Senior HR Operations & Payroll Lead – ANZ

Merck Group; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck KGaA in Australia is seeking a Senior HR Specialist to oversee payroll and HR operations for Australia and New Zealand. You will partner with Finance, HR Partners, and vendors to deliver accurate payroll services, compliance, and insightful reporting.

The role focuses on employee lifecycle management, data integrity, and continuous improvement across HR systems and processes, contributing to a positive employee experience in a global life sciences context.

Qualifications

• Over 10 years of Payroll and HR Operations experience.
• Experience with HRIS, payroll systems, and benefits administration.
• Proven ability to partner with leaders and external vendors.
• Experience in multinational/pharma or regulated environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Administer end-to-end payroll and HR operations for AU/NZ.
• Ensure data accuracy, regulatory compliance, and reporting.
• Partner with Finance, HR Business Partners, and vendors.
• Lead HR projects and process improvements.

Skills

Payroll management

HR operations

Stakeholder management

Data privacy

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Multinational experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR management

Payroll certification

Tools

HRIS platforms

Payroll providers

Job description

Merck KGaA in Australia is seeking a Senior HR Specialist to oversee payroll and HR operations for Australia and New Zealand. You will partner with Finance, HR Partners, and vendors to deliver accurate payroll services, compliance, and insightful reporting.

The role focuses on employee lifecycle management, data integrity, and continuous improvement across HR systems and processes, contributing to a positive employee experience in a global life sciences context.