Head of HR Operations & Payroll

VisilabGroup; Genf; On-site; CHF 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

VisilabGroup, part of EssilorLuxottica, is seeking a Head of HR Operations & Payroll to lead payroll and HR administration across two Swiss sites (Meyrin and Trimbach). You will ensure accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement of processes across the employee lifecycle.

You will manage a team of ~10 specialists, coordinate with Finance and external payroll provider ADP, drive digitization, and implement projects such as SAP integrations, shaping an exceptional employee experience.

Qualifications

• Several years of experience in Payroll and HR Administration within Switzerland.
• Proven leadership experience in a similar role.
• Strong knowledge of Swiss payroll, labor law, social security, and HR administration practices.
• Experience working with external payroll providers (e.g., ADP).
• Strong process improvement and project management skills.
• Solid experience with HRIS and payroll systems.
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and structured working style.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in French and/or German, with a good command of the other language.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Payroll & HR Administration team across two sites in Switzerland.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all employees in Switzerland across different entities.
• Oversee onboarding, employee changes, and offboarding processes.
• Maintain high standards of data accuracy, quality assurance, and process compliance.
• Ensure adherence to Swiss labor law, social security regulations, payroll requirements, and internal policies.
• Act as the main point of contact for payroll-related topics and provide expert guidance to internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Finance and other business functions to ensure seamless processes and accurate reporting.
• Manage and coordinate our external payroll provider ADP and relevant service partners.
• Drive process optimization, standardization, and digitalization initiatives to enhance efficiency and employee experience.
• Develop, monitor, and report on key payroll and HR administration metrics.
• Lead or contribute to HR projects focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement (e.g. SAP implementation).

Skills

Leadership

Payroll knowledge

HR Administration

Process improvement

Stakeholder management

French/German proficiency

Communication

Tools

SAP HR

ADP

HRIS

Job description

About EssilorLuxottica & VisilabGroup

EssilorLuxottica is the global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of fashion, luxury, and sports eyewear.

With iconic brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Oliver Peoples, and exclusive licenses for fashion houses such as Prada, Chanel, Burberry and others, we blend innovation, craftsmanship, and style into every frame.

With over 190,000 employees in 150 countries, EssilorLuxottica is driving the transformation of

the eyewear industry, from traditional vision care to smart eyewear technology such as the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.

Since 2021, VisilabGroup has been part of EssilorLuxottica, driving retail excellence in Switzerland. The group unites the leading Swiss optical retail brands Visilab, Kochoptik, McOptic and Linsenmax, operating across 170 stores and building a strong heritage since 1988.

About the Role

As Head of HR Operations & Payroll, you will be responsible for the operational excellence, accuracy, and continuous improvement of payroll and HR operations processes across the employee lifecycle.

You will lead and develop a team of about 10 payroll and HR operations professionals across our offices in Meyrin (GE) and Trimbach (SO) while ensuring a high level of service, compliance, and efficiency.

This position plays a key role in maintaining payroll accuracy, ensuring compliance with Swiss labor and social security regulations, optimizing processes, and partnering closely with Finance and other stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Payroll & HR Administration team across two sites in Switzerland.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all employees in Switzerland across different entities.
• Oversee all HR administrative activities throughout the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee changes, and offboarding.
• Maintain high standards of data accuracy, quality assurance, and process compliance.
• Ensure adherence to Swiss labor law, social security regulations, payroll requirements, and internal policies.
• Act as the main point of contact for payroll-related topics and provide expert guidance to internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with Finance and other business functions to ensure seamless processes and accurate reporting.
• Manage and coordinate our external payroll provider ADP and relevant service partners.
• Drive process optimization, standardization, and digitalization initiatives to enhance efficiency and employee experience.
• Develop, monitor, and report on key payroll and HR administration metrics.
• Lead or contribute to HR projects focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement (e.g. SAP implementation).

Your Profile

• Several years of experience in Payroll and HR Administration within Switzerland.
• Proven leadership experience in a similar role.
• Strong knowledge of Swiss payroll, labor law, social security, and HR administration practices.
• Experience working with external payroll providers is an advantage.
• Strong process improvement and project management skills.
• Solid experience with HRIS and payroll systems.
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and structured working style.
• Strong customer service mindset and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to interact effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Fluency in French and/or German, with a good command of the other language.

What We Offer

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a critical HR function and contribute to the continuous improvement of people processes within a dynamic and evolving organization.

You will have a direct impact on service quality, operational efficiency, compliance, and employee experience while shaping the future of Payroll and HR Administration.

Reporting Line: Head of Human Resources Switzerland

People Management Responsibility: Payroll & HR Administration Team

Location: This role can be either based in Geneva or in Trimbach