Director, Global Payroll Operations

Ball Corporation; Luton; On-site; GBP 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ball Corporation is seeking a Director, Global Payroll Operations in Luton to define and execute a global payroll strategy, ensure compliant and timely payroll delivery, and lead a high‑performing GBS function.

This role partners with Legal, Audit and HR, oversees governance, automation, and vendor relationships, and drives continuous improvement to enhance accuracy, cost effectiveness, and employee experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field; master’s preferred.
• 10+ years global payroll management experience.
• Experience leading payroll in a matrixed organization.
• Knowledge of global labor laws, tax regulations and payroll governance.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and drive transformation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global payroll strategy across regions.
• Establish governance to mitigate compliance risks.
• Drive automation, standardization, and process improvements.
• Lead vendor selection, negotiation and performance monitoring.
• Build and develop a high performing payroll team.

Skills

Global payroll leadership

Payroll governance

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

HRIS software

Job description

Career Opportunities: Director, Global Payroll Operations (50917)

Requisition ID50917-Posted06/09/2026-Global Shared Services-Luton-Administration/ Business Support-0-10%

At Ball, integrity and trust are the foundation of who we are. Guided by our core values —"We Care. We Work. We Win.—" we create a culture where every voice matters and every idea drives progress.
Further your career at Ball, a world leader in manufacturing sustainable aluminium packaging. Achieve extraordinary things when you join our team, and make a difference in your professional development, the community, and around the globe!
Create a new future.

Position overview

The Director, Global Payroll Operations is a senior Global Business Services leader responsible for defining and executing Ball's global payroll operations strategy and ensuring the delivery of accurate, compliant and efficient payroll services across all regions. Reporting to the VP, Global Business Services, this role provides leadership for global payroll operations, driving governance, risk management, standardization and operational excellence while ensuring employees are paid accurately, on time and in accordance with all regulatory and company requirements.

The role is accountable for establishing a high-performing global payroll operating model that balances compliance, service quality, cost effectiveness and employee experience. Through strong leadership, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement, the Director ensures payroll operations remain aligned with evolving business needs, workforce changes and regulatory requirements.

Working in close partnership with the Director, Global Process and Technology Owner, this leader helps shape the future of payroll delivery by aligning operations, processes, technology, data and transformation initiatives. Together, these roles drive service innovation, automation, operational efficiency and scalable solutions that strengthen compliance, support business growth and enhance the employee experience globally.

Key responsibilities include

Global Payroll Strategy, Governance & Compliance

• Develop and execute a global payroll strategy ensuring adherence with local and international labour laws and regulations.
• Develop a strategic roadmap with measurable deliverables to improve the overall efficiency of the payroll function.
• Establish governance frameworks to mitigate payroll related compliance risks.
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure accurate payroll execution in daily operations and as the company experiences growth through mergers, acquisitions new plants builds etc.
• Partner with Legal, Audit, and Compliance to proactively manage risk and strengthen controls.
• Harmonize global payroll processes, leveraging automation, AI and self-service tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• In partnership with the Dir, Global Process and Technology owner, drive the global consolidation of payroll platforms and services to improve cost-effectiveness and service delivery.
• Ensures smooth payroll issue resolution, employee support and consistent payroll practices across the organization.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce payroll processing time and errors.
• Utilize data analytics to track payroll performance, optimize payroll processes and enhance employee payroll satisfaction with payroll services.
• Accountable for process delivery adoption, including use of technology solution enabling payroll processes.
• Manages vendor relationships to ensure high-quality cost-effective services through vendor selection, negotiation and performance monitoring.
• Build monitor and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
• Establish and deliver to clear KPIs and performance metrics to drive excellence within the payroll team.
• Deliver training, coaching and career development to foster an environment of continuous development of growing the payroll function expertise, collaborations across the HR GBS functions and driving decision-making and accountability.

Stakeholder Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as a trusted adviser to stakeholders ensuring alignment between pay strategies and business priorities.
• Drive transparent communication with stakeholders on trends, challenges and successes using KPIs, metrics and data.
• Aligned payroll processes with business operations, ensuring compliance and policies and cost controls.
• Provides education on payroll policies, self-service options and pay related enquiries to enhance employee experience and engagement.
• Manage and oversee the payroll function budget, conducting cost analysis and optimization initiatives.
• Negotiate vendor contracts, assess ROI on recruitment tools and initiatives, and implement cost-saving measures without compromising talent quality.

What are we looking for?

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive global payroll management, workforce administration, or shared services leadership experience.
• Expertise in global labor laws, tax regulations and payroll governance frameworks
• Experience managing global payroll teams, vendors and compliance in a matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive payroll transformation and optimize payroll operations.
• Extensive knowledge of global payroll operations, governance, service delivery models and payroll compliance across multiple countries and regions.
• Global Payroll Operations Leadership
• Payroll Governance & Compliance
• Operational Excellence
• Executive Stakeholder Management
• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, employment taxation, statutory reporting, internal controls, audit requirements and risk management principle
• Extensive knowledge of global payroll operations, governance, service delivery models and payroll compliance across multiple countries and regions.
• Comprehensive understanding of payroll processes and their integration with HR, Time & Attendance, Finance, Benefits, Equity and related workforce management functions.
• Knowledge of global business services operating models, including vendor management, service governance and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Understanding of organisational change, business transformation and emerging payroll, workforce and regulatory trends impacting global operations

Ball Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively encourage applications from everybody, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, faith, ability, or orientation. Our products range from infinitely recyclable aluminium cans, cups to aerosol bottles solutions that enable our customers to contribute to a better world.
Each of us has a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion which is the foundation of our culture of belonging. Everyone at Ball is making a difference by doing what we love. Because what we create may change, but what we will always make is a difference.
Please note the advertised job title might vary from the job title on the contract due to local job title structure and global HR systems.