Lead Operations & Payroll Manager

Overview

Provides strategic and operational leadership for global People Operations and payroll services, owning governance, service performance, compliance, risk management and continuous improvement across retained People teams, managed service providers, payroll vendors and other external partners.

What you'll do

• Translate People Function strategy into a controlled, measurable global operating model with clear accountabilities.
• Provide senior oversight of AskHR, retained HR service desks, outsourced operations and end-to-end payroll delivery, ensuring service quality, SLA performance, statutory compliance, payroll accuracy and financial controls.
• Lead supplier, commercial and financial governance, including contract management, vendor performance, purchase orders, invoice validation, budgets, cost optimisation and supplier payments.
• Drive global transformation, vendor consolidation, service transitions, automation, digitalisation and continuous improvement, including business cases, cost-benefit models, implementation plans, risk assessments, KPIs and benefits realisation.
• Own operational performance reporting, dashboards, executive insights, audit and assurance activities, using data and root-cause analysis to identify risks, capacity pressures and control weaknesses.
• Ensure robust documentation, business continuity, data protection and regulatory compliance across regions.
• Provide strategic advice to the PB10 Director, lead governance and transformation forums, manage complex escalations and align stakeholders on operational priorities.
• Lead, coach and develop managers and specialists, strengthen succession planning and operational resilience, and promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement.

What you'll need

• Substantial leadership experience in complex People Operations, payroll, shared services or outsourced service-delivery environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-country or global payroll and HR operations governance across internal teams and external providers.
• Strong knowledge of payroll operations, controls, reconciliations, statutory compliance, risk management and audit requirements.
• Experience managing service providers and payroll vendors through SLAs, KPIs, governance forums, corrective actions and commercial discussions.
• Experience designing or improving target operating models, processes, controls, SOPs, RACI structures and escalation frameworks.
• Proven delivery of transformation, transition, automation or vendor-consolidation initiatives with measurable outcomes.
• Experience preparing business cases, financial models, cost-benefit analysis, executive presentations and leadership recommendations.
• Advanced analytical capability, including strong Excel and presentation skills, and the ability to turn data into clear executive insight.
• Experience leading managers, specialists or matrix teams across different locations and priorities.
• Excellent stakeholder management, judgement, written communication and ability to operate in ambiguous or high-pressure situations.
• High-level written and verbal proficiency in English.
• Degree or equivalent professional experience in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Operations, Payroll or a related discipline.

Nice to have

• Experience of global payroll transformation, managed payroll services, payroll technology integration or HR service outsourcing.
• Knowledge of HRIS, case-management, reporting and workflow platforms such as SAP SuccessFactors, SAP, C4C/AskHR or equivalent.
• Experience of contracts, supplier invoice, purchase-order and financial-control governance within a global organisation.
• Exposure to continuous-improvement frameworks, process automation, data visualisation or AI-enabled service improvement.
• Experience working in an international matrix organisation and with senior governance or investment forums.
• Recognised payroll, HR or reward qualification (for example CIPP, CIPD or equivalent).
• Project, change or continuous improvement qualification (for example PRINCE2, PMP, Agile, Lean or Six Sigma).
• Commercial, procurement or contract-management training.

Details

• Location: Noida, India. Reports to the Director - Head of HR Operations and Payroll (PB10).
• Contract: Indefinite. Pay Band 8.
• Candidates must have the pre-existing legal right to work in India; no mobility, relocation or visa sponsorship is provided.
• Hybrid working may be available, subject to line management approval and service requirements, and can be explored at interview.
• Application deadline: Wednesday, Nov 18 (23:59 local time). Interview date TBD.