Director, HR Operations (Payroll, HR Technology, Benefits & Compensation Administration)

Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ingredients. With a rich heritage spanning seven distinctive brands, we bring unmatched expertise and tailored solutions to our Retail and Foodservice partners.

We're looking for an experienced Director, HR Operations to oversee our HR operations and payroll functions while helping advance the way we support our employees and the business. This role is responsible for leading HR operations - payroll, compensation and benefits administration, HR technology, and people analytics – ensuring our programs and systems are effective, efficient, and aligned with our business goals.  Much of our technology platform has recently come together as we have transitioned headquarters and ten manufacturing sites to UKG (payroll and HRIS), Alchemy (LMS) and Acquire (ATS).  A key focus of this role will be to continue optimization of these systems across the entire company.

As a member of the HR Leadership Team, you'll partner closely with the Chief Human Resources Officer, VP of HR for Supply Chain, and Director of Talent Acquisition to improve processes, strengthen our HR technology, provide data-driven insights, and deliver an exceptional employee experience.

This position will be located in our St. Paul headquarters office leading a team of Payroll and HRIS professionals including an HRIS Manager, Payroll Manager, Payroll team, and HR Operations Coordinator.

The expected annual salary for this position is $170,000 - $190,000 and is based on several factors including education, work experience, skills, certifications, and location. We also offer a comprehensive benefit program including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, paid vacation and holidays, and retirement contributions to all eligible employees.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead HR Operations, including payroll, HRIS, benefits administration, compensation administration, compliance, and employee data management.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for payroll operations across all North American locations (US and Canada), ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
• Manage and develop a team of Payroll and HRIS professionals while fostering a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement.
• Serve as the business owner for HR technology platforms, including UKG, Alchemy, and Acquire.
• Drive ongoing optimization, adoption, and enhancement of recently implemented HR systems across all 10 company sites.
• Lead HR systems integrations, upgrades, configuration changes, and vendor relationships to maximize technology effectiveness.
• Partner with HR, Finance, IT, and Operations leaders to streamline processes and improve the employee experience.
• Develop and maintain HR metrics, dashboards, and workforce analytics to support business and talent decisions.
• Ensure data integrity, reporting accuracy, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Identify and implement opportunities for process improvement, automation, standardization, and operational efficiency across HR functions.
• Serve as a key member of the HR Leadership Team, partnering with senior HR leaders to support organizational objectives and workforce strategies.
• Lead change management efforts associated with HR technology, process improvements, and organizational growth initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive HR operations, payroll, HRIS, or related leadership experience.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience managing HR operations, payroll, or HR technology teams.
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll and benefits administration in a multi-location environment (US and Canada).
• Proven success implementing, integrating, or optimizing HRIS and payroll systems across multiple sites.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, HR operations, data governance, and compliance requirements.
• Experience using workforce analytics and reporting to drive business decisions.
• Excellent project management, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong communication and influencing abilities with both technical and non-technical audiences.

PREFERRED

• Experience with UKG (Payroll and HRIS).
• Experience with HR technology ecosystems that include recruiting and learning management platforms.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, or multi-site operations.
• Professional certifications such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CPP, or related credentials.

About Dessert Holdings

Dessert Holdings is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands:  The Original Cakerie, Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Steven Charles, Dianne's Fine Desserts, Kenny's Great Pies, and Willamette Valley Pie Company.  Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, employs more than 3,500 people across ten manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.

EEO Statement

Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law. 

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters and are unable to provide employment authorization sponsorship for this position.

#LI-MF1 #DH1