Senior HR Operations Specialist (Contract) LHH Recruitment Solutions is seeking a
Senior HR Operations Specialist to support a centralized HR Operations team during a period of ongoing HR transformation and organizational growth. This role serves as a key escalation point for complex HR inquiries, provides guidance to internal stakeholders, supports small to mid-sized HR projects, and ensures accurate processing of HR transactions and organizational changes. The ideal candidate will bring strong HR operations experience, knowledge of employment law and HR best practices, familiarity with HRIS platforms, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. This position is less focused on employee-facing customer service and more focused on HR operations, project support, compliance, and stakeholder partnership.
Location - Raleigh, NC Area (Remote) - Candidates must reside within the Raleigh, NC area and be able to work remotely. Occasional in-person meetings or business needs may require local availability.
Position Type - Contract | Full-Time W2 | Non Expempt - Expected minimum duration of 3 months
Schedule - 40 hours per week - Monday through Friday during standard business hours.
Pay Rate - $33.00 - $38.00 per hour - Compensation will be based on experience and qualifications Benefit offerings include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits, and a 401k plan. Our program provides employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. Available paid leave may include Paid Sick Leave, where required by law; any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law; and Holiday pay upon meeting eligibility criteria.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities- Resolve escalated Tier 2 HR cases involving payroll, benefits, leave administration, employee data, and HR transactions.
- Research complex employee issues and review historical transactions, employee records, and system data.
- Interpret HR policies and provide guidance to employees, managers, and internal stakeholders.
- Execute and process complex transactions within Oracle, ServiceNow, and related HR systems.
- Investigate and resolve HR data discrepancies and data integrity issues.
- Analyze trends, recurring issues, and operational risks to identify root causes and improvement opportunities.
- Generate and analyze standard and ad hoc reports to support operational decisions and issue resolution.
- Coordinate across Payroll, Total Rewards, Employee Relations, Legal, HR Technology, HR Business Partners, and Centers of Excellence to facilitate case resolution.
- Support organizational changes, workforce updates, reorganizations, and HR initiatives.
- Test and validate HR system enhancements and process changes.
- Maintain case documentation and ensure compliance with established controls and audit requirements.
- Improve knowledge articles, standard operating procedures, escalation processes, and decision frameworks.
- Support HR transformation initiatives focused on process improvement, automation, and operational efficiency.
- Help improve Tier 1 effectiveness by reducing avoidable escalations and increasing first-contact resolution rates.
Key ResponsibilitiesTier 2 HR Case Resolution- Serve as the primary escalation point for complex HR inquiries and employee issues.
- Resolve cases requiring advanced policy interpretation, exception handling, elevated judgment, and cross-functional coordination.
- Own cases from intake through resolution while ensuring timely follow-up and clear communication.
- Minimize unnecessary escalations to HR Business Partners and Centers of Excellence.
HR Systems & Data Management- Process and validate complex HR transactions within Oracle, ServiceNow, and related systems.
- Identify and correct data integrity issues across HR systems.
- Generate and analyze operational reports and workforce data.
- Ensure compliance with HR controls, policies, and audit requirements.
- Support testing and validation of system enhancements and process improvements.
Cross-Functional Partnership- Partner with Payroll, Benefits, Employee Relations, Legal, HR Technology, Total Rewards, HR Business Partners, and Centers of Excellence.
- Establish clear expectations with employees and managers regarding timelines and resolutions.
- Escalate issues appropriately with complete documentation and recommendations.
Process Improvement & Continuous Improvement- Identify recurring operational issues, defects, and process gaps.
- Perform root cause analysis and recommend sustainable solutions.
- Support workflow simplification, automation, self-service enhancements, and standardization efforts.
- Participate in HR transformation initiatives and operational redesign projects.
Knowledge Management & Tier 1 Support- Improve standard operating procedures, knowledge articles, and escalation guidelines.
- Develop decision frameworks that improve consistency and compliance.
- Enhance Tier 1 capability and increase upstream issue resolution.
- Promote consistent interpretation and application of HR policies.
Customer Experience & Professional Standards- Manage sensitive employee interactions with professionalism, empathy, and discretion.
- Maintain strict confidentiality and data privacy standards.
- Deliver a consistent and positive employee experience while maintaining policy compliance and operational discipline.
- Represent HR as a trusted and unified business partner.
QualificationsRequired Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3-6+ years of experience in HR Operations, HR Shared Services, Payroll, Benefits Administration, HR Systems, or complex HR case management.
- Experience resolving complex and sensitive employee issues within a structured, process-driven environment.
- Strong HR systems experience, including Oracle, ServiceNow, Workday, or similar platforms.
- Experience managing cross-functional issues involving multiple stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
- Experience conducting root cause analysis and identifying process improvements.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous or exception-based situations.
- Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience within an HR Shared Services or centralized HR Operations environment.
- Experience supporting HR transformation initiatives.
- Experience with process redesign, workflow optimization, or automation projects.
- Exposure to continuous improvement methodologies.
- Prior experience supporting large, multi-site organizations.
Pay Details: $33.00 to $38.00 per hour
Search managed by: Jason Timothy
Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable.
Equal Opportunity
Employer/Veterans/Disabled Military connected talent encouraged to apply
To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please navigate to
https://www.lhh.com/us/en/candidate-privacy
The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:
- The California Fair Chance Act
- Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
- Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
- San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
