Global Payroll & Time Strategy Lead

As the Global Payroll & Time Strategy Lead, you will be a key member of the newly established Global HR Technology team, providing both strategic as well as hands-on direction for payroll and timekeeping systems for 45,000 employees across 62 countries.

The ideal candidate is proficient in Workday HCM and experienced in global payroll and timekeeping systems. They will lead enterprise payroll and timekeeping strategy, partnering with various teams and senior stakeholders across HR, Legal, Tax, Treasury, Total Rewards, IT, Procurement and Finance. Responsibilities include ensuring efficient payroll operations, supporting pay programs, managing suppliers, optimizing processes, and ensuring compliance. Additionally, they will consult on the implementation of third-party vendors and mentor payroll and time specialists globally. Active working expertise in Workday HCM is crucial to ensure our payroll and time landscape can become fully integrated with Workday HCM as the source system.

Key Responsibilities: 
As the Global Payroll & Time Strategy Lead, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a global payroll and timekeeping strategy that emphasizes cost and operational efficiency.

You will ensure compliant, timely, and accurate payments worldwide, supporting organizational changes such as new entity establishment and M&A activities. Staying updated on technology advancements, regulatory changes, and industry developments is crucial for this role.

You will oversee global payroll and time vendor relations (including selection, negotiation, and vendor (performance) management), in close collaboration with our Indirect Procurement team.

Identifying global risks, establishing continuity plans, and implementing controls are key responsibilities. Additionally, you will establish global standards and leading practices, fostering knowledge sharing among internal stakeholders in a community of practice.

Your role involves deploying domain expertise across projects and initiatives, designing processes that ensure compliance with HR, financial, and regulatory policies. You will maximize process and technology effectiveness by initiating continuous improvement activities. Establishing KPIs to monitor global payroll and time operations is essential.

Finally, you will provide subject matter expertise to local payroll specialists, maintain standard work for critical processes, and sustain ongoing payroll competencies.

What We Expect of You:

·      Education & experience: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Advanced experience partnering across functions such as finance, tax, IT, HR, and payroll teams within a global organization.

·         Systems Knowledge: Experience with pay processing, HCM, and timekeeping systems. Workday and UKG Dimensions preferred.

·         Supplier Management: Experience working with external suppliers and managing relationships from RFP to contract conclusion.

·         Continuous Improvement: Successful application of lean tools to drive improvement in performance indicators.

·         Project Leadership: Advanced experience leading projects (through various gate reviews) and effective change management.

·      Relationship Management: Strong communication and influence skills at all levels, able to drive system and process improvements on a globally standardized level while balancing local needs.

·         Organizational Acumen: Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities and meet tight timelines.

·         Experience with shared services centres (in HR context) is considered a plus.

·         Language skills: Proficient in English, any other language knowledge (e.g. French, German,...) is considered a plus. 

·        International travel up to 20% can be expected.

Join us to lead and innovate our global payroll and timekeeping strategy, ensuring a seamless and compliant experience for our employees worldwide, in close cooperation with our Global HR Technology team and local payroll specialists/teams and stakeholders worldwide.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits and programs. We are an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any legally protected status.