HR Systems and Payroll Manager

University of the West of Scotland; Paisley; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

24 days annual leave + 12 public/univ.

Birthday leave

Defined benefit pension scheme

Flexible working pattern

Employee discount across retailers

Health and wellbeing resources

Career and research development

Job summary

University of the West of Scotland is seeking an experienced HR Systems and Payroll Manager at Paisley Campus to lead payroll, pensions, reward and HR systems functions.

You will drive digital transformation, maximise iTrent capabilities, and oversee data analytics and statutory reporting to improve decision-making and the employee experience. Strong leadership and project management are essential.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Chartered Membership of the CIPP or commensurate.
• Experience of leading and developing a team of payroll, pensions and systems staff.
• HR Systems experience (design, implementation, optimisation and problem-solving) with iTrent.
• Project management.
• Payroll and pensions.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for payroll, pensions, reward and HR systems functions.
• Report to the Head of People Services and lead specialist teams.
• Drive continuous improvement and digital transformation across people services.
• Oversee HR systems development, analytics and statutory reporting to support compliance.
• Ensure services are accurate, compliant, secure and customer-focused.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Payroll/pensions

Education

Degree or professional experience in related field

Tools

iTrent HR System

Job description

Professional Services

People and Wellbeing

Paisley Campus

Full time: 35 hours per week

Permanent

This role may be eligible at this time for visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. If requiring visa sponsorship, it is the successful candidate’s responsibility to ensure they meet the individual criteria to satisfy Home Office visa sponsorship requirements. If the role is offered on a part-time basis, this might also affect eligibility. More information on eligibility can be found on the Government website.

Please note that the information provided in this advert is correct at the time of writing. The University cannot guarantee sponsorship, and we encourage you to keep up to date with any changes that the Home Office may introduce.

THE POST - HR Systems and Payroll Manager

This role provides strategic and operational leadership for the University's payroll, pensions, reward and HR systems functions, ensuring services are accurate, compliant, secure and customer focused. Reporting to the Head of People Services, you will lead specialist teams in delivering high-quality payroll and pension administration, staff reward initiatives and HR systems management, while supporting the University's strategic objectives and people priorities. Extensive experience of working with the iTrent HR and Payroll system is essential, including system administration, development, reporting and the implementation of new functionality.

The successful candidate will drive continuous improvement and digital transformation across people services, maximising the use of iTrent, automation, self-service technologies and data analytics to enhance decision-making and the employee experience. You will oversee the development of HR systems, people analytics and statutory reporting, ensure compliance with payroll, pensions and data protection legislation, and lead the delivery of innovative, efficient and future-focused services that support the University's long-term success. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR systems and payroll professional with strong iTrent expertise to make a significant impact across the University.

The successful candidate should have the following:

• Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Chartered Membership of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) or commensurate
• Experience of leading and developing a team of payroll, pensions and systems staff.
• HR Systems experience (design, implementation, optimisation and problem‑solving) with iTrent.
• Project management
• Payroll and pensions

ABOUT US

University of the West of Scotland is a placemaking institution that is proud to be an integral part of its local communities, with a national and international reach: the University has four campuses in Scotland in Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire and Paisley, as well as a campus in London Docklands. UWS has almost 100 international partnerships and its student community comprises more than 100 nationalities.

UWS is committed to providing education opportunities for all, empowering individuals to reach their full potential. The University creates meaningful impact locally, nationally and globally through innovative learning and teaching, pioneering research, and transformative partnerships. UWS is committed to the UNSDGs and was ranked joint 1st in Scotland and joint 4th in the UK for quality education (SDG4); and 1st in the UK and 39th globally for our contribution to decent work and economic growth (SDG8) in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026.

90% of UWS research was classed as world-leading, internationally excellent, or recognised internationally in the REF (Research Excellence Framework) 2021.

Our professional services teams are the backbone of UWS, providing robust and innovative solutions to support the vast range of work across learning and teaching, and research and innovation. You will join a supportive and dedicated team, playing a key role in a range of work that will help drive forward our ambition to deliver world-leading research, and graduates who will design, shape and build a new future.

We offer our staff a caring and supportive environment, across five campuses, and a competitive benefits package which includes:

• 24 days of annual leave, plus a further 12 days for public/university holidays
• An additional days leave on your birthday
• Defined benefit contribution pension scheme (including death in service benefits upon joining the scheme
• A flexible approach to working pattern and work‑life balance
• Employee discount scheme across 3,500 retailers
• Fitness facilities across our campuses
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing resources, including occupational health, physiotherapy and access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Professional, career and research development opportunities.

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Please note that the appointment will be made on the first point of the salary scale (unless by exception, where evidence would need to be provided).

The University reserves the right to shorten/extend the closing date of any position where a high/low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.

You can find out more about how the University uses your personal data as part of the recruitment process by looking at the UWS HR Applicant Privacy Notice at www.uws.ac.uk

UWS are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant .

UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.

UWS is a 'Disability Confident' employer.

University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520