Senior Manager, Payroll & Benefits

Position Overview

Woolpert is hiring a Senior Manager, Payroll & Benefits to join our Human Resources team based in the United States. The role will lead Woolpert's payroll and benefits team with advanced expertise, elevated decision-making authority, and cross-functional leadership. Oversee complex payroll and benefits functions, supports international expansion, ensures compliance across jurisdictions, and serves as the Tier III escalation point above the Payroll & Benefits Manager. Partners closely with HR Operations, Regional HR, Accounting & Finance, Legal, IT, and external vendors to ensure accurate payroll delivery, compliant benefits programs, and exceptional employee experience across the organization. Plays a critical part in coordinating and supporting global regions to drive a unified "One Woolpert" payroll and benefits experience ensuring consistent standards, aligned processes, and collaborative delivery across all countries as Woolpert continues to scale internationally.

We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must already possess work authorization in the country the job is located.

What You Will Do:

• Serve as the Tier III escalation lead for payroll and benefits inquiries that require advanced expertise or judgment.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and functional leadership to the payroll and benefits team.
• Partner with AskHR, HRBPs, Regional HR, and Finance to ensure employees receive timely, accurate, and supportive payroll and benefits assistance.
• Support employees through complex payroll and benefits situations, including international hires, leave pay, garnishments, and corrections.
• Oversee compliance with wage & hour laws, benefits eligibility rules, tax withholding requirements, and reporting standards.
• Implement and maintain standard operating procedures, controls, and documentation to ensure consistency across payroll and benefits workflows.
• Coordinate and oversee quarterly and annual payroll filings, including W2s and 1095Cs.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives for payroll and benefits, identifying automation opportunities and reducing manual work.
• Collaborate with IT and HRIS to advance Dayforce functionality, including configuration enhancements, integrations, and global modules.
• Support implementation of new payroll structures for acquisitions globally.
• Manage vendor relationships at an advanced level, including benefits carriers, brokers, payroll providers, and international partners.
• Oversee complex payroll audits, benefits compliance reviews, and regulatory responses.
• Ensure Woolpert's payroll and benefits programs meet high standards of accuracy, compliance, and competitiveness.
• Establish and track KPIs for accuracy, service delivery, processing speed, and compliance targets.
• Oversee reconciliations, complex pay adjustments, leave pay calculations, and escalated discrepancies.
• Provide balanced recommendations that consider legal compliance, operational efficiency, and employee experience.
• Apply strong judgment when addressing sensitive pay or benefits matters, ensuring confidentiality and equitable solutions.
• Support organizational growth while maintaining healthy workload distribution, clear prioritization, and sustainable processes.
• Lead and develop a small team and/or cross functional workstreams.
• Support M&A integration for payroll/benefits, including transitioning acquired firms onto standard calendars, plans, and systems.

What You Will Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, or related field required.
• 12 years of experience in payroll processing and benefits administration required.
  
  
  
  • Experience may substitute for education at a 1:1 ratio. In lieu of a Bachelor's degree, an additional 4 years of relevant experience is required.
  
  
  
  
• FPC/CPP (APA), CEBS, SPHR, GPHR (or regional equivalent) preferred, but not required.
• Experience with Ceridian/Dayforce or similar HCM/payroll systems.
• Analytical rigor, vendor management, process design, data integrity, service orientation, and stakeholder communication.
• High integrity and ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Proficiency withDayforce(or comparable HCM/payroll), Excel, and vendor portals.
• Knowledge of multistate payroll laws, tax regulations, and benefits compliance.
• Strong analytical and problemsolving skills withdemonstratedability to resolve escalated payroll or benefits issues.
• Excellent communication, customer service, and crossfunctional partnering skills.
• Ability to manage deadlines across multiple time zones.
• Global experience coordinating payroll/benefits across at least 3 countries (e.g., EMEA or APAC) with in country providers preferred.
• Experience leading OE implementations, system upgrades, or multi country payroll launches in Dayforce preferred.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

• Prolongedperiodsworking at a computer.
• Occasional evening/earlymorning meetings to accommodate global cycles.

Travel Requirements:

• Must be able to travel up to 5% of the time for business purposes.

Benefits You Will Love

Certified as a Great Place to Work, Woolpert is one of the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and geospatial companies in the world. With over 75 offices and countless projects around the globe, you'll work on meaningful assignments that improve quality of life around the world. In addition to offering competitive pay, we provide employees with a robust set of unique benefits, including:

• Freedom to Work program: Set your own schedule and location (as appropriate).
• Principal program: Earn the opportunity to become an owner of the firm.
• Flexible paid time off/vacation: Take time off when it makes sense for you and your team.
• Career development: Explore a wide range of learning and growth opportunities within and across industries.
• Health, life, vision, and dental insurance: Cover all your medical bases.
• Paid sick time, retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, pet insurance, identity protection, technology stipend, employee assistance program, and more!

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