Director of Payroll Operations & HRIS (UKG)

📍 Tampa, FL
💼 Full-Time | Exempt
💲 $115,000 – $130,000 Annually + Comprehensive Benefits

Join Rocket Youth

Rocket Youth is a fast-growing organization that operates youth sports, enrichment, and after-school programs across the United States. Through strategic acquisitions and organic growth, we continue to expand our portfolio of brands while providing centralized support across Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, Marketing, Technology, Analytics, and Operations.

With 10–15 acquisitions completed annually, Rocket Youth offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a dynamic, high-growth environment where innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence drive success.

Learn more about us: www.rocketyouth.com

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Employee discounts
• Professional growth opportunities within a rapidly expanding organization

Position Summary

Rocket Youth is seeking an experienced Director of Payroll Operations & HRIS (UKG) to lead enterprise-wide payroll operations and oversee the strategy, optimization, and scalability of our UKG platform across a multi-state, multi-entity organization.

This highly visible leadership role will partner closely with HR, Finance, IT, and executive leadership to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance, enhance HRIS capabilities, support acquisitions and integrations, and drive operational efficiencies across the business.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with deep payroll expertise, advanced UKG knowledge, and experience supporting growth-focused organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations Leadership

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations across multiple business entities and states
• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all employees
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations
• Develop and implement payroll controls, procedures, and best practices
• Oversee payroll audits, reporting, and data integrity initiatives

HRIS Strategy & UKG Administration

• Serve as the primary owner and subject matter expert for the UKG platform
• Drive continuous improvement of HRIS processes, workflows, automation, and system functionality
• Partner with stakeholders to identify opportunities for process optimization and enhanced user experience
• Manage system configurations, upgrades, testing, and ongoing enhancements
• Develop and maintain HRIS reporting, dashboards, and workforce analytics

Acquisition Integration & Organizational Growth

• Support onboarding and integration of newly acquired companies into payroll and HRIS systems
• Standardize payroll and HRIS processes across acquired businesses
• Ensure seamless transitions while maintaining compliance and operational continuity
• Collaborate with leadership on scalability initiatives that support organizational growth

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with HR, Finance, IT, Operations, and executive leadership to align payroll and HRIS strategies with business objectives
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), training materials, and user documentation
• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to payroll and HRIS team members
• Deliver key metrics, KPI reporting, and workforce insights to leadership teams

Qualifications

Required

• 10+ years of progressive payroll and HRIS experience
• 5+ years of advanced UKG experience
• Experience managing multi-state and multi-entity payroll operations
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, tax compliance, and wage and hour laws
• Proven experience in high-growth, complex, or acquisition-driven organizations
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities

Preferred

• UKG implementation, optimization, or transformation experience
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation
• Experience supporting private equity-backed organizations
• Experience working within multi-brand or decentralized business structures

Why Join Rocket Youth?

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role within a rapidly expanding organization. You'll help shape payroll and HR technology strategy, support business growth through acquisitions, and make a meaningful impact across a diverse portfolio of brands.

If you are passionate about payroll excellence, HR technology, process improvement, and organizational growth, we'd love to hear from you.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rocket Youth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.