Director, Engineering - HR & Payroll Systems

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Job Description

The Director of Engineering, HR & Payroll Systems leads the technical delivery, support, and continuous improvement of Versant Media’s HR and Payroll systems, including SAP HCM, SuccessFactors, and related non-ERP applications. This role will ensure stability of the HR and Payroll technology landscape during the company’s transition to a standalone environment while preparing for future modernization opportunities as the business evolves. The ideal candidate will foster a technology-agnostic mindset, guiding the evolution of HR and Payroll systems in a way that maximizes business value, regardless of vendor or platform. This leader will collaborate closely with engineering peers, enterprise product teams, and business stakeholders to align solutions and roadmaps with strategic priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Lead engineering delivery and support for all HR and payroll systems, including SAP HCM, timekeeping, and related non-ERP applications, ensuring reliability and scalability
• Ensure system stability and performance during the company’s transition to a standalone environment, with a focus on risk mitigation, data integrity, and compliance
• Oversee solution design and architecture, driving alignment with business objectives and ensuring that systems are optimized for current and future needs
• Lead and develop engineering teams and manage vendor partners, balancing hands-on technical leadership with effective people management
• Collaborate with enterprise product management and HR business stakeholders to align technology roadmaps with strategic priorities, influencing outcomes across HR, Payroll, and Timekeeping functions
• Establish and maintain best practices for system design, testing, release management, and operational support, fostering a culture of engineering excellence
• Evaluate emerging technologies and platforms, ensuring HR and payroll systems can evolve in line with business needs while remaining cost-effective, secure, and compliant
• Prepare and deliver clear communications to leadership regarding program status, risks, and recommendations for achieving measurable business value
• Contribute to planning and execution of future system transformations, including potential migration from SAP HCM to cloud-based HCM platforms as business priorities dictate

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 10+ years of ERP HR and payroll systems experience, with at least 5+ years in engineering or technical leadership roles; deep SAP HCM experience is strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Extensive experience leading engineering teams responsible for HR, payroll, and timekeeping systems in large enterprise environments.
• Deep understanding of SAP HCM and payroll processing, with familiarity in cloud-based HCM platforms and readiness to guide potential future migrations.
• Hands-on knowledge of SAP ABAP HR development, payroll schemas/rules, and integrations, with the ability to plan, review, and oversee cus