Payroll Transformation Lead: Implementation & Go-Live

Hunter Sage; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Hunter Sage is seeking an experienced Payroll Implementation Project Lead to drive a large-scale HR technology and payroll transformation across multi-state processes. You will guide timekeeping and payroll activities through implementation, testing, go-live, and post-launch stabilization in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.

The role requires ownership of complex workstreams, strong coordination skills, and the ability to manage testing cycles, dependencies, and stakeholder

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience in complex or multi-state organizations.
• Experience with payroll, timekeeping, HRIS, or workforce management implementations.
• Strong project management or implementation coordination skills.
• Experience with end-to-end and parallel payroll testing.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate payroll and timekeeping implementation activities, deliverables, deadlines, and dependencies.
• Provide direction to payroll team members assigned to the implementation project.
• Manage trackers, implementation workbooks, action items, testing documentation, and outstanding requirements.
• Lead coordination of customer confirmations, end-to-end testing, parallel payroll testing, cutover activities, and go-live readiness.
• Serve as a key liaison between internal stakeholders and third-party payroll/technology partners.
• Monitor project progress and proactively identify risks, gaps, delays, and downstream payroll impacts.
• Drive issues toward resolution by engaging the appropriate internal or external resources and escalating when necessary.
• Review payroll processes, controls, configurations, and implementation decisions from an operational and compliance perspective.
• Support knowledge transfer and ensure payroll stakeholders understand system changes, testing outcomes, and new processes.
• Assist with payroll-related considerations involving taxes, garnishments, unemployment, labor costing, payroll accounting, and compliance.
• Support the team through initial payroll processing and post-implementation stabilization.

Skills

Payroll expertise

Timekeeping

HRIS implementation

Project management

Cross-functional coordination

Testing cycles

Multi-state payroll

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Tools

Workday

Job description

Hunter Sage is seeking an experienced Payroll Implementation Project Lead to drive a large-scale HR technology and payroll transformation across multi-state processes. You will guide timekeeping and payroll activities through implementation, testing, go-live, and post-launch stabilization in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.

The role requires ownership of complex workstreams, strong coordination skills, and the ability to manage testing cycles, dependencies, and stakeholder