HR Operations and Payroll Specialist

Are you ready to move your career forward and help shape our company’s and customers’ futures?

If you aspire to challenge yourself, work with the best in the industry and join a successful team where you can make a meaningful contribution, then we invite you to join us at Ketjen Corporation, a provider of advanced catalyst solutions to leading producers in the petrochemical, refining, and specialty chemicals industries. Together, we can create a legacy marked by innovation, excitement, and energy.

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 and processing, 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, leave, pay, timekeeping, HRIS data, and employee information changes
• Intake, triage, research, and resolve inquiries; escalate complex or sensitive issues appropriately
• Support onboarding, employee setup, orientation logistics, and offboarding activities
• Maintain confidentiality and communicate clearly and professionally

Payroll Processing & Data Integrity

• Support end-to-end payroll activities, including preparation, input validation, and issue resolution
• Process and validate payroll data such as effective dates, earnings, deductions, taxes, and work locations across all U.S. sites
• Perform payroll audits and quality checks to ensure accuracy and compliance before final processing
• Partner with Payroll to resolve discrepancies, off-cycle payments, and complex pay issues
• Serve as a resource for employees and managers on pay and timekeeping-related questions
• Identify recurring payroll or data issues and recommend improvements or escalate system concerns

Benefits & Time Management Support

• Provide guidance on timekeeping processes, including correcting punches, transfers, and schedules
• Support employees with benefits navigation, enrollment, and life event changes
• Direct employees to appropriate vendors and resources when needed

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 on HR initiatives and projects

Process Management & Compliance

• Act as a subject matter resource on HR operational processes and data standards
• Ensure compliance with internal processes and support audits and reporting needs
• Recommend and support process improvements to increase efficiency and consistency

Continuous Improvement & Decision Making

• Work independently, applying sound judgment and consistent decision-making
• Contribute to HR Operations initiatives focused on standardization and employee experience

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field
• 3+ years of experience in HR operations with direct, hands-on payroll processing experience required
• Experience processing payroll in any HRIS or payroll system (Workday preferred but not required)
• Strong communication skills and customer service orientation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel)
• Knowledge of payroll, benefits, hiring, and compliance processes
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with high attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across locations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Workday HCM and/or Workday Payroll
• Experience in a multi-location or manufacturing environment
• Experience in an HR Service Center or HR Contact Center model
• Familiarity with case management tools (ServiceNow, FreshWorks, etc.)
• High level of professionalism, adaptability, and confidentiality

Benefits of Joining Ketjen

• Competitive compensation

• Comprehensive benefits package

• A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.

Apply today and help Ketjen unleash the POTENTIAL of advanced chemistry for industries that power the world.