Senior Manager, People Operations

Are you ready to trade your job for a journey? Become a FlyMate!

Passion, excitement & global collaboration are all core to what it means to be a FlyMate. At Flywire, we’re on a mission to deliver the world’s most important and complex payments. We use our Flywire Advantage - the combination of our next-gen payments platform, proprietary payment network and vertical specific software, to help our clients get paid, and help their customers pay with ease - no matter where they are in the world.

What more do we need to truly be unstoppable? Perhaps, that is you! 

Who we are: 

Flywire is a global payments enablement and software company, founded more than a decade ago to solve high-stakes, high-value payments in higher education. We’ve since scaled into new regions and industry verticals and expanded our product offerings to deliver meaningful value to our clients around the world. 

Today we support more than 5,100 clients across the global education, healthcare, travel & B2B industries, with diverse payment methods across 240 countries & territories and more than 140 currencies.

With over 1,200 global FlyMates, representing more than 40 nationalities, and in 12 offices world-wide, we’re looking for FlyMates to join the next stage of our journey as we continue to grow.a

The Opportunity:

The Senior Manager, People Operations leads the global delivery of People Operations, ensuring accurate, compliant, and consistent execution of employee lifecycle processes at scale.

This role is accountable for defining and elevating the effectiveness of the People Operations operating model, translating it into clear service delivery standards, controls, and execution expectations. Serving as a key governance and operational enablement layer for data integrity, process governance, and audit readiness across Workday and the broader People systems landscape, the role ensures reliable downstream outcomes.

Operating with a global remit, the individual strengthens operational discipline and drives improvements through automation and AI-enabled solutions to enhance efficiency, scale impact, and deliver a seamless employee experience globally. 

Leading a globally distributed team across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas, this role drives consistent global standards, seamless cross-regional delivery, and effective coordination across time zones.

Key Responsibilities

1) Global Service Delivery & Operations Management

• Drive a global-first operating approach that balances standardized workflows with necessary regional and compliance considerations
• Lead end-to-end delivery of employee lifecycle processes globally, ensuring consistent execution against defined service levels, quality, and throughput
• Ensure accurate, timely, and consistent processing of transactions across regions in a high-volume environment
• Monitor operational performance and drive improvements to maintain service reliability and effectiveness
• Drive service excellence through scalable, user-centric operational practices and continuous improvement initiatives
• Use operational metrics and insights to identify trends, inform prioritisation, and support data-driven decision-making

2) Operating Model Execution & Process Discipline

• Operationalise and continuously refine the People Operations operating model, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and ownership across the broader People team
• Standardise processes globally while ensuring appropriate regional compliance and flexibility
• Drive adherence to defined processes and remove inefficiencies or low-impact activities

3) Data Integrity, Controls & Governance

• Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of employee data within Workday as the system of record
• Establish and enforce process controls and governance frameworks, ensuring consistent application of standards and minimising operational and compliance risk across regions
• Oversee audit readiness and support internal and external audits (including SOX where applicable)
• Ensure minimal downstream issues attributable to upstream data or process failures

4) Systems, Automation & AI Enablement

• Drive process improvements that simplify and enhance the employee and manager experience while reducing manual touchpoints
• Lead operational transformation initiatives through process redesign, automation, and scalable operational models
• Leverage system capabilities, AI-enabled tools, and technology solutions to improve efficiency, scalability, and operational insight
• Partner with People Systems and Technology teams to optimise Workday and related platforms, ensuring strong system governance, usability, and reliable service delivery

5) Cross-Functional Partnership & Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Global People and cross-functional teams to ensure clear ownership, seamless handoffs, and consistent execution across the employee lifecycle
• Act as a key escalation point for complex operational issues and ensure timely, effective resolution
• Support alignment across functions to improve operational efficiency and service delivery

6) Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, coach, and develop a globally distributed People Operations team across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas, ensuring strong regional coordination, operational consistency, and clear accountability across time zones.
• Set clear expectations for quality, accountability, and service delivery performance
• Build team capability in systems, process discipline, and problem-solving
• Drive a culture of precision, ownership, and continuous improvement

7) Regional & Global Compliance Support

• Ensure adherence to labor laws and regulatory requirements across regions, in partnership with Legal and regional experts
• Support compliance activities, audits, and reporting requirements across jurisdictions
• Ensure consistent and compliant execution of People policies globally

Here's what we are looking for :

Experience & Expertise

• 10+ years of relevant experience in People Operations, HR Operations, or similar functions, including demonstrated experience leading geographically distributed teams across multiple regions and time zones within a global operating environment
• Strong hands-on experience with Workday, including transaction processing and data governance, with the ability to interpret and validate reporting outputs
• Demonstrated experience driving process improvements, automation, or system optimisation, including the use of AI-enabled tools
• Experience operating within a controlled, audit-driven environment (SOX exposure preferred)
• Experience working across multiple regions with understanding of global and local compliance requirements, including support for mergers, acquisitions, integrations, or organisational transitions

Capabilities

• Strong operational leadership with the ability to translate direction into disciplined execution
• High level of precision and a strong control and governance mindset
• Demonstrated ability to balance operational rigor with continuous improvement and scalable innovation
• Proven ability to lead and influence across diverse cultures and work styles; experience managing teams in a distributed environment is essential
• Able to effectively engage and collaborate across APAC, EMEA, and Americas time zones within a globally distributed operating environment
• Ability to manage complexity and ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with sound judgment in escalation and risk management
• Clear, concise communication and ability to influence across stakeholders

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently high data accuracy and low error rates across global operations
• Effective follow-the-sun operational coverage with seamless cross-regional handoffs and escalation management
• Strong audit outcomes with robust, compliant, and well-documented processes
• Reliable delivery against defined service levels, with clear visibility into operational performance metrics including quality, timeliness, and throughput
• Measurable improvements in efficiency, automation, and reduction in manual work through process and system optimisation
• High-performing global team with strong accountability, ownership, and operational discipline
• Minimal downstream issues attributable to upstream data or process failures

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Flying Start - Our immersive Global Induction Program (Meet our Execs & Global Teams)
• Work with brilliant people that will keep you on your toes, learn more about their journeys by checking out #InsideFlywire on social media
• Dynamic & Global Team (we have been collaborating virtually for years!)
• Wellbeing Programs (Mental Health, Wellness, Yoga/Pilates/HIIT Classes) with Global FlyMates
• Be a meaningful part in our success - every FlyMate makes an impact
• Competitive time off including FlyBetter Days to volunteer in a cause you believe in and
• Digital Disconnect Days!
• Great Talent & Development Programs (Managers Taking Flight – for new or aspiring managers!)

Submit today and get started!

We are excited to get to know you! Throughout our process you can expect to meet with different FlyMates including the Hiring Manager, Peers on the team, the VP of the department, and a skills assessment. Your Talent Acquisition Partner will walk you through the steps and be your “go-to” person for any questions.

Flywire is an equal opportunity employer. With over 40 nationalities across 14 different offices diversity, gender equality, and inclusion are at the core of our people agenda. We believe our FlyMates are our greatest asset, and we’re excited to watch our unique culture evolve with each new hire.

#Li-Hybrid