Senior Manager, People Systems & Operations

Why project44?   

At project44, we believe in better.   

We challenge the status quo because we know a better supply chain isn’t just possible—it’s essential. Better for our customers. Better for their business. Better for the world.   

With our Decision Intelligence Platform, Movement, we’re redefining how global supply chains operate. By transforming fragmented logistics data into real-time, AI-powered insights, we empower companies to connect instantly, see clearly, act decisively, and automate intelligently. Our Supply Chain AI enhances visibility, drives smarter execution, and unlocks next-gen applications that keep businesses moving forward.   

Headquartered in Chicago, IL, with a 2nd HQ in Bengaluru, India, we are powered by a diverse global team that is tackling the toughest logistics challenges with innovation, urgency, and purpose. If you’re driven to solve meaningful problems, leverage AI to scale rapidly, drive impact daily, and be part of a high-performance team – we should talk.   

About the role:

As the Sr. Manager, People Systems & Operations you will serve as the end-to-end owner and turnaround leader for project44’s global People Systems ecosystem, with primary accountability for UKG (UltiPro).

This role is responsible for stabilizing, repairing, and re-architecting People systems and processes to ensure data integrity, payroll reliability, audit readiness, and scalable reporting across the company. This is not a steady-state systems role; it is a systems transformation mandate.

You will own global people system design and execution, with authority to drive process remediation, data clean-up, governance, and architectural improvements in close partnership with Payroll, Finance, HR, and GIS (Global Information Systems).

What You’ll Do:

Primary Accountabilities

• People Systems Ownership
• Serve as the single-threaded owner for UKG globally, with clear accountability for system health, data accuracy, and end-to-end process integrity.
• Lead a full systems turnaround, including:
  • Identifying and repairing broken or fragmented people processes
  • Driving large-scale data remediation, clean-up, and standardization
  • Establishing clear ownership, controls, and governance across the employee lifecycle
  • Own the end-to-end people systems architecture, ensuring UKG functions as a reliable system of record and integrates cleanly with Payroll, Finance, and downstream platforms.
  • Make and drive decisions on process design, configuration, and prioritization, balancing short-term stabilization with long-term scalability.
  • Partner with GIS to redesign, implement, and harden integrations, automation, and system dependencies.
  • Establish and maintain audit-ready controls, documentation, and operating standards for people data globally.

Payroll & Finance Partnership

• Own the People systems side of payroll readiness and execution globally, ensuring payroll is system-driven, accurate, and repeatable.
• Partner closely with Global Payroll and Finance to repair upstream data issues impacting payroll, close cycles, and reporting.
• Lead payroll-related remediation efforts including:
  • Data validation and correction
  • Parallel runs and variance analysis
  • Root-cause analysis and permanent fixes
  • Ensure People system design supports strong financial controls, compliance, and confidence at scale.

Program & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the program owner for People systems transformation initiatives, from problem definition through execution and stabilization.
• Drive structured execution across complex, cross-functional work involving HR, Payroll, Finance, IT/GIS, and vendors.
• Establish clear delivery plans, risks, milestones, and decision frameworks for systems work.
• Proactively surface tradeoffs, constraints, and recommendations to People Leadership.

People Reporting & Data Insights

• Own the quality, reliability, and usability of People data across the organization.
• Lead remediation of historical data issues to enable accurate reporting on:
  • Attrition and retention
  • Headcount and workforce movement
  • Organizational and demographic trends
• Build and maintain scalable reporting foundations that reduce manual effort and improve leadership confidence in People metrics.
• Establish clear metric definitions, data governance, and documentation.

Process Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Participate as the AI champion for the People team as part of the AI Ops steering committee regarding policy governance, optimization and process and system improvements cross-functionally
• Identify opportunities to simplify, automate, and standardize People processes using systems and data.
• Reduce manual work and operational risk through better system design and cross-functional alignment.
• Contribute to broader People Team transformation initiatives focused on scalability, automation, and operational rigor.
• Identify broken, manual, or high-risk People processes and lead end-to-end redesign.
• Standardize global People processes where appropriate, while accounting for regional and regulatory needs.
• Reduce operational risk and manual work through better system design, automation, and controls.
• Lay the foundation for a durable, scalable People Systems operating model that supports growth.

What You’ll Need:

Qualifications & Experience:

• 8-10+ years of experience in People Systems, HR Operations, or HRIS Management roles.
• Hands-on experience owning enterprise HRIS (preferably UKG) in a global environment.
• Strong understanding of payroll processes, data dependencies, and controls, with experience partnering closely with Payroll and Finance.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs involving HR, Finance, GIS, and external vendors.
• Advanced comfort working with data, reporting, and analytics (attrition, headcount, trends, reconciliations).
• Experience in a high-growth, SaaS, or global environment strongly preferred.

Capabilities & Attributes:

• Exceptionally detail-oriented with a strong bias for data accuracy and control.
• Strong programmatic and systems thinker who brings structure, clarity, and follow-through to complex initiatives.
• Confident communicator able to partner effectively across levels and functions.
• Solutions-oriented, proactive, and comfortable operating in a fast-moving environment.
• Naturally collaborative with a mindset of shared ownership and accountability.
• Comfortable owning messy, high-impact systems problems and driving them to resolution.
• Decisive, structured, and able to establish order in ambiguous environments with bias toward durable fixes over short-term workarounds.
• Trusted partner who can push when needed while maintaining strong cross-functional relationships.

In-office Commitment: Our office is where ideas spark, connections thrive, and innovation comes alive. We are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic and committed to joining our team on-site, in our beautiful headquarters four days a week. Together, we’re building something extraordinary—learn, grow, and thrive in our fast-paced, transformative environment.

Diversity & Inclusion 

We're designing the future of how the world moves and is connected through trade and global supply chains. We can only deliver a truly world-class product and experience if our teams are as diverse and unique as the communities we are building for. It's up to us to create a company where anyone can bring their authentic self to work every day. We're constantly working to improve, and we accept our responsibility to elevate the voices left in the margins. It's on every one of us. 

Our focus on inclusion manifests in the way we hire, the customers we serve, and the regions we prioritize. We're building a company that every one of us at project44 is proud to work for: a company that celebrates you for being you. 

We pride ourselves on celebrating everyone — project44 is an equal opportunity employer actively working on creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where underrepresented groups can thrive. If you share our values and our passion for helping the way the world moves, we’d love to review your application! 

For any accommodations needed during the hiring process, please email recruiting@project44.com. Even if you don’t meet 100% of the above qualifications, you should still seriously consider applying. Studies show that you can still be considered for a role if you meet just 50% of the role’s requirements.