Director, Payroll Operations

The Director of Payroll Operations provides strategic operational and transformational leadership grounded in Vanderbilts mission and vision. The Director ensures accurate timely and compliant payroll processing while modernizing operations through automation advanced analytics process redesign and the effective use of Oracle Cloud HCM and other enabling technologies.

The Director serves as the institutions primary subject matter expert on payroll compliance employment tax and other payroll-related operational risks. This leader establishes a continuous improvement discipline that reduces manual work strengthens controls improves data integrity and creates a more efficient and responsive colleague experience.

The role requires a service-centered mindset and the ability to radically collaborate across People Culture and Belonging Finance VUIT and institutional business units to achieve shared goals. The Director will develop and execute a multiyear payroll modernization roadmap that advances payroll from a largely transactional function to a technology-enabled data-informed and scalable operation.

KeyFunctionsandExpectedPerformance:

Payroll Operations Management

• Provide leadership and oversight of all daily payroll operations ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing

• Supervise payroll staff establish priorities assign work and monitor performance

• Supervise the international tax team and oversee all 1042-S international tax reporting

• Ensure payroll processing complies with institutional policies collective bargaining agreements federal and state regulations and tax requirements

• Review and approve payroll transactions adjustments off-cycle payrolls and special payments

• Oversee payroll reconciliations payroll tax reporting deductions garnishments retirement contributions and month-end processing

• Oversee quarterly payroll tax filings at both the federal and state levels

• Maintain appropriate internal controls to safeguard payroll data and institutional assets

• Serve as the primary resource for resolving complex payroll issues and escalated employee concerns

Payroll Transformation and Operational Excellence

• Develop and execute a multiyear payroll modernization roadmap aligned with Vanderbilts mission growth and operational priorities.

• Assess and redesign payroll workflows procedures and controls to improve accuracy consistency efficiency and service.

• Optimize Oracle Cloud HCM and other enabling technologies to automate processes reduce manual intervention strengthen data integrity and improve employee self-service.

• Establish a continuous improvement discipline using process mapping root-cause analysis performance data and clear operational measures.

• Lead system enhancements testing and adoption while maintaining strong internal controls segregation of duties documentation and regulatory compliance.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws tax regulations retirement reporting requirements and higher education-specific payroll regulations.

• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting payroll operations and implement required updates.

• Coordinate internal and external payroll audits and respond to audit requests.

• Strengthen internal controls and ensure appropriate segregation of duties throughout payroll processes.

Systems and Collaboration

• Partner with VUIT Oracle team to optimize payroll system functionality

• Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate payroll accounting reconciliations and financial reporting

• Participate in system upgrades testing implementations and process enhancements

• Build strong collaborative relationships across departments to improve service delivery and communication

Leadership and Staff Development

• Provide coaching mentoring and guidance to payroll staff

• Foster a collaborative customer-focused and continuous improvement culture

• Identify training needs and support professional development opportunities

• Manage departmental priorities and allocate resources to meet institutional deadlines

SupervisoryRelationships:

This position has direct supervisory responsibility over the Assistant Director of Payroll and a total team size of five payroll and international tax professionals.

EducationandCertifications:

• A bachelors degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required.

• Advanced degree (MBA or Masters degree a related field) is preferred.

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is preferred.

ExperienceandSkills:

• Eight or more years of progressively responsible payroll experience in a large complex organization of 3000 or more employees including multi-state payroll tax compliance.

• Experience with nonresident foreign national taxation U.S. tax treaties and international tax compliance systems.

• Deep expertise with enterprise HR and payroll platforms such as Oracle Cloud HCM Workday PeopleSoft or SAP.

• Demonstrated experience leading payroll automation process optimization or technology-enabled transformation.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop payroll and tax professionals.

• Proficiency in payroll analytics and experience applying AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency controls and decision-making.

• Experience with workflow automation or process optimization applied to payroll or HR operations.

• Adaptability sound judgment and unquestioned integrity.