Director, Global Payroll

Who we are

Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud which is a platform that enables organizations that depend on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. At Samsara we are helping improve the safety efficiency and sustainability of the physical operations that power our global economy. Representing more than 40% of global GDP these industries are the infrastructure of our planet including agriculture construction field services transportation and manufacturing and we are excited to help digitally transform their operations at scale.

Working at Samsara means youll help define the future of physical operations and be on a team thats shaping an exciting array of product solutions including Video-Based Safety Vehicle Telematics Apps and Driver Workflows and Equipment Monitoring. As part of a recently public company youll have the autonomy and support to make an impact as we build for the long term.

About the role:

We are looking for a visionary tech-forward leader to architect and scale our global payroll this role you wont just manage a function; you will define the strategic roadmap for how Samsara compensates a world-class global workforce.

You will lead our global payroll operations transforming day-to-day execution into a high-precision automated system that supports our international growth. As a key partner to HR Tax Legal Accounting and Equity you will bridge the gap between financial integrity and employee experience. You will be the primary driver behind optimizing our global tech stack leveraging AI and automation to eliminate manual friction and ensuring that as Samsara grows our internal controls and compliance frameworks remain ironclad.

This is a remote position open to candidates in the U.S. Relocation assistance will not be provided for this role.

In this role you will:

• Drive Strategic Payroll Architecture: Provide visionary leadership for our global payroll operations utilizing data-driven metrics to monitor and relentlessly improve the efficiency and impact of our delivery model.
• Build a World-Class Team: Recruit mentor and develop an elite globally dispersed team of payroll professionals fostering a culture of high performance and continuous technical growth.
• Optimize Vendor Ecosystems: Own and evolve our relationships with external global service providers ensuring they meet Samsaras high standards for reliability and security.
• Engineer Global Precision: Oversee all global payroll cycles ensuring absolute accuracy and surgical compliance with US and international tax requirements across every jurisdiction.
• Strategic Cash & Treasury Partnership: Act as a key partner to the Treasury team by providing high-precision forecasting of global payroll cash outflows. You will ensure accurate cash positioning allowing for optimized liquidity management across all international entities.
• Champion Financial Integrity: Master of all aspects of payroll accounting. You will be a key partner to Accounting and FP&A during month-end close providing the flux analysis and variance reporting that informs our financial narrative.
• Lead Regulatory & Audit Excellence: Ensure all tax filings are executed with total accuracy. Lead the strategy for all payroll auditsincluding 401(k) Workers Comp and statutory filingsensuring our controls are always audit-ready.
• Partner on Total Rewards: Collaborate with Stock Admin Tax and People teams to execute seamless stock-based compensation (RSUs Options) while maintaining a rigorous focus on global tax compliance.
• Scale through AI & Automation: Identify and implement the next generation of scalable processes leveraging AI-driven anomaly detection and automation to enhance operational flow while maintaining robust internal controls.
• Focus on Employee Experience: Drive a customer-obsessed employee experience by providing proactive plain-English communications and training on complex topics like equity and tax. You will leverage AI-driven self-service tools and rigorous SLAs to ensure rapid high-touch resolution of all global payroll inquiries.
• Champion role model and embed Samsaras cultural principles (Focus on Customer Success Build for the Long Term Adopt a Growth Mindset Be Inclusive Win as a Team) as we scale globally and across new offices
• Hire develop and lead an inclusive engaged and high performing team

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Proven Global Track Record: 1015 years of progressive payroll leadership with a deep technical command of both US and international payroll landscapes.
• Global Leadership Pedigree: Demonstrated success in leading and scaling globally dispersed teams through periods of significant headcount growth.
• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of payroll accounting treasury cash positioning and the impact of payroll on the broader balance sheet.
• The Growth Mindset: A self-starter who thrives in high-velocity environments with the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously.
• Customer Obsession: A commitment to providing an elite high-trust experience for every Samsarian.

An ideal candidate also has:

• Technical Credentialing: Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or equivalent global certification.
• Expert Tech Stack Proficiency: Hands-on mastery of Workday and CloudPay is highly preferred with a focus on optimizing existing configurations.
• Automation Expertise: Experience leveraging AI RPA or advanced data analytics to drive cost savings and operational efficiency within a unified global system.