Senior Manager, Benefits, Payroll & Human Resources Operations

Bold Thinking. World Changing. At SkyWater, our ingenuity helps improve lives around the world by manufacturing U.S. made semiconductors that are essential ingredients of modern life. Automotive safety enhancements, life-saving medical devices, consumer electronics and American security require semiconductors. Working in our Minnesota headquarters or Florida location, employees join together to improve the world.


Explore what’s possible. Joining our U.S. - based team means contributing to and learning about the commercialization of some of the most exciting technologies the world has ever seen. We are turning “science fiction” into everyday reality through technologies such as superconducting, 3D integrated circuits or computer chips, carbon nanotubes, photonic logic devices, micro electro-mechanical systems and other emerging device topologies. We manufacture products for aerospace and defense, medical, automotive, consumer and industrial markets, to name a few. Our customers include emerging leaders who rely on our intellectual property security and quality manufacturing services.


Step into the future. SkyWater’s values of Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration, Empowerment and Growth Mindset guide us to cultivate an empowered, learning environment. We also invest in developing highly skilled, dedicated employees — and employees who are entering the workforce for the first time, from the military, and a variety of educational backgrounds.


Are you bold thinking? Find your place on our team and help us change the world!


The Senior Manager, Benefits, Payroll and Operations is responsible for leading and scaling HR operations, benefits administration, and payroll governance, while driving seamless cross-functional integration with systems and processes across the business. The ideal candidate combines a passion for operational excellence with a deep understanding of employee experience, compliance, and business scalability.
This leader will set the vision for how we deliver services to employees, continuously improve systems and programs, and ensure that our foundational People practices support both company growth and employee wellbeing.
Strategic HR Operations Leadership
• Develop and lead the long-term strategy for HR service delivery and operational excellence, ensuring alignment with company goals and workforce needs.
• Oversee core HR processes including onboarding/offboarding, employee lifecycle operations, and compliance tracking.
• Lead and scale people-related systems such as employee help desks, recognition platforms, and internal support tools.
• Drive process optimization, automation, and standardization across global or distributed teams.

Payroll Governance & Partnership
• Serve as the People team’s strategic lead on payroll execution and integrity, partnering closely with Finance and vendors.
• Establish payroll-related controls, documentation standards, and compliance routines across regions.
• Ensure seamless coordination of compensation inputs, pay cycles, bonus programs, and year-end processes.

Benefits Strategy & Administration
• Define and execute the benefits strategy, ensuring offerings are competitive, cost-effective, and aligned with employee needs.
• Own relationships with benefits brokers and providers, managing plan design, renewals, and vendor performance.
• Oversee ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other regulatory compliance for all benefits programs.
• Lead annual open enrollment and ongoing employee education on benefits offerings.

Cross-Functional Systems & Integration
• Lead integration of People processes with other departments (IT, Finance, Legal) and third-party platforms.
• Serve as a key People Operations stakeholder during M&A events, organizational changes, and infrastructure builds.

Metrics, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
• Define KPIs and service-level metrics for HR operations, benefits, and payroll-related activities.
• Build feedback loops and reporting structures to ensure high-quality service delivery and data integrity.
• Stay ahead of legislative changes and proactively update policies and processes to ensure compliance.

Required Qualifications:
• 10+ years of applicable Human Resources experience.
• Expertise in HR Operations, Benefits, and/or Payroll, with a strong track record of strategic ownership.
• Leadership experience building or scaling HR service delivery models, including systems integrations and vendor management.
• Deep knowledge of benefits compliance, employment law, and payroll governance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong business acumen and ability to collaborate across departments to support organizational change.
• Excellent communication, decision-making, and cha