Senior HR Specialist Australia

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

Benefits

Work Your Magic with us!  Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

Role Purpose

As a Senior HR Specialist, you are responsible for the smooth and accurate administration of HR and payroll processes, ensuring compliance, data integrity, and a positive employee experience throughout the employee lifecycle. The role partners closely with HR Business Partners, Finance, business leaders, external vendors, and employees to deliver payroll services, HR operational support, regulatory compliance, HR reporting, and process improvement initiatives across Australia and New Zealand. The role also leads/ supports on global/ local projects related to payroll and HR Operations as required. Additionally, the role acts as a trusted advisor on HR and payroll matters while driving operational excellence and continuous improvement in people processes and systems.

Key Accountabilities

• Payroll Management and Compliance
• Manage end-to-end payroll operations across Australia and New Zealand in partnership with external payroll providers.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of:
  • Salaries and wages
  • Superannuation and KiwiSaver
  • Bonus and incentive payments
  • Allowances and benefits
  • Back payments
  • Parental leave payments
  • Long Service Leave
  • Termination and redundancy payments
  • Workers Compensation payroll adjustments
• Review and approve payroll outputs, reconciliations, statutory payments and reporting.
• Maintain payroll records and implement employee payroll changes accurately and within required timeframes.
• Partner with Finance to ensure payroll funding, reconciliation and accounting requirements are met.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, wage compliance requirements, taxation obligations, superannuation legislation, payroll tax requirements and company policies.
• Act as the payroll subject matter expert and escalation point for complex payroll inquiries.
• Employee Lifecycle Management
• Manage and administer the full employee lifecycle including:
  • Recruitment support
  • Employment contracts and variations
  • Onboarding and induction
  • Employee data changes
  • Promotions and transfers
  • International assignments and mobility support
  • Offboarding and termination processes
  • Prepare and maintain employment documentation, contracts, letters and HR records.
  • Maintain organisational structures, position management and reporting relationships within HR systems.
  • Support Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partners and business leaders with HR administration and operational activities.

HR Operations & Employee Services

• Act as the primary point of contact for employee and manager enquiries relating to:
• Payroll
• Benefits
• Leave entitlements
• HR policies and procedures
• Employment administration
• Compensation Review Cycle
• Administer employee benefit programs and liaise with providers as required.
• Provide support and guidance on compensation and benefits administration.
• Coordinate employee wellness initiatives and HR programs.
• Support local learning and development initiatives and implementation of global training programs.
• Deliver responsive, accurate and customer-focused HR support services.

RTW, Workers Compensation & Employee Wellbeing

• Support Return to Work (RTW) and Workers Compensation processes under the guidance of the RTW Coordinator.
• Act as the primary administrative contact for employees, managers, insurers and rehabilitation providers.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records relating to workplace injuries and RTW programs.
• Coordinate payroll-related adjustments associated with Workers Compensation claims.
• Promote employee wellbeing initiatives and support activities as required

HR Systems, Data Privacy & Reporting

• Maintain employee data accuracy and integrity across HRIS, payroll and employee self-service platforms.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy legislation and company policies.
• Prepare, analyse and distribute HR, payroll and workforce reports.
• Support internal and external audits through the provision of employee, payroll and compliance documentation.
• Maintain HR systems and processes to support efficient service delivery and reporting.
• Consolidate, manage and provide HR-related information as required by stakeholders and auditors.

Global Projects

• Lead/ Participate in projects related to payroll and HR operations as required

Compliance, Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Review, maintain and implement HR policies, procedures and operational controls.
• Ensure HR and payroll practices comply with legal, regulatory and company requirements.
• Manage statutory and regulatory reporting obligations.
• Support quality, compliance and audit requirements in accordance with company standards.
• Coordinate vendor contracts, purchase orders and supplier administration in accordance with procurement and compliance processes.
• Continuously assess HR and payroll processes to identify opportunities for improvement, automation and harmonisation.
• Participate in HR transformation projects, system implementations and process improvement initiatives.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

Develop And Maintain Effective Relationships With

• Employees
• People Leaders
• HR Business Partners
• Finance teams
• Payroll Providers
• Benefits Providers
• Recruitment Agencies
• External Vendors
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver effective HR and payroll services.
• Provide HR operational expertise and recommendations to support business decisions.
• Support regional and global HR initiatives as required.

Strategic Impact

• Ensures accurate, compliant and efficient delivery of payroll and HR operations across Australia and New Zealand.
• Supports positive employee experience through responsive HR and payroll administration.
• Contributes specialist payroll and HR expertise that supports business performance and compliance outcomes.
• Drives continuous improvement and operational excellence across HR systems, processes and service delivery.

Education

Who you Are:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources management, Human Behaviour, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Degree, HR certification, Payroll certification
• Employment Relations qualification is desirable.

Experience

• Over 10 years of experience in Payroll, and HR Operations
• Demonstrated experience across employee lifecycle management, payroll administration, employee benefits, HR advisory, and HR operational processes.
• Experience partnering with business leaders, employees, and external vendors to deliver HR solutions and support business objectives.
• Experience working within a multinational, pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences, or similarly regulated environment is preferred.
• Experience with outsourced payroll providers, HRIS platforms, workforce reporting, and compliance processes.
• Continuous improvement & best practice approach & mindset

Knowledge, Competencies & Skills

• Demonstrated experience in payroll harmonisation and transformation projects including payroll system implementations, process standardisation, compliance and stakeholder management.
• Strong understanding of payroll administration, payroll compliance, employee benefits, remuneration processes, superannuation, KiwiSaver, Workers Compensation, Return to Work (RTW), data privacy requirements, and employment legislation.
• Strong working knowledge of HRIS payroll systems, employee data management, reporting, and HR operational processes.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and collaborate with employees, leaders, external providers, and cross-functional teams.
• Solution-oriented mindset with strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, confidentiality, and accountability when handling employee and payroll information.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
• Continuously seeks opportunities to improve processes, systems, and ways of working to enhance employee experience, operational efficiency, compliance, and business outcomes.
• Applies commercial and future-focused thinking to evaluate risks, opportunities, resource allocation, and organisational impact.
• Demonstrates innovation by challenging traditional approaches, leveraging technology, and implementing practical solutions that support continuous improvement.
• Takes ownership of responsibilities and consistently delivers accurate, compliant, and timely results.
• Encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and partnership across teams, while fostering strong working relationships and reducing siloed ways of working.
• Demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and increasing business understanding to better support stakeholders and organisational objectives.

At Merck KGaA, Darmstadt Germany, we are committed to advancing reconciliation through meaningful action, collaboration, and cultural respect. Our Innovate Action Plan (RAP) represents the next phase of our journey to strengthen relationships with First Nations people and communities. We are focusing on tangible actions including increasing employment pathways for First Nations peoples and enhancing capabilities within our workforce

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!