Global Payroll Project Lead

The Role

Were looking for an experienced Global Payroll Project Lead to drive the successful delivery of a global payroll transformation programme including the implementation of outsourced payroll services across multiple regions.

Working closely with HR Finance Technology and external service providers you will lead the end-to-end project lifecycle ensuring a seamless transition to a scalable efficient and compliant payroll operating model. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of payroll delivery within a global organisation enhancing processes controls reporting capabilities and service excellence.

What Youll Be Doing

Lead a Global Payroll Transformation Programme

• Take ownership of the end-to-end payroll outsourcing implementation from project initiation through to go-live and post-implementation support.

• Ensure project milestones deliverables timelines and budgets are effectively managed and achieved.

• Drive collaboration across global and regional teams to deliver a successful business outcome.

Partner with Key Stakeholders

• Work closely with HR Finance Technology teams and in-country payroll stakeholders to gather requirements define scope and align on business objectives.

• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders ensuring effective communication throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support business readiness and change management activities across impacted regions.
  

Drive Process Improvement and Operational Excellence

• Review current payroll processes and identify opportunities to standardise streamline and strengthen controls.

• Implement improvements that enhance payroll accuracy efficiency compliance and employee experience.

• Help establish best practice payroll processes that support long-term organisational growth.
  

Design a Future-Focused Payroll Operating Model

• Define and implement a sustainable global payroll service delivery model.

• Reduce operational risk by addressing key-person dependencies and improving resilience across payroll operations.

• Ensure reporting data insights and system integrations meet business and strategic requirements working with vendors and internal teams as necessary.
  

Manage Third-Party Vendors

• Act as the primary point of contact for external payroll providers throughout implementation and transition.

• Monitor vendor performance against agreed service levels and project commitments.

• Ensure service delivery meets operational compliance and business expectations.
  

Enable Successful Adoption

• Develop training materials and deliver knowledge-transfer sessions to HR and payroll teams.

• Support users through process changes and adoption of new tools systems and ways of working.
  

Manage Risk and Governance

• Identify and mitigate project risks issues and dependencies.

• Establish effective governance and reporting structures to support project delivery.

• Provide regular updates to project sponsors and senior leadership on progress milestones and key decisions.

What Youll Bring

• Significant experience leading payroll transformation payroll outsourcing or large-scale payroll implementation projects within a multinational organisation.

• Proven track record of delivering complex global payroll programmes from planning through to implementation.

• Strong understanding of payroll operations outsourcing models and payroll compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

• Excellent project management skills with experience applying structured project methodologies; Agile experience is advantageous.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of an organisation.

• Experience managing third-party suppliers and service providers.

• Confidence working with payroll systems data reporting and integrations.

• Strong analytical problem-solving and process improvement capabilities.