Kayla M. J.

About Kayla M. J.

People-first, data-driven HR leader with 18+ years of experience scaling People Operations across payroll, benefits, compensation, immigration, HR systems, and compliance. At Away, I lead People Ops across 300+ global employees spanning corporate, retail, and international teams.I’ve also optimized HRIS systems, supported teams across the US, Canada, UK, and APAC, and improved vendor partnerships across benefits and payroll. Previously, I recovered $6M through COVID-era tax credits by redesigning payroll infrastructure to meet audit-ready standards.Known as a high-impact change agent, I step into chaos and bring clarity, structure, and care - building scalable, people-centered systems grounded in compliance, data integrity, and strategic impact.

Experience

1. Director, People Operations

   Away

   Jan 2025 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Lead the company’s Total Rewards strategy, ensuring compensation, benefits, and recognition programs are competitive, equitable, and aligned with our EVP. Oversee global payroll operations, compliance, and benefits administration across the U.S, UK, Canada, and APAC. Manage benchmarking using Salary.com and CompAnalyst to drive merit cycles and maintain internal equity. Partner with Legal, Finance, and Talent teams on compensation design, headcount planning, and workforce policy. Collaborate with outside counsel on visa management and international employment practices.Mentor and develop two direct reports, elevating Total Rewards and HRIS/Payroll functions to support a complex global workforce.Partner with Retail leaders to align People Ops and Total Rewards strategies across HQ and stores, ensuring a cohesive employee experience.Co-lead LAS Almas (Latinx ERG), advancing DEI efforts across a hybrid workforce.Key Achievements Built and implemented global compensation framework; secured buy-in from CEO, CFO, and SVP of People. Oversee EOR operations across six APAC countries in partnership with Deel, managing onboarding, payroll, and compliance. Led U.S. benefits broker transition to enhance employee support and legal compliance. Resolved recurring integration issues between Expensify and Deel, improving expense accuracy. Scaled People Ops infrastructure to support 330+ employees globally.

Education

• CUNY School of Professional Studies

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Business Administration, Management and Operations

• The City College of New York

  Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies