Payroll Technology Leader

Eaton; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 165,000 - 242,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Welfare benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Eaton is seeking a Payroll Technology Leader to maximize the value of the Payroll, Time & Labor tech portfolio, including UKG. You will act as Product Owner and IT business partner for Payroll, HR, and Finance, shaping the roadmap and investment strategy.

You will lead governance, drive scalable solutions, and partner with senior leaders to deliver secure, innovative outcomes that improve business performance. Salary range reflects experience and market conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution.
• 10+ years in leading complex payroll technology programs or projects.
• 3+ years of people leadership experience.
• 2+ years hands-on experience with UKG/Kronos payroll, timekeeping, and workforce management.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the product vision, roadmap, and investment strategy for Payroll, Time & Labor solutions (including UKG).
• Own and prioritize the product backlog and drive agile delivery.
• Establish governance, KPIs, and release processes to maximize business value.
• Partner with Payroll, HR, and Finance leaders to align technology with strategic goals.

Skills

Payroll domain knowledge

Leadership

Agile methodologies

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

Product ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

UKG/Kronos

HRIS/ERP integrations

Job description

The Payroll Technology Leader is responsible for maximizing the value of Eaton's Payroll, Time & Labor technology portfolio, including the UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) platform and related payroll and workforce management solutions. This leader serves as both the Product Owner and primary IT business partner for Payroll, HR, and Finance stakeholders.

In this role, you will define and execute the product vision, roadmap, and investment strategy while ensuring technology solutions align with business objectives. You will partner closely with senior leaders across HR, Finance, Payroll, and IT to identify opportunities, prioritize investments, and deliver innovative, secure, and scalable solutions that enhance business performance.

As a leader within Eaton's IT organization, you will oversee product funding, manage strategic vendor relationships, drive product governance and operational excellence, and lead a team responsible for delivering business outcomes across the Payroll, Time & Labor domain.

The expected annual salary range for this role is $165000 - $242000 a year. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

What You’ll Do

Product Strategy & Ownership

• Define, communicate, and champion the product vision, roadmap, and strategic priorities for Payroll, Time & Labor solutions, including UKG.


• Own and prioritize the product backlog, ensuring alignment with business priorities and enterprise IT strategy.


• Translate business objectives into epics, features, user stories, and measurable outcomes for Agile delivery teams.


• Establish and manage product release, enhancement, and continuous improvement processes.


• Define product KPIs and drive data-informed decision-making to maximize business value.

Business Partnership & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary relationship manager between IT and Payroll, HR, and Finance business stakeholders.


• Partner with senior leaders to identify opportunities, evaluate investments, and align technology solutions with strategic goals.


• Develop business cases, secure stakeholder support, and lead prioritization of initiatives.


• Act as a trusted advisor, bringing industry knowledge, innovation, and best practices to the business.

Leadership & Delivery

• Lead and develop a team of product owners, analysts, engineers, and other IT professionals.


• Balance investments across new capabilities, system health, operational support, compliance, and technical modernization.


• Define priorities and objectives for Agile teams utilizing Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and DevSecOps practices.


• Drive continuous improvement in product management, delivery, and governance processes.

Product Governance & Operations

• Ensure the stability, performance, security, compliance, and overall health of Payroll, Time & Labor platforms.


• Maintain governance for payroll data, access controls, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and business processes.


• Manage product budgets, funding allocations, and vendor contracts to support delivery objectives.


• Oversee relationships with software and service providers, including UKG, ensuring alignment with business and IT strategy.


• Ensure solutions adhere to enterprise architecture standards and eliminate redundant or low-value initiatives.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.


• Minimum 10 years of experience leading complex payroll technology programs, projects, or product initiatives.


• Minimum 3 years of people leadership experience.


• Minimum 2 years of hands-on experience with UKG/Kronos payroll, workforce management, and timekeeping solutions.


• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or other advanced degree.


• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent product management certification.


• 7+ years of experience as a Product Owner, Product Manager, or in a similar role supporting Payroll, Time & Labor, HR, or Finance functions.


• Strong functional expertise in payroll, time and attendance, labor management, and regulatory compliance processes.


• Experience integrating payroll and workforce management platforms with HRIS and ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP).


• Deep understanding of modern product management principles, Agile methodologies, Scrum, Kanban, and DevSecOps practices.


• Knowledge of cloud-based applications, APIs, microservices, automation technologies, and software development lifecycle best practices.


• Experience developing and managing product roadmaps, budgets, and investment portfolios.


• Executive-level communication and influence skills, with the ability to effectively engage senior leadership stakeholders.


• Proven track record of building trusted cross-functional partnerships and leading organizational change across HR, Finance, and IT.


• Experience working in global, matrixed organizations and collaborating with cross-cultural teams.


• Passion for leveraging technology and innovation to deliver exceptional employee and customer experiences.

All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

The application window for this position is anticipated to close on 9/1/2026.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.

You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.