Director, Payroll Operations (10008652)

The Director of Payroll Operations provides strategic, operational, and transformational leadership
grounded in Vanderbilt’s mission and vision. The Director ensures accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing while modernizing
operations through automation, advanced analytics, process redesign, and the effective use of Oracle Cloud HCM and other enabling
technologies.

The Director serves as the institution’s primary subject matter expert on payroll compliance, employment tax, and other
payroll-related operational risks. This leader establishes a continuous improvement discipline that reduces manual work, strengthens
controls, improves data integrity, and creates a more efficient and responsive colleague experience.

The role requires a
service-centered mindset and the ability to radically collaborate across People, Culture and Belonging, Finance, VUIT, and institutional
business units to achieve shared goals. The Director will develop and execute a multiyear payroll modernization roadmap that advances
payroll from a largely transactional function to a technology-enabled, data-informed, and scalable operation.

Key
Functions and Expected Performance:

Payroll Operations
Management

• Provide leadership and oversight of all daily payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely payroll
  processing
• Supervise payroll staff, establish priorities, assign work, and monitor performance
• Supervise the international
  tax team and oversee all 1042-S international tax reporting
• Ensure payroll processing complies with institutional policies,
  collective bargaining agreements, federal and state regulations, and tax requirements
• Review and approve payroll transactions,
  adjustments, off-cycle payrolls, and special payments
• Oversee payroll reconciliations, payroll tax reporting, deductions,
  garnishments, retirement contributions, and month-end processing
• Oversee quarterly payroll tax filings at both the federal and state
  levels
• Maintain appropriate internal controls to safeguard payroll data and institutional assets
• Serve as the primary
  resource for resolving complex payroll issues and escalated employee concerns

Payroll Transformation and Operational
Excellence

• Develop and execute a multiyear payroll modernization roadmap aligned with Vanderbilt’s mission, growth and
  operational priorities.
• Assess and redesign payroll workflows, procedures, and controls to improve accuracy, consistency,
  efficiency, and service.
• Optimize Oracle Cloud HCM and other enabling technologies to automate processes, reduce manual
  intervention, strengthen data integrity, and improve employee self-service.
• Establish a continuous improvement discipline using
  process mapping, root-cause analysis, performance data, and clear operational measures.
• Lead system enhancements, testing, and
  adoption while maintaining strong internal controls, segregation of duties, documentation, and regulatory
  compliance.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws, tax
  regulations, retirement reporting requirements, and higher education-specific payroll regulations.
• Monitor legislative and
  regulatory changes affecting payroll operations and implement required updates.
• Coordinate internal and external payroll audits and
  respond to audit requests.
• Strengthen internal controls and ensure appropriate segregation of duties throughout payroll
  processes.

Systems and Collaboration

• Partner with VUIT Oracle team to optimize payroll system
  functionality
• Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate payroll accounting, reconciliations, and financial
  reporting
• Participate in system upgrades, testing, implementations, and process enhancements
• Build strong collaborative
  relationships across departments to improve service delivery and communication

Leadership and Staff
Development

• Provide coaching, mentoring, and guidance to payroll staff
• Foster a collaborative, customer-focused, and
  continuous improvement culture
• Identify training needs and support professional development opportunities
• Manage
  departmental priorities and allocate resources to meet institutional deadlines

Supervisory
Relationships:

This position has direct supervisory responsibility over the Assistant Director of Payroll, and a
total team size of five payroll and international tax professionals.

Education and
Certifications:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required.
• Advanced
  degree (MBA or Master’s degree esp. in a related field) is preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is
  preferred.

Experience and Skills:

• Eight or more years of progressively
  responsible payroll experience in a large, complex organization of 3,000 or more employees, including multi-state payroll tax
  compliance.
• Experience with nonresident foreign national taxation, U.S. tax treaties, and international tax compliance
  systems.
• Deep expertise with enterprise HR and payroll platforms, such as Oracle Cloud HCM, Workday, PeopleSoft, or
  SAP.
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll automation, process optimization, or technology-enabled
  transformation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop payroll and tax professionals.
• Proficiency in payroll analytics and
  experience applying AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency, controls, and decision-making.
• Experience with workflow automation or
  process optimization applied to payroll or HR operations.
• Adaptability, sound judgment, and unquestioned
  integrity.

About Us

At Vanderbilt
University , our work – regardless of title or role – is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our
community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large
Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those
who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an
employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique
and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt
University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other
characteristic protected by law.

Job Info

• Job Identification 10008652
• Posting Date 07/23/2026,
  09:18 AM
• Locations Nashville, TN, United States (Hybrid)
• Job Schedule Full time
• Job Category People
  Operations
• Job Function Payroll
• Management Level Management 3

Tagged as: Employment