Head Global HR & Payroll Operations

Overview

Senior operational leader responsible for the global delivery of HR Operations and Payroll services across all regions, including internal teams and external service providers, and for leading the operational delivery of HR Operations and Payroll transformation priorities.

What you'll do

• Lead regional People Function Operations and Payroll teams, providing strategic direction, accountability and oversight of end-to-end global HR Operations and Payroll services.
• Oversee onboarding, managed workforce administration, people administration, Mobility Operations, pre-payroll, payroll processing and payments, people data maintenance, reporting and related compliance activities.
• Manage resources, operational capacity, service performance, KPIs, SLAs, escalations and continuous improvement.
• Act as the senior operational point of contact for HR Operations and Payroll service providers, defining and managing service scope, overseeing mobilisation and transitions, and leading performance and improvement reviews.
• Oversee provider governance, contractual performance, operational risks, statutory compliance, financial controls, budgets, audit requirements and business continuity.
• Drive the operational implementation of transformation priorities, including requirements definition, RFP and provider selection, implementation, service transition, automation, process standardisation and technology improvements.
• Work closely with Finance, Reward, People Advisory, Procurement, Digital & Technology and regional stakeholders to strengthen operational resilience, systems effectiveness and employee experience.
• Build team capability and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, compliance and continuous improvement.

What you'll need

• Significant operational leadership experience across global or multi-country Payroll and HR Operations, shared services and payroll transformation within a complex organisation.
• Strong operational knowledge of onboarding, managed workforce administration, people administration, Mobility Operations, pre-payroll, payroll processing and payments, people data and reporting.
• Proven experience leading geographically dispersed operations through regional leads, managers and specialist teams.
• Extensive experience managing outsourced and hybrid service-delivery models, including governance of major service providers and payroll vendors.
• Proven accountability for operational performance, KPIs, SLAs, customer outcomes, service recovery and continuous improvement.
• Experience leading operational transformation, RFP or provider-selection activity, service transition, technology implementation and stabilisation.
• Strong understanding of payroll and HR Operations controls, statutory compliance, audit, data privacy, accounting interfaces and business continuity.
• Experience managing operational budgets, suppliers and commercial performance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with evidence of using data and root-cause insight to improve services and controls.
• Excellent stakeholder leadership and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across People Function, Finance, Procurement, Technology, countries and providers.
• A relevant degree in HR, Finance, Business, Operations or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• CIPP qualified or equivalent professional payroll qualification, or significant work experience and technical competence.
• Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.

Nice to have

• Experience implementing global HR Operations, payroll, workforce-administration or shared-service technology solutions.
• Experience working in a global matrix organisation across diverse regulatory and cultural environments.
• Professional payroll qualification such as CIPP or equivalent, or significant technical payroll competence.
• Professional HR, shared services, service-management or operations qualification.
• Programme or project-management qualification such as MSP, PRINCE2 or PMP.
• Lean Six Sigma or another recognised operational-excellence qualification.
• Familiarity with HRIS, timekeeping, workforce-management, case-management and payroll platforms and integrations.
• An HR, service-management, operations or programme-management qualification.

Details

• Location: Noida, India.
• Department: People Function. Contract: Indefinite.
• Reports to the Director – People Function & Payroll Operations.
• Candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in India at the time of application; mobility, relocation or visa sponsorship is not provided.
• Hybrid working may be possible, subject to line management approval and service requirements, and can be explored at interview.