Senior Manager, HR and Payroll Operations

Research Management; City of Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 141,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Hybrid work options

Study for Staff program

On‑campus childcare

Health and wellbeing programs

Salary packaging

Parking

Job summary

The University of Queensland is seeking a Senior Manager, Salary and Benefits to lead the payroll, superannuation, and employee benefits services from the St Lucia campus in Brisbane. This fixed-term, full-time role centers on delivering compliant remuneration programs and high-quality service for a diverse workforce.

You will lead a team, provide expert guidance on taxation, benefits, and salary packaging, and drive continuous improvements in processes, reporting, governance, and risk

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification and extensive leadership experience, or equivalent.
• Comprehensive knowledge of payroll, superannuation, taxation, and related legislation.
• Experience leading complex payroll/remuneration functions in a large organisation.
• Strong risk, governance, compliance, and audit capabilities in payroll.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll, superannuation, salary packaging, and employee benefits services with compliance.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for complex remuneration matters.
• Deliver specialist advice on superannuation, payroll legislation, taxation, and benefits.
• Drive improvements to enhance efficiency, service quality, and stakeholder experience.
• Oversee monthly payroll and benefits reporting.
• Lead reviews of processes, systems, and policies for innovation and risk mitigation.

Skills

Payroll operations

Remuneration governance

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

Postgraduate qualification

Job description

## Senior Manager, HR and Payroll OperationsApply: St Lucia Campus: Full time: Posted Today: R-69868* Human Resources Division* Full-time, fixed-term position until 31 December 2027* Base salary will be in the range $140,766 - $148,862 + 17% super (HEW Level 9)* Based at our St Lucia location# **About This Opportunity**As the **Senior Manager, Salary and Benefits**, you will lead the strategic and operational delivery of the University's salary, superannuation, payroll, and employee benefits services. Playing a pivotal role within Human Resources, you will ensure our remuneration and benefits programs are compliant, efficient, and employee-focused, supporting a diverse workforce across a large and complex organisation. Leading a team of payroll, superannuation and benefits professionals, you will drive continuous improvement, enhance service delivery, and provide expert advice on remuneration, superannuation, salary packaging, taxation, and legislative compliance. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced leader to influence enterprise-wide practices while ensuring exceptional outcomes for staff and stakeholders. ## **Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:** * Lead the delivery of payroll, superannuation, salary packaging, and employee benefits services, ensuring compliance with legislative, regulatory, audit, and governance requirements.* Provide strategic and operational leadership in the management of complex payroll and remuneration matters, including employee benefits, taxation, salary packaging, overpayments, and payroll risk management.* Act as the University's subject matter expert, delivering specialist advice on superannuation, payroll legislation, taxation requirements, and employee benefits programs.* Drive business improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, service quality, and stakeholder experience while ensuring compliance with UniSuper performance standards.* Oversee financial reporting activities, including the preparation and distribution of monthly payroll and benefits-related reports.* Lead reviews of business processes, systems, and policies to identify opportunities for innovation, continuous improvement, and risk mitigation. # **About UQ**As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, working together to create a better world. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available. Enjoy up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary care leave, 17% super, 17.5% leave loading, flexible and hybrid working options, health and wellbeing programs, a heavily discounted Study for Staff program, on‐campus childcare, affordable parking, and salary packaging.# **About You**You are an experienced people leader with deep expertise in payroll operations, employee benefits, and remuneration governance within a large and complex environment. You combine technical knowledge with a strategic mindset and are passionate about delivering exceptional service and continuous improvement. **You will bring:*** Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant discipline and extensive leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and significant professional expertise.* Comprehensive knowledge of payroll, superannuation, salary packaging, taxation, and employment-related legislation.* Demonstrated success leading complex payroll or remuneration functions within a large organisation.* Strong understanding of risk management, governance, compliance, and audit requirements relating to payroll and employee benefits.* Proven ability to influence, negotiate, and build trusted relationships with stakeholders at all levels.* Exceptional leadership capabilities, with a track record of developing high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, and professional development.* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex remuneration and payroll matters.* A commitment to continuous improvement and delivering a responsive, customer-focused service experience.**Interested?**For more information about this opportunity, please contact Sandy Tacey, Director, People Services at [e-mail] . For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail], stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume and cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the ‘About You’ section. *Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.***Other Information**Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, and criminal history checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements. You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing [e-mail] or calling [phone]. ***Applications close Sunday 18 October 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-69868).***