying workflows, and implementing automation that improves speed and reliability

• Partner cross-functionally with Legal, Finance, IT, Talent Development, and business leaders to reduce operational and compliance risk

• Lead change and tool adoption, holding the team to high standards of consistency, follow-through, and accountability

• Actively manage performance—developing high performers, addressing underperformance quickly, and maintaining a strong, healthy team culture

• Ensure all People Operations execution reinforces employee trust, service quality, and client impact

This role is critical to ProService’s operational reliability and employee trust. It is not a strategic advisory or policy-only HR role, and it is not an individual contributor position. The work is deeply operational and execution-driven, centered on payroll, benefits, compensation, compliance, and risk ownership at scale. Success requires building accountability and consistency through a team, not personal heroics, and actively managing performance when standards aren’t met. The environment is fast-paced and high-risk, demanding comfort with escalation, regulatory complexity, direct conversations, and clear ownership of outcomes.

WHAT YOU BRING

You’re an experienced HR leader who combines deep functional expertise with strong judgment, structure, and follow-through. You hold a high bar for execution quality, are comfortable owning risk, and know how to build teams that deliver reliably in complex environments.

• Proven success leading HR or People Operations teams with sustained, error-free execution through others

• Deep, applied expertise across payroll, benefits, compensation, total rewards, and HR compliance in multi-state environments

• End-to-end ownership of enterprise people programs such as Open Enrollment and annual performance or ROP cycles

• Strong operational and financial acumen, including experience owning or partnering on People budgets and using data to drive decisions

• Track record of sound judgment in complex situations, including managing escalations and cross-functional collaboration

• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement, automation, and adoption of new tools or operating models

• Confidence handling difficult conversations and performance management with clarity, fairness, and consistency

• High comfort working in HRIS, payroll, benefits, and people analytics systems while handling sensitive employee matters with discretion

• Bias toward ownership, accountability, and measurable outcomes over activity

WHY PROSERVICE

At ProService Hawaii, we empower businesses and employees across the islands by delivering HR solutions that work. As Hawaii’s largest local HR partner, we support thousands of organizations with payroll, benefits, risk management, and more. With over 18 consecutive years as a Best Place to Work, we’re committed to fostering a purpose-driven, inclusive, and high-performing culture where people take ownership and do what’s right—for clients and for each other.

We believe great work happens when people are trusted, supported, and challenged to grow. We’re building a workplace where high standards and a strong sense of purpose go hand-in-hand—and where your contributions directly impact Hawaii’s employers, their employees, and the broader communities we serve. Here’s what you can expect:

• A Culture That Means Something: Our Core Values aren’t just words on a wall. They guide how we work, make decisions, and support one another.

• Trust and Autonomy: You’ll be empowered to manage your responsibilities with clarity and independence, backed by a team that shares your commitment to doing things right.

• Real Opportunities to Grow: Whether you're looking to deepen your expertise or step into leadership, you'll have access to feedback and coaching, development programs, mentorship, and clear paths forward.

• Flexibility with Accountability: As this role is based on Oahu, we operate with a hybrid work schedule in our Hawaii Kai office T-Thu with the option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays.

• Competitive Compensation and Benefits: We value your contributions and back that up with strong pay $117,000.00 to $140,000.00 per year based on experience), full benefits, and resources to support your well-being.