Associate Director of Payroll Operations and Shared Services

Harvard University; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plans with contributions

Professional development opportunities

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking an Associate Director, Payroll Operations to manage central payroll and compliance. This role oversees payroll teams and partners with various departments to ensure policy-compliant payroll delivery.

The ideal candidate has significant experience in payroll operations, including management in complex organizations, and a strong understanding of related compliance requirements. This position is primarily on-site with some flexibility.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of payroll operations experience, including 5 years in management.
• Experience leading in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Knowledge of payroll tax concepts and operational compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll operations and compliance efforts.
• Establish payroll procedures and compliance monitoring.
• Collaborate with HR and financial partners to resolve payroll issues.

Skills

Payroll operations

Compliance

Financial operations

Team management

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PeopleSoft

Workday

Oracle

Job description

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Financial Administration (FAD) is dedicated to advancing Harvard University’s teaching and research mission by stewarding its resources; providing support, guidance, and consultation; ensuring compliance with university and federal guidelines; mitigating risk; pursuing operational excellence; and promoting the financial health of the University.

More about FAD:

• Engage with respect, honesty, and integrity
• Cultivate equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging
• Welcome innovation, collaboration, and flexibility
• Enjoy our work, grow professionally, and aim for the extraordinary

Learn more about Financial Administration (harvard.edu) and our eight reporting units.

Job Description

The Associate Director, Payroll Operations and Shared Services reports to the Director of Tax, Payroll, and Policy and leads central payroll processing, payroll operations compliance, and consistent payroll service delivery across central and shared services environments. The role serves as the University’s senior payroll operations and compliance subject matter expert, supporting accurate, timely, controlled, and policy-compliant payroll across schools and units.

This position manages the central payroll processing and customer service teams and establishes the standards, controls, escalation paths, training, and performance measures needed to support consistent payroll service delivery across central and emerging shared services environments. As the shared services model evolves, the role is expected to assume expanded direct management and/or functional oversight responsibilities for payroll shared services.

The role partners with Human Resources, school and unit finance leadership, HUIT, Labor Relations, the Office of the General Counsel, Tax Compliance, Internal Audit, and other central finance functions to resolve complex payroll matters, strengthen controls, support compliance, and improve the payroll service experience.

As part of the initial phase of the role, the Associate Director will play a key leadership role in the design and deployment of the Workforce Services Hub technology platform and payroll shared services operating model. This role will provide operational and compliance expertise, help shape service delivery and control frameworks, support stakeholder engagement and change management efforts, and contribute to a successful transition to and stabilization of the new model.

Job Specific Responsibilities

• Provides leadership, coaching, and payroll subject matter expertise to payroll and shared services stakeholders.
• Establishes payroll procedures, controls, documentation standards, and compliance monitoring practices.
• Partners with HR, HUIT, Labor Relations, school and unit finance teams, Tax Compliance, Financial Policy, OGC, Risk Management, and Internal Audit to resolve payroll issues and implement changes.
• Improves payroll service delivery through workflow design, service metrics, root-cause analysis, automation, workload balancing, and standardization.
• Supports shared services design, implementation, change management, stakeholder communication, training, transition planning, and stabilization.
• Manages payroll-related risk by identifying control gaps, monitoring recurring issues, coordinating remediation, and supporting escalation protocols.
• Partners with HUIT and functional stakeholders on payroll systems, reporting, data integrity, access controls, integrations, and testing.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible payroll operations, payroll compliance, finance operations, or shared services experience, including at least five years managing payroll, finance, HR operations, or shared services teams in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll operations or payroll‑adjacent operational compliance in a multi‑unit, multi‑stakeholder, or highly decentralized environment.
• Supervisory experience including managing teams, service delivery expectations, operational controls, escalations, process improvement, and compliance‑sensitive workflows.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Deep knowledge of payroll operations, payroll tax concepts, wage and hour requirements, controls, reconciliations, year‑end processes, and operational compliance.
• Strong judgment in balancing compliance, customer service, operational practicality, and institutional risk.
• Ability to design procedures, service standards, metrics, escalation models, quality assurance processes, and internal controls.
• Experience with PeopleSoft, Oracle, Workday, SAP, or similar payroll, HR, finance, or ERP systems.
• Experience leading shared services, regional service teams, service desk operations, or distributed operational teams.
• Experience leading change management, stakeholder engagement, training, and adoption across decentralized units.
• Experience in higher education, research, healthcare, nonprofit, public sector, or another complex multi‑entity environment.
• Experience supporting payroll operations in unionized or collectively bargained environments.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex payroll and compliance matters to senior leaders and non‑specialist audiences.

Additional Information

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high‑quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Working Conditions

• Onsite work is performed in an office setting.

Standard Hours/Schedule

35 hours per week. This is a hybrid role requiring regular on‑campus presence, expected to average approximately two days per week during the initial team‑building period, with reassessment after 6 to 12 months. Required time on campus may increase as business needs evolve.

Visa Sponsorship Information

Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Pre‑Employment Screening

• Identity, Education, Criminal

Other Information

• This position has a 90‑day orientation and review period.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non‑Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard‑designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 060. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work‑life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

EEO/Non‑Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non‑discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non‑discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.