Payroll Transformation Lead (2-year fixed-term contract)

Company Description Syngenta Group is one of the world’s biggest agricultural technology companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. With more than 59,000 employees, operating in more than 100 countries, the company strives to transform food production through Regenerative Agriculture - a science-driven, technology-enabled approach to improve soil, deliver high productivity and high-quality food, help fight climate change and restore lost biodiversity. Syngenta Group, which is registered in Shanghai, China, and has its management headquarters in Switzerland, draws strength from its four business units: Syngenta Crop Protection, headquartered in Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds, headquartered in the United States; ADAMA®, headquartered in Israel; and Syngenta Group China. Together, these businesses provide industry-leading ways to serve customers around the world.

Job Description

• Lead the Global Payroll transformation agenda, translating strategic priorities into clear workplans, deliverables and measurable outcomes.
• Act as a trusted transformation partner to the Global Payroll Lead, providing independent analysis, constructive challenge and practical recommendations on priorities.
• Own stakeholder engagement and progress tracking across the transformation portfolio, maintaining clear visibility of decisions, risks, dependencies and benefits.
• Identify and assess opportunities to improve payroll operating models, processes, controls, technology and service delivery.
• Build credible business cases and recommendations that balance business value, feasibility, risk, control requirements, cost sensitivity and implementation implications.
• Lead structured problem-solving on complex payroll topics, including AI and automation opportunities, vendor options, operating-model improvements and process standardisation.
• Translate complex payroll, technology, vendor and control issues into clear options and implementation plans for leadership review.
• Support the governance and sustainable implementation of approved changes by coordinating activities, communications, timelines, risks and stakeholder expectations.
• Embed continuous improvement in Global Payroll through scalable methods, governance approaches, KPIs, templates and lessons learned.
• Contribute to the maturity of the Global Payroll function by identifying better ways of working and sharing reusable improvement practices.

Qualifications

• At least 8–10 years’ relevant experience in overseeing service delivery models of payroll, global payroll operations, payroll transformation, HR operations, global mobility payroll, consulting or a closely related field across multiple countries at a high-level.
• Strong knowledge of global payroll operations, end-to-end payroll processes.
• Experience leading complex transformation, process improvement, operating-model review, technology assessment or organisational-change initiatives.
• Practical understanding of payroll governance, controls, compliance, risk management and outsourced, in-house or hybrid delivery models.
• Ability to analyse complex payroll issues, identify root causes and improvement opportunities, and develop practical, evidence-based recommendations.
• Experience developing business cases, options papers, implementation roadmaps and decision-ready communications for senior stakeholders.
• Strong project-management and stakeholder-management capability, including planning, risk and dependency management, facilitation and delivery tracking.
• Clear, concise communication and influencing skills; experience with payroll automation, AI or digital enablement is an advantage, as is international assignee payroll or global mobility experience.

Additional Information What We Offer An environment where every voice matters, professional growth is encouraged, and work-life balance is prioritized.

Comprehensive benefits package tailored to your location along with learning and development opportunities, wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and additional benefits in accordance with local practices.

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.