Program Director, HR Operations

About the Role

The Program Director is part of the Human Capital senior leadership team and is responsible for overseeing the strategic and operational management of key HR Operations functions.  The role is focused on developing long-term strategic direction, while overseeing large-scale initiatives and programs to meet current and future business needs. The Program Director supports employee's agency-wide, including a highly unionized workforce, and is responsible for directing and managing functional HR operations areas, which include Employee Benefits and Compensation; HR Systems; HR Finance and HRIS Administration. This role focuses on strategic planning, operational excellence, and continuous improvement to support the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s mission and Employer of Choice agenda. 

Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Assistant Director of Employee Experience and Digital Transformation, the Program Director will form the following key responsibilities:

• Lead the design, implementation, and administration of operational processes used to deliver HR programs and projects.  
• Provide strategic direction for establishing continuous improvement to practices, processes, and policies to advance HR Operations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to provide consultation and project management of HR program implementations and initiatives like compensation, benefits, system updates and HR transactions.
• Oversee employee data management processes to ensure that data is secure and maintained consistent within policy and that annual reporting is delivered.
• Manage HR Operations contracts and vendor management. 
• Maintain knowledge and understanding of regulations, laws and industry best practices to ensure compliance.
• Direct the assessment of business needs and implementation of initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness.   
• Proactively anticipate, lead, and sponsor initiatives to enable sustainable change efforts that drive business results.

Employee Benefits and Compensation

• Directly oversee Managers of Benefits and Compensation to develop and implement comprehensive offerings and programs that align with the Employer of Choice agenda.
• Lead the design and execution of compensation and classification strategies, including salary structures and annual compensation programs and reviews.
• Ensure benefits and compensation programs are compliant, competitive and cost effective for the organization to attract and retain talent.
• Lead efforts to gain senior leadership buy-in for alignment of compensation and benefits strategy and overall organizational objectives.
• Responsible for compensation and benefits budgets, ensuring effective cost control while maintaining competitive offerings.
• Lead compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations related to compensation and benefits.
• Provide strategic leadership in developing compensation structures and administering benefits programs that align with organizational goals and ensure equity and competitiveness in the market.

HR Systems

• Directly oversee Manager of HR Systems to manage the implementation and maintenance of HR Systems to optimize HR processes and data management.
• Support the coordination with TEC and vendors to ensure system integration and functionality meets HR and agency needs to enhance the overall employee experience and HR service delivery.
• Lead projects to enhance HR technology solutions (process automation and optimization) and user experience.
• Lead efforts for HR for agency ERP initiative.

HR Finance and HRIS Administration

• Directly oversee Manager of HR Finance and HRIS Administration, responsible for the management of the agency’s benefits budget, labor costing and forecasts, and benefits financial planning activities and all HRIS transactions.
• Ensure timeliness and accuracy of HR transactions, including contractual increase, on-boarding and off-boarding transactions, while promoting system accuracy and security. 
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and internal policies.
• Develop and implement poli