Sr. Director, Global Payroll (Workday/Global Operations)

Job Description

Title: Sr. Director, Global Payroll (Workday/Global Operations)

Location: Cambridge, MA (Hybrid – 4 Days Onsite)

Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire (3–6 Months)

Status: Accepting Candidates

About the role

Join a leadership team responsible for transforming and optimizing global payroll operations across multiple regions. This role focuses on driving operational excellence, compliance, payroll transformation initiatives, and executive-level partnership across HR, Finance, and Tax functions.

The ideal candidate will have extensive global payroll leadership experience, strong Workday expertise, and a proven background leading payroll operations through process transformation and operational improvements.

Key Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end global payroll operations across:

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Australia

Partner directly with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders across:

• Finance
• Tax
• HR
• Drive payroll transformation, process improvement, and operational optimization initiatives
• Strengthen internal payroll controls, compliance processes, and governance practices
• Lead payroll vendor management and regional payroll standardization efforts
• Identify operational gaps and implement scalable payroll solutions
• Develop and mentor high-performing payroll teams
• Support executive reporting, payroll analytics, and strategic recommendations
• Ensure compliance with multi-country payroll regulations and requirements
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across payroll systems and operations

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher (Required)
• 12+ years of payroll leadership experience
• Strong experience managing global payroll operations

Hands-on payroll experience supporting:

• US
• Canada
• UK
• Australia

Strong understanding of Australian payroll requirements including:

• STP
• Superannuation
• Experience leading payroll transformation or operational cleanup initiatives
• Strong vendor management experience
• Strong multi-country payroll compliance knowledge
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work onsite in Cambridge, MA four days per week

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Workday Payroll
• CPP certification
• Experience reporting into Finance or Tax organizations

Experience working in:

• Biotech
• Life Sciences
• Pharmaceutical industries

Compensation

• Competitive compensation package - $114/hr. to $125/hr. (Contract-to-Hire)
• Final compensation will be based on skills, experience, and interview results.
• Work Schedule: Hybrid – 4 Days Onsite Weekly
• Contract Duration: 3–6 Months with strong conversion potential