Sr Manager, HR Services

Who We Are:
At Northland, we’re enablers of change, united by our journey to transform the energy sector into the foundation for a sustainable future.
Since our inception, we’ve been early movers in the energy industry, adopting new initiatives that pave the way for communities across the globe and helping forge their path towards a carbon-neutral landscape.
We’re a different kind of independent power producer. As developers, owners and operators who are at the forefront of the energy transition, we’re uniquely positioned to leave a lasting impact in the regions where we operate. We’ve expanded our business across Canada, the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia to become a global leader, all by bringing together industry experts to find solutions with an entrepreneurial mindset.
While our work powers communities across the globe, Northland is powered by our people.
The Sr Manager, HR Services is responsible for leading Northland’s global HR Services and Payroll functions, ensuring the delivery of efficient, scalable, compliant, and employee-centric services across the employee lifecycle. This role drives operational excellence through process standardization, service optimization, automation, data governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
What you'll do:
The Sr Manager, HR Services is responsible for leading Northland’s global HR Services and Payroll functions, ensuring the delivery of efficient, scalable, compliant, and employee-centric services across the employee lifecycle. This role drives operational excellence through process standardization, service optimization, automation, data governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
The HR Services Lead oversees HR service delivery, global payroll operations, case management, HR systems, and employee support services, ensuring a consistent and high-quality experience for employees and leaders across all regions. Working closely with HR Business Partners, Centers of Excellence, Finance, IT, Legal, and external vendors, the role is accountable for enhancing service delivery, strengthening operational controls, leveraging technology solutions, and supporting business growth through effective people operations.
Key Responsibilities
HR Services & Payroll Operations
Lead and develop a team of 4 direct reports, fostering a high-performing, customer-centric culture focused on service excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Oversee the global delivery of HR and payroll services, ensuring a seamless, efficient, and best-in-class employee experience across the entire employee lifecycle.
Drive operational excellence through process standardization, service optimization, automation, and the continuous enhancement of HR and payroll operations.
Own Workday data management, process design, and system optimization, identifying and implementing enhancements and automation opportunities to streamline HR operations, improve data quality, and increase organizational effectiveness
Establish, monitor, and report on key service metrics, including KPIs, SLAs, employee satisfaction, quality standards, and operational performance, implementing improvement actions where required.
Manage HR case management and ticketing platforms, ensuring timely and effective resolution of employee and manager inquiries.
Provide hands-on leadership and operational support across regions as needed to address business priorities, workforce demands, and service delivery challenges.
Ensure the accuracy, integrity, security, and governance of employee and payroll data across all systems and processes.
Lead global payroll operations, including vendor management, compliance oversight, payroll controls, and continuous process improvement.
Deliver operational reporting, workforce insights, and analytics to support business decision-making and strategic planning.
Partner closely with HR team, Finance, IT, Legal, and business leaders to optimize people processes, enhance service delivery, and leverage technology solutions.
Compliance & Governance
Ensure compliance with all applicable employment, payroll, tax, privacy, and regulatory requirements across the jurisdictions in which Northland operates.
Establish and maintain robust governance frameworks, operational controls, policies, and procedures to ensure audit readiness and risk mitigation.
Monitor, assess, and proactively address operational, compliance, and service delivery risks while ensuring the confidentiality and security of employee information.
Projects & Continuous Improvement
Lead HR and payroll transformation initiatives, including technology implementations, automation, process redesign, and service model enhancements to improve efficiency, scalability, and employee experience.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen operational effectiveness and improve performance against established KPIs and SLAs.
Lead change management, user adoption, training, and operational readiness activities for new systems, tools, and ways of working.
Partner with cross-functional teams on strategic projects that enhance employee experience, operational excellence, and organizational effectiveness.
undefined
Who You AreA people leader:You are an experienced manager who leads, coaches, and develops a team of HR Services and Payroll professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and service excellence.Service-oriented:
You are passionate about delivering a high-quality employee experience and building efficient, customer-focused HR and payroll services that meet business and employee needs.Operationally driven:You thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day operational execution while driving operational excellence through standardized, scalable, and efficient processes.Continuous improvement champion:You are always looking for ways to simplify processes, leverage technology, automate work, and improve service delivery, productivity, and user experience.Data-driven:
You leverage metrics, KPIs, and insights to monitor performance, identify opportunities, solve problems, and make informed decisions.Collaborative influencer:You build strong partnerships across HR, Finance, IT, Legal, Payroll providers, and business leaders to drive alignment, improve outcomes, and achieve shared goals.Strong communicator:You communicate clearly and effectively with employees, leaders, and stakeholders at all levels, translating complex information into practical solutions.Detail and compliance focused:You have a strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy, governance, confidentiality, and compliance, ensuring high-quality service delivery and risk management..
Qualifications and ExperienceBachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field. Minimum 8+ years of progressive experience in HR Operations, Global Payroll, Shared Services, HR Technology, or HR Service Delivery. Minimum 5+ years of leadership or team management experience. Experience implementing and managing HR service delivery and case management models. Strong knowledge of ticketing systems and service management platforms. Experience driving process improvement, standardization, and automation initiatives. Strong understanding of HR data governance, reporting, and analytics. Experience supporting audits, compliance activities, and HR operational controls. Advanced Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and reporting capabilities. Strong project and stakeholder management skills.
Nice to HavesExperience with Workday and related HR technology ecosystems.Experience with HR service management platforms (e.g., ServiceNow, Halo) and shared services delivery models.Experience leading global HR Operations and Payroll functions across multiple jurisdictions.Experience deploying AI, automation, and digital transformation initiatives to drive operational excellence and service innovation.
What’s In It for You:
Our employees are the driving force behind our achievements. We are unwavering in our commitment to not only recognise your contributions but also to empower you to excel in every aspect of your life. Here's a glimpse of why Northland is the place where you'll truly thrive:
Thoughtful benefits – A competitive RRSP matching scheme of 8%; extended health, dental and vision benefits for yourself and your immediate family from day one; paid parental leave; Accident and Life Insurance and disability benefits are just a few of the benefits you’ll be able to access.
Wellbeing first – Staying true to our taking care of ourselves and each other value, you will have acc