🚀 Now Hiring! Director of Payroll & HRIS

💼 Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt
📍 Location: Tampa, FL.
💰 Salary: $115k-$130k

Who Are We?   www.rocketyouth.com

About Rocket Youth

Rocket Youth owns and operates a growing portfolio of youth sports, enrichment, and after-school businesses across the United States. Our platform is intentionally multi-brand and multi-location, with each business maintaining its unique identity and local market focus.

We are highly acquisitive, completing approximately 10–15 acquisitions per year. Most of our companies are founder-led, with experienced local operators managing day-to-day operations.

Rocket Youth provides operational leadership and support services to improve performance and scale. These services span marketing, CRM, analytics, M&A/de-novo expansion, accounting, finance, HR, capital, and more. 

Summary:

The Director of Payroll & HRIS (UKG) is a strategic and operational leader responsible for enterprise-wide payroll execution and the vision, governance, and optimization of the UKG platform.

This role goes beyond administration—owning system architecture, scalability, and design strategy in a high-growth, acquisition-driven environment. The Manager will lead payroll operations across a complex, multi-state, and multi-entity structure while transforming UKG into a best-in-class platform that supports rapid onboarding, data-driven decision-making, and operational excellence.

You will serve as the expert subject matter for UKG, partnering cross-functionally with Finance, HR, IT, and M&A leadership to ensure seamless payroll processing, compliance, and scalable infrastructure. 

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary.
• 401(k).
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Employee discounts.
• PTO and more.

What You’ll Do:

• Own end-to-end payroll strategy and execution for a multi-entity, multi-state organization
• Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance across all payroll cycles (hourly, salaried, seasonal workforce)
• Ensure accurate processing, reconciliation, and recordkeeping of multi-unit, multi-state payroll
• Responsibility for system management, user training, and operational procedures
• Collaboratively work with cross-functional teams as well as with outside vendors to develop and launch new processes
• Resolve escalated payroll issues and/or discrepancies
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and organizational policies
• Liaise with auditors
• Work with the HR and finance departments to ensure payroll is aligned with organizational strategies.

UKG Strategy, Architecture & Transformation

• Serve as system owner and leader for UKG (HRIS, payroll, timekeeping)
• Deliver optimized processes and automated workflow for highly effective HCM system utilization
• HRIS lead and practitioner; produce SOPs & training materials, manage UKG helpdesk
• Executes payroll, manages payroll tax accounts, and ensures UKG accuracy and timeliness
• Deploys new module implementation, system enhancements, and ensures compliant processes
• Ensures data integrity, creates reports & dashboards, delivers KPI metric reporting
• Owns UKG client deliverables and problem resolution
• Oversee data, system configuration, compliance setup, and payroll process
• Define and execute the long-term UKG roadmap
• Lead enterprise configuration strategy (pay rules, earnings codes, org structure, security, workflows)
• Drive continuous improvement through system enhancements, releases, and feature adoption.

Data Governance, Analytics & Compliance

• Establish enterprise data governance standards ensuring accuracy, integrity, and security
• Develop reporting and analytics capabilities to support executive decision-making
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations and data privacy laws
• Lead internal/external audits and always maintain audit readiness

Qualifications Required

• 10+ years of progressive payroll and HRIS experience
• 5+ years of deep UKG expertise (configuration, administration, 360 integrations, reporting)
• Proven experience in a multi-entity, multi-state environment
• Experience operating in high-growth and/or acquisition-driven organizations
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, tax regulations, and governance

Preferred

• Experience leading UKG implementations, transformations, and module builds
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or equivalent certification
• Background in private equity-backed or roll-up environments

What Success Looks Like

• Seamless payroll execution with zero compliance risk
• Scalable UKG infrastructure supporting rapid acquisitions
• Reduced manual processes through automation and system optimization
• High-performing, self-sufficient payroll/HRIS team

RY is an equal opportunity employer, considering all applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.