Manager, Strategy Operations - Payroll

Reporting to the Head of Payroll, the Manager, Strategy Operations – Payroll is a strategic operator who helps the Payroll business execute effectively as it is being built and scaled. You work at the intersection of strategy, execution, and operating design – translating ambitious goals into clear plans, operating rhythms, and mechanisms that enable Payroll to grow sustainably.

You thrive in creation environments where new products, services, and operating models are still taking shape. You are energized by building something from the ground up, while also bringing enough structure and discipline to ensure progress, learning, and accountability. You are comfortable rolling up your sleeves to drive execution, while keeping an eye on the longer-term systems and capabilities the Payroll business will need.

You bring strong business acumen, execution rigor, and cross-functional collaboration skills. You are motivated by helping leaders make better decisions, aligning teams around shared priorities, and building the foundations for a scalable, profitable Payroll business.

• Running Operating Systems (~70%)
• Operate and continuously improve the core execution rhythms for the Payroll business, including planning cycles, prioritization forums, operating cadences, and performance tracking.
• Translate Payroll strategy and business objectives into clear goals, workplans, milestones, and accountability mechanisms.
• Create visibility into priorities, progress, risks, and trade-offs across Payroll initiatives.
• Support the development of scalable processes, tooling, and services that reduce operational complexity and improve cost-to-serve.
• Ensure alignment between Payroll execution and enterprise-level planning, financial, and operating forums.
• Introduce lightweight structure that enables speed and learning without slowing down innovation.
• Leading Cross-Functional Workstreams & Initiatives (~20%)
• Own defined workstreams within high-priority Payroll initiatives focused on scalability, customer experience, retention, and financial performance.
• Partner closely with Technology, Operations, Product, Finance, and Revenue to coordinate dependencies and drive execution.
• Translate strategic ideas (e.g., new services, product capabilities, monetization approaches) into executable plans.
• Identify gaps, risks, or misalignments in execution and drive resolution through strong collaboration and influence.
• Support experimentation and iteration as Payroll tests and refines new offerings and ways of working.
• Structure, Clarity, & Team Enablement (~10%)
• Bring structure to ambiguous, early-stage problems by clarifying scope, success criteria, and next steps.
• Develop clear documentation, operating artifacts, and narratives that help teams stay aligned.
• Support leaders in evangelizing Payroll as a business unit by grounding discussions in data, financial impact, and customer outcomes.
• Reinforce a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement as the Payroll organization matures.
• Help teams balance short-term delivery with longer-term capability building.

In this role, success looks like: Payroll executes with increasing clarity and momentum, cross-functional teams are aligned around shared priorities, and the business builds scalable systems that support growth, retention, and strong financial performance.

Success in this role is defined not only by what you deliver, but how you deliver it. Core capabilities include:

• Business Insight - applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals.
• Strategic Mindset - anticipates future trends and implications accurately; articulates credible pictures and visions of possibilities that will create sustainable value.
• Plans and Aligns - breaks down objectives into appropriate initiatives and actions; stages activities with relevant milestones and schedules.
• Initiative and Motivation - identifying what needs to be done and doing it before being asked or before the situation requires it.
• Teamwork and Communication: Putting our collective best together through documentation, collaboration, relationship-building, listening, empathy, recruiting, and evangelism.

In addition, all Justworkers focus on aligning their behaviors to our core values known as COGIS. It stands for:

• Camaraderie - Day to day you can be seen working together toward a higher purpose. You like to have fun. You’re an active listener, treat people respectfully, and have a strong desire to know and help others.
• Openness - Your default is to be open. You're willing to share information, understand other perspectives, and consider new possibilities. You’re curious, ask open questions, and are receptive to thoughts and feedback from others.
• Grit - You demonstrate grit by having the courage to commit and persevere. You’re committed, earnest, and dive in to get the job done well with a positive attitude.
• Integrity - Simply put, do what you say and say what you'll do. You’re honest and forthright, have a strong moral compass, and strive to match your words with your actions while leading by example.
• Simplicity - Be like Einstein: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience, ideally in program/project management, strategy operations, and/or consulting
• Minimum 1+ Years with Justworks highly preferred.
• Experience in SaaS, fintech, B2B services, or other regulated or operationally complex environments preferred
• High business and financial acumen; comfort working with KPIs, unit economics, and performance metrics
• Strong analytical skills and familiarity with data tools (e.g., Excel, SQL)
• Record of exceptional performance and demonstrated excellence in leadership of cross-functional projects
• Demonstrated ability to succeed and thrive in an entrepreneurial environment and not be hindered by ambiguity or competing priorities
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Passionate about solving complex problems. Will rely on business acumen, strategic mindset, systems thinking, and underlying data to help steer conversations and decision-making
• Strong sense of ownership, ability to proactively remove obstacles, and willingness to go above and beyond to chase down loose ends that lead to outstanding results
• Focus on results and outcome, not just process. Have experience establishing processes that are appropriate and effective
• Creative problem solver, effective negotiator, and results-oriented team player
• Unquestionable professional ethics, strong judgment, trustworthiness, and commitment to excellence

The base wage range for this position based in our New York City Office is targeted at $155,500.00 - $171,050.00 per year.

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