The HR Operations Project Specialist leads and supports high-impact HR initiatives by bringing strong project management, structure, and execution discipline to complex and evolving work. In this role, you’ll partner across HR and cross functional teams to translate business priorities into actionable plans, align stakeholders, and ensure successful delivery of outcomes.
You’ll have the opportunity to lead projects while also supporting the integration of new teams, processes, and systems. The position provides broad exposure across a range of strategic and operational initiatives and plays a meaningful role in improving how HR work gets done.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building structure from the ground up, and can effectively translate business needs into practical, scalable operational solutions.
Key ResponsibilitiesProject Leadership & Execution
- Lead end-to-end execution of HR Operations projects, from initial scoping through implementation and stabilization
- Develop project plans, milestones, risks, dependencies, and success metrics while ensuring alignment across stakeholders
- Drive accountability by facilitating progress updates, removing blockers, and maintaining momentum across cross-functional teams
- Translate HR priorities into actionable project plans that drive clear, measurable outcomes
- Track decisions, deliverables, and next steps to ensure work progresses effectively and sustainably.
Process Design & Implementation
- Design and implement scalable HR processes that improve efficiency, consistency, and team member experience
- Document workflows, standards, and operating procedures to support repeatability and long-term sustainability.
- Identify opportunities to simplify ways of working, reduce manual effort, and improve overall effectiveness.
- Partner with HR stakeholders to ensure process changes are practical, well-communicated, and adopted by the business.
Priority Initiative Ownership
- Lead and support priority HR Operations initiatives that improve process consistency, operational efficiency, compliance, service delivery, and the team member experience.
- Translate complex or undefined business needs into structured project plans, practical workflows, and scalable operational solutions.
- Partner with HR, IT, Finance, Legal, Payroll, and business stakeholders to gather requirements, align on decisions, and support successful implementation.
- Support the design, implementation, and stabilization of new HR processes, tools, systems, and operating models.
- Identify risks, dependencies, stakeholder impacts, and change management needs to ensure initiatives are thoughtfully planned and effectively executed.
- Build documentation, workflows, controls, and handoff plans to support long-term sustainability.
- 5+ years of experience in HR operations, HR project management, or a similar environment
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and drive cross-functional work
- Experience improving processes or building operational structure
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Comfortable working in fast-paced, evolving environments
- Experience with HR systems (e.g., UKG Pro or similar platforms)
- Project management and execution discipline
- Process design and systems thinking
- Stakeholder alignment and influencing skills
- Strong attention to detail with a builder mindset
- Ability to translate business needs into practical solutions
- Comfort navigating ambiguity and structuring undefined work
Location: U.S. Remote
Travel: Minimal expected
Compensation & Benefits
The expected base salary range for this role is $80,000 - $95,000 USD per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.
This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses, equity participation, and a comprehensive U.S.-based benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
- Professional development support
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.
Third-Party Agency Notice
Salas O’Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.
Qualifications Education Required Bachelors or better. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of experience in HR operations, HR project management, or similar environment.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and drive cross-functional work.
- Experience improving processes or building operational structure.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Comfortable working in fast-paced, evolving environments.
- Experience with HR systems (e.g., UKG Pro or similar platforms).
- Bachelor's degree or higher.
What We Do
Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. Our team is engineered for impact™, helping clients achieve critical goals, advancing our team members through growth and opportunity, and operating at the center of important global issues, including sustainability and decarbonization. We are a top firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and we have appeared for over a decade on the Inc. 5000 list of North America’s fastest-growing private companies.









