Director, Global Payroll Strategy and Americas Payroll (Hybrid - Rahway, NJ)
Merck
August 31, 2026
Remote friendly (Rahway, NJ)
United States
Human Resources
Responsibilities:
- Deliver HR and LATAM payroll for ~35,000 employees and lead Global Payroll Strategy; oversee payroll services via internal resources and external vendors.
- Create and execute a 3-year global payroll roadmap, including migrating finance-owned payrolls to HR.
- Improve governance and controls via governance/audit processes; collaborate with Legal/Compliance; lead after-action reviews for process failures.
- Manage global payroll vendors: contract oversight, performance monitoring, SLA compliance; evaluate payroll systems/technology/suppliers.
- Drive payroll transformation: process improvement, standardization, automation, improved accuracy and reporting.
- Collaborate with HR, Finance, IT, and Legal; provide IT budgeting/demand management for payroll initiatives.
- Analyze payroll data; report trends/metrics and recommendations to senior management.
- Oversee US Payroll & Tax Operations and team (20–25 people) across union and non-union environments.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (or in pursuit) or equivalent HR/Business/Payroll experience.
- 10+ years payroll experience with a large global company.
- People leadership experience (on-site/virtual), strong analytical/critical thinking, proactive leadership, change management, vendor/partner relationship management, excellent communication.
Skills (Required): Change Management; Global Payroll; Leadership; Partnership Strategy; Payroll; Payroll Compliance/Management/Services; People Leadership; Supplier/Vendor Management; Transformation Strategy.
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, vision; retirement (401(k)); paid holidays; vacation; compassionate and sick days.
Application:
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (Workday Jobs Hub for current employees). Application deadline listed on the posting.
- Deliver HR and LATAM payroll for ~35,000 employees and lead Global Payroll Strategy; oversee payroll services via internal resources and external vendors.
- Create and execute a 3-year global payroll roadmap, including migrating finance-owned payrolls to HR.
- Improve governance and controls via governance/audit processes; collaborate with Legal/Compliance; lead after-action reviews for process failures.
- Manage global payroll vendors: contract oversight, performance monitoring, SLA compliance; evaluate payroll systems/technology/suppliers.
- Drive payroll transformation: process improvement, standardization, automation, improved accuracy and reporting.
- Collaborate with HR, Finance, IT, and Legal; provide IT budgeting/demand management for payroll initiatives.
- Analyze payroll data; report trends/metrics and recommendations to senior management.
- Oversee US Payroll & Tax Operations and team (20–25 people) across union and non-union environments.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (or in pursuit) or equivalent HR/Business/Payroll experience.
- 10+ years payroll experience with a large global company.
- People leadership experience (on-site/virtual), strong analytical/critical thinking, proactive leadership, change management, vendor/partner relationship management, excellent communication.
Skills (Required): Change Management; Global Payroll; Leadership; Partnership Strategy; Payroll; Payroll Compliance/Management/Services; People Leadership; Supplier/Vendor Management; Transformation Strategy.
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, vision; retirement (401(k)); paid holidays; vacation; compassionate and sick days.
Application:
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (Workday Jobs Hub for current employees). Application deadline listed on the posting.