Sr. Director, Payroll

AmSurg Corp; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & holidays

Health benefits

401(k) match

Job summary

AMSURG is seeking a Sr. Director of Payroll & Workforce Operations to lead enterprise payroll, workforce administration, systems, and compliance across ~2,700 employees and 250 entities. The role emphasizes governance, standardization, and scalability, partnering with Finance, HR, Tax, Legal, IT and Integration teams.

Remote-First schedule with a focus on acquisitions, integration, and transformation to sustain growth and ensure regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive payroll, workforce operations, shared services, or HR operations leadership experience.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, integrations, or high-growth environments.
• Experience leading operational transformation and process standardization initiatives.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with Finance, HR, Accounting, Tax, Legal, and IT leadership.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance, controls, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll operations across multiple entities, joint ventures, and business structures.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing across jurisdictions.
• Establish governance, standards, policies, and operating procedures for payroll.
• Reduce complexity through harmonization and standardization initiatives.
• Develop scalable service delivery models to support growth and acquisitions.
• Oversee workforce operational processes and define SLAs and metrics.
• Develop integration playbooks and transition frameworks for M&A activity.
• Partner with HR, IT, Finance, Tax, and Legal on compliance and governance.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Workforce operations

Cross-functional leadership

Acquisition integration

UKG experience

Change management

Process standardization

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Tools

UKG

HRIS

Job description

Company Overview: AMSURG is an independent leader in ambulatory surgery center services, operating a network of more than 250 surgery centers nationwide. In partnership with physicians and health systems, the organization delivers high-quality care for patients across a diverse spectrum of medical specialties, including gastroenterology, ophthalmology and orthopedics. To learn more about AMSURG, visit www.amsurg.com.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Sr. Director, Payroll & Workforce Operations is responsible for leading enterprise payroll operations, workforce administration, payroll systems, compliance, and operational transformation across a highly decentralized, multi-entity organization. This leader will oversee the strategy, governance, standardization, and execution of payroll and workforce operations across approximately 2,700 employees and 250 joint ventures/entities while supporting an active integration and acquisition environment. The role will build scalable operating models, strengthen controls and compliance, drive process standardization, and lead payroll integration efforts associated with 10–12 acquisitions or integrations annually. The Sr. Director will partner closely with Finance, HR, Accounting, Tax, Legal, IT, and Integration Management teams to modernize payroll operations and establish a scalable enterprise workforce operations framework.

Work Schedule: Remote-First

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Enterprise Payroll Leadership

• Lead all aspects of enterprise payroll operations across multiple legal entities, joint ventures, and business structures.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing across all jurisdictions and entities.
• Establish enterprise payroll governance, standards, policies, and operating procedures.
• Reduce operational complexity through process harmonization and standardization initiatives.
• Develop scalable service delivery models to support continued organizational growth and acquisitions.

Workforce Operations & Shared Services

• Oversee workforce operational processes including:
• payroll administration
• payroll-related employee services
• operational support processes
• Develop service-level standards and performance metrics for workforce operations.
• Improve employee experience and operational responsiveness through process redesign and automation.

Integration & M&A Support

• Lead payroll and workforce operations integration efforts for acquisitions, joint ventures, and newly onboarded entities.
• Develop standardized integration playbooks, conversion methodologies, and transition frameworks.
• Partner with corporate development, finance, HR, and integration teams during diligence and post-close activities.
• Assess operational risks and integration requirements during acquisition processes.
• Ensure newly integrated entities align with enterprise payroll controls and operating standards.

Systems, Transformation & Process Improvement

• Partner with HRIS, IT, Finance, and external vendors to optimize payroll technology and workflows.
• Lead payroll system rationalization, automation, and process modernization initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to consolidate platforms, reduce manual processes, and improve data integrity.
• Build scalable operational infrastructure capable of supporting future growth and acquisitions.
• Establish reporting, analytics, and operational dashboards to improve visibility and decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll regulations and reporting requirements.
• Strengthen internal controls, audit readiness, and payroll governance processes.
• Partner with Internal Audit, Accounting, Tax, and Legal on compliance matters and remediation activities.
• Monitor payroll operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Establish enterprise standards for documentation, approvals, and payroll controls.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build and lead a high-performing payroll and workforce operations organization.
• Develop organizational capabilities to support scale, standardization, and operational excellence.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer service.
• Mentor leaders and establish succession planning within payroll and workforce operations functions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required.

Required Experience:

• 12+ years of progressive payroll, workforce operations, shared services, or HR operations leadership experience.
• Significant experience leading payroll operations within complex, multi-entity organizations.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, integrations, or high-growth environments.
• Demonstrated success leading operational transformation and process standardization initiatives.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with Finance, HR, Accounting, Tax, Legal, and IT leadership.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance, controls, and risk management.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in decentralized, joint venture, private equity-backed, healthcare, professional services, franchise, construction, or multi-site operating environments.
• Experience leading payroll system implementations or consolidations.
• Shared services or enterprise operations leadership experience.
• UKG experience required.
• CPP certification preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Critical Leadership Competencies:

• Operational transformation leadership
• Change management
• Cross-functional influence
• Executive communication
• Integration leadership
• Systems thinking
• Scalability orientation

Employment at AMSURG: Living Our Values Every Day
At AMSURG, our values define who we are and how we serve our patients, partners, and each other. As a national leader in ambulatory surgery, we are committed to a culture of excellence, integrity, teamwork and caring deeply. Our values guide every decision, ensuring we continue to elevate healthcare and provide the highest quality care.
These guiding principles are the foundation of our culture and a guide to how we collaborate, innovate, and make a difference every day.

• Care Deeply for those around us.
• Cultivate Integrity to build trust.
• Champion Excellence for continuous improvement
• Celebrate Teamwork every step to the way.

To ensure we retain and invest in great people, AMSURG provides its employees with the benefits, recognition, training, and opportunities needed for professional growth. Our wide range of health and welfare benefits allow you to choose the right coverage for you and your family. AMSURG offers a variety of health and welfare benefit options to help protect your health and promote your wellbeing. Benefits offered include but are not limited to: Paid Time Off, Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, Healthcare FSA, Dependent Care FSA, Limited Healthcare FSA, FSAs for Transportation and Parking & HSAs, and a matching 401(K) Plan.

Paid Time Off:

AMSURG offers paid time off, 9 observed holidays, and paid family leave. You accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) each pay period and depending on your position and can earn a minimum of 20 days and up to 25 days per calendar year.

EOE Statement:

AMSURG is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age (40 or older), race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strive to also provide a disability inclusive application and interview process. If you are a candidate with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in order to submit an application, please contact us at: [e-mail]. Please include your full name, the role you’re applying for and the accommodation necessary to assist you with the recruiting process.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.