VP, Payroll & HRIS Strategy

OverviewSince 1972, Covenant House has served and advocated for youth and young families experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, and exploitation. Our overarching goal is to end homelessness among youth and young families by helping them achieve housing stability, heal from trauma, tap into their innate resilience, and hone their interests and skills to forge new pathways to independence. This work is carried out across Covenant House sites in 34 cities in the US, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.About the RoleThe Vice President, Payroll & HRIS Strategy is responsible for leading and advancing payroll and HRIS strategy across the Covenant House federation, ensuring operational excellence, compliance, and effective system utilization in a multi-platform environment.In this role, you will report directly to the Chief People and Culture Officer and manage the Payroll Manager. You will serve as a trusted advisor and internal consultant to sites across the federation, partnering with People & Culture and Finance leaders to strengthen payroll operations, optimize HRIS systems, and support implementation efforts. You will have the opportunity to shape how we leverage technology and data to support our people, build capability across sites, and drive consistency in how we measure, manage, and reward performance in service of our mission.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesServe as a strategic advisor to site leaders on payroll operations, HRIS systems, and system-related decision-making across a multi-system environmentPartner with sites to assess, select, implement, and optimize HRIS, payroll, applicant tracking, and performance management systemsProvide consultative guidance across platforms such as ADP, Paycom, and PEO models (e.g., TriNet), ensuring effective and compliant useEstablish and promote federation-wide standards for payroll accuracy, reporting, system utilization, and data integritySupport payroll governance across sites, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policiesSupport sites in strengthening payroll processes, controls, and audit readiness, including regulatory reporting (e.g., ACA, Form 5500)Lead HRIS and payroll-related reporting strategy, enabling sites to leverage data for decision-making and performance insightsIdentify trends, risks, and opportunities across sites and translate findings into actionable recommendationsSupport implementation and integration of performance management and applicant tracking systems to align with organizational prioritiesDevelop and deliver training, tools, and documentation to empower site HR and payroll teams to effectively navigate and maximize their systemsPromote a customer service mindset, ensuring responsive, practical, and empowering support to sitesDrive continuous improvement in payroll and HRIS processes, identifying opportunities for efficiency, automation, and alignmentLead and partner with the Payroll Manager, ensuring strong execution of payroll operations and high-quality support to sitesCollaborate with People & Culture, Finance, and Executive leadership to align payroll and HRIS strategy with broader organizational goalsMaintain knowledge of emerging technologies, regulatory changes, and best practices in payroll, HRIS, and human capital managementRequired Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesDeep expertise across multiple HRIS and payroll platforms (e.g., Paycom, ADP, PEO models such as TriNet)Strong consultative and influencing skills with the ability to partner effectively across diverse sites and leadership levelsAbility to operate strategically while maintaining strong attention to detail and operational excellenceDemonstrated experience leading HRIS implementations, system optimization efforts, and technology-driven change initiativesStrong understanding of payroll regulations, compliance requirements, and audit processes across multiple jurisdictionsExcellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insightsExceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex conceptsStrong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environmentCustomer service mindset with a focus on responsiveness, partnership, and empowering othersAbility to build trust and credibility with stakeholders across a distributed, global organizationCommitment to the mission, values, and work of Covenant HouseRequired QualificationsMinimum of 12–15 years of progressive experience in payroll, HRIS, human capital management, or related fields, including leadership experienceDemonstrated experience working across multiple HRIS/payroll systems and leading implementations or system transformationsExperience overseeing payroll operations and compliance across complex or multi-site environmentsPreferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and QualificationsBachelor’s degree preferred; Master’s degree strongly preferre