HR Operations and Payroll Specialist

SUMMARY

About Ketjen
Ketjen Corporation is a provider of advanced catalyst solutions to leading producers in the petrochemical, refining, and specialty chemicals industries. Our company is driven by a strong set of core values: curiosity, care, collaboration, humility, accountability, and integrity. These values guide our decisions, shape our culture, and define how we work together to deliver exceptional value to our customers and communities.

About the Role

The HR Operations Specialist plays a critical role in delivering high quality HR operational support, ensuring data accuracy, maintaining compliance, and creating an exceptional employee experience. This role provides comprehensive HR and administrative support across all U.S. plant locations and serves as a key point of contact for employees and leaders.

The Specialist manages a wide range of HR processes including onboarding/offboarding, benefits administration, absence and time management, payroll reporting, recruiting coordination, and inquiry management. The ideal candidate is detail oriented, skilled in HRIS systems (Workday preferred), and thrives in a fast paced, service focused environment. The HR Operations Team Lead works closely with this position and oversees the work to ensure consistent execution across locations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Employee Support & Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for HR operational inquiries through the case management system and approved support channels.

• Resolve standard requests related to HR policies, benefits navigation, leave routing, pay, timekeeping, HRIS data, and employee information changes.

• Intake, triage, research, and resolve inquiries; escalate complex, sensitive, or high risk issues to HRBPs, Employee Relations, Payroll, Leave, Total Rewards, or Legal.

• Assist with onboarding, employee setup, orientation logistics, and offboarding activities.

• Maintain confidentiality and communicate clearly and professionally in all interactions.

Payroll & Benefits Administration

• Validate data for payroll readiness, including effective dates, earnings, deductions, work locations, and tax setups for all US locations.

• Provide support for timekeeping questions and exceptions, including educating employees and managers on correct punches, transfers, and schedules, and partnering with Payroll and Time teams to resolve issues

• Support employees with benefits navigation, enrollment steps, and life event changes; direct them to appropriate resources and vendor partners.

• Identify recurring issues in pay, time, leave, or data quality and escalate potential system defects with clear examples.

Cross-Functional & Backup Support

• Provide backup support to HR Business Partners as needed across U.S. locations.

• Collaborate with HR, Payroll, Finance, and plant leadership to support enterprise-wide HR initiatives and administrative projects.

Process Management & Compliance

• Serve as a subject matter expert on HR operational processes, data standards, and documentation requirements.

• Ensure compliance with internal HR procedures and support audits and time sensitive reporting activities.

• Recommend and help implement process improvements that increase efficiency and service consistency.

Continuous Improvement & Decision Making

• Work independently, exercise sound judgment, and make consistent decisions aligned with company values.

• Contribute to HR Operations projects focused on standardization, efficiency, and enhanced employee experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or equivalent field

• 3+ years of experience in HR operations, payroll, office administration, or related experience; multi-location or manufacturing experience preferred

• Strong verbal/written communication skills and customer service orientation.

• Proficiency in MS Office (especially Excel) and experience with HRIS platforms (Workday preferred).

• Knowledge of HR processes related to payroll, benefits, hiring, and compliance.

• Strong analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities across locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in an HR Service Center or HR Contact Center environment.

• Experience with payroll processes and recruiting coordination.

• Experience with case management tools (ServiceNow, FreshWorks, etc.).

• High level of confidentiality, professionalism, organizational skills, and adaptability.