Manager- People Experience

ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, we transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Here you'll work side-by-side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life-changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers, worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client-first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning, bold ideas, courage and passion to drive life-changing impact to ZS.
What you'll do: Manager - People Experience will...
The People Experience Manager is a key leader within the People function, responsible for delivering compliant, scalable, and employee-centered People Experience within a global corporate environment. This role serves as a strategic partner to the business, Employment Legal, HR Centers of Excellence (COEs), and regional People teams, ensuring operational excellence across HR processes while enabling future global scalability.
Initially focused on US People Experience compliance, and systems, this role is designed to expand in scope over time, supporting the development and rollout of a global HR Shared Services model. The successful candidate will bring strong operational expertise, systems fluency (SAP SuccessFactors), and the ability to translate complex regulatory and business requirements into streamlined, automated, and globally aligned solutions.
US People Experience & Compliance

• Lead and oversee US People Experience (e.g. HR Generalists), ensuring consistent and compliant execution across the employee lifecycle
• Maintain expert knowledge of US federal, state, and local employment laws, including wage and hour regulations, FMLA, ADA, COBRA, and state-specific leave requirements
• In partnership with other HR Centers of Expertise, review, update an maintain US HR policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with legal requirements, corporate governance, and business needs
• Serve as a trusted operational partner to Employment Legal, collaborating on policy interpretation, compliance risk assessment, and complex employee matters
• Support audits, compliance reviews, and regulatory inquiries in partnership with Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders

Payroll Partnership & Process Design

• Partner closely with the US Payroll team to design, guide, and continuously enhance and further automate payroll processes (e.g. payroll inputs) that are compliant, scalable, and automation-enabled
• Provide HR operational and compliance expertise to support payroll process optimization, system integrations, and controls
• Ensure alignment between HR data, payroll inputs, and downstream reporting through strong cross-functional collaboration
• Partner with Payroll and Finance to serve as a senior escalation point for complex pay-related issues

Leave Administration & Vendor Management

• Provide strategic oversight of US leave administration programs, including FMLA, state and local statutory leaves, disability, paid family leave, and company-sponsored leave programs.
• Reimagine US leave administration to operationalize a consistent decision-making process
• Lead the selection, implementation, and governance of outsourced leave administration vendors, ensuring compliance, operational efficiency, and strong employee experience
• Establish and manage vendor performance metrics, SLAs, and escalation frameworks
• Partner with Procurement, Legal, and HR COEs on leave policy creation, vendor contracts, renewals, and ongoing partner performance reviews

HR Technology & Systems (SuccessFactors)

• Act as a key People Experience stakeholder for SAP SuccessFactors, ensuring effective system configuration to support compliant US processes
• Partner with HRIS, IT, and global HR COEs to translate operational and regulatory requirements into scalable system solutions
• Drive data integrity, process standardization, and system-enabled automation across People Experience
• Support future system enhancements aligned with shared services and global operating models

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and mentor junior People team members, fostering strong operational discipline, professional growth, and accountability
• Provide guidance on complex operational, compliance, and employee relations matters
• Develop scalable documentation, playbooks, and knowledge management resources to support consistent execution

Executive, Cross-Functional & Global Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, presenting complex people and compliance topics in a concise, executive-ready manner
• Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations, insights, and recommendations related to HR operations, compliance risk, and operational performance
• Partner closely with Employment Legal, HR COEs (Total Rewards, Talent, HRIS), Finance, and global People leaders
• Support enterprise-wide initiatives by assessing people impact, compliance considerations, and operational readiness

Future Scope: Global Shared Services Enablement

• Contribute to the design and evolution of a global HR Shared Services model, leveraging US operational best practices as a foundation
• Partner with global stakeholders to standardize processes, define service delivery models, and support phased global rollout
• Support change management, governance, and capability-building as the role expands to include broader regional and global responsibilities

What you'll bring:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in People Operations within a global or corporate environment
• Proven experience leading global design, implementation and maintenance of consistent HR processes in partnership with Payroll, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Legal, and other HR COE teams with a strong focus on compliance and meeting global standards
• Proven track record leading the design, implementation and maintenance of global HR processes throughout the employee life cycle
• Strong expertise in US employment law, HR compliance, and policy development
• Demonstrated experience in leave administration vendor selection and governance
• Hands-on experience working with Enterprise HRIS in an operational or systems partnership capacity
• Proven people leadership experience, including coaching and mentoring team members with varying experiences
• Strong executive communication skills with the ability to distill complex issues into clear, succinct insights
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment. Experience in managing M&A integration is a must
• Fluency in English
• Client-first mentality
• Intense work ethic
• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting multi-state US populations and highly regulated environments
• Experience operating within a matrixed, global HR organization
• Experience working with SAP SuccessFactors is highly preferred
• Exposure to HR shared services or global operating model transformations
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification
• Chicago location preferred, but open to remote

How you'll grow:

• Cross-functional skills development & custom learning pathways
• Milestone training programs aligned to career progression opportunities
• Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s-curves, individual contribution and role expansions

Perks & Benefits:
ZS offers a comprehensive total rewards package including health and well-being, financial planning, annual leave, personal growth and professional development. Our robust skills development programs, multiple career progression options and internal mobility paths and collaborative culture empowers you to thrive as an individual and global team member.
Hybrid working model:
We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on-site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.
Travel:
Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client-facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.
Considering applying?
At ZS, we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences, and belief systems-the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive.
If you're eager to grow, contribute, and bring your unique self to our work, we encourage you to apply.
ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.
To complete your application:
Candidates must possess or be able to obtain work authorization for their intended country of employment. An on-line application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered.
NO AGENCY CALLS, PLEASE.
Find Out More At:
www.zs.com
Salary: $160,000.00 - $200,000.00