Payroll Transformation Lead (2-Year Fixed-Term Contract)

About the role

Syngenta Group, an agricultural technology company with more than 59,000 employees in more than 100 countries, is looking for a Payroll Transformation Lead for a 2-year fixed-term contract based in Budapest. The role leads the Global Payroll transformation agenda, turning strategic priorities into workplans, deliverables and measurable outcomes, and acts as a trusted transformation partner to the Global Payroll Lead.

Key responsibilities

• Own stakeholder engagement and progress tracking across the transformation portfolio, keeping decisions, risks, dependencies and benefits visible.
• Identify and assess opportunities to improve payroll operating models, processes, controls, technology and service delivery.
• Build credible business cases and recommendations balancing value, feasibility, risk, control requirements, cost and implementation.
• Lead problem-solving on complex payroll topics such as AI and automation, vendor options, operating-model improvements and process standardisation.
• Translate complex payroll, technology, vendor and control issues into clear options and implementation plans for leadership review.
• Support the governance and implementation of approved changes by coordinating activities, communications, timelines, risks and stakeholder expectations.
• Embed continuous improvement through scalable methods, governance, KPIs, templates and lessons learned, and share reusable improvement practices.

Required profile

• At least 8-10 years of relevant experience overseeing payroll service delivery models, global payroll operations, payroll transformation, HR operations, global mobility payroll, consulting or a closely related field across multiple countries at a high level.
• Experience leading complex transformation, process improvement, operating-model review, technology assessment or organisational-change initiatives.
• Ability to analyse complex payroll issues, find root causes and improvement opportunities, and develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Experience developing business cases, options papers, implementation roadmaps and decision-ready communications for senior stakeholders.

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of global payroll operations and end-to-end payroll processes.
• Practical understanding of payroll governance, controls, compliance, risk management and outsourced, in-house or hybrid delivery models.
• Project-management and stakeholder-management capability, including planning, risk and dependency management, facilitation and delivery tracking.
• Clear, concise communication and influencing skills.
• Experience with payroll automation, AI or digital enablement is an advantage, as is international assignee payroll or global mobility experience.

What we offer

• A supportive environment with professional growth and work-life balance.
• Benefits tailored to your location, including learning and development, wellness programs and employee assistance programs.
• Hybrid work arrangement.