Director, Global Payroll

Rockwell Automation is a global technology leader focused on helping the world’s manufacturers be more productive, sustainable, and agile. With more than 28,000 employees who make the world better every day, we know we have something special. Behind our customers - amazing companies that help feed the world, provide life-saving medicine on a global scale, and focus on clean water and green mobility - our people are energized problem solvers that take pride in how the work we do changes the world for the better.

We welcome all makers, forward thinkers, and problem solvers who are looking for a place to do their best work. And if that’s you we would love to have you join us!

Job Description

We are hiring for a Global Payroll Director who will be lead the strategic direction, governance, and optimization of global payroll across 60+ countries. Reporting to the Vice President, HR Enablement, you will ensure compliance with local regulations, drives process optimization, and partner with internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality, cost-effective services to our organization. You will oversee payroll vendor relationships and technology-driven solutions to support scalable and efficient operations. You'll also maintain partnership with the Time & Absence team to ensure seamless time-to-pay integration and employee experience.

This role is located at the Milwaukee, WI global headquarters and works a hybrid work schedule.

Your Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• You will develop/lead a global payroll strategy aligned with HR priorities, compliance standards, and workforce needs.
• Champion automation, AI-driven insights and workflows to improve accuracy, reduce manual effort, and enhance employee experience.
• Lead integration of new technologies (e.g., anomaly detection, predictive analytics) in partnership with HR technology team and external vendors.
• Ensure payroll tech investments solve operational challenges, boost efficiency, and support compliance.
• Stay current on industry trends to lead innovation and continuous improvement.
• Support M&A activities, including due diligence and integration planning.

Process Ownership & Operational Excellence

• You will be global process owner for payroll, ensuring efficient and compliant operations.
• Oversee payroll processing across 60+ countries, ensuring accuracy, promptness, and legal compliance.
• Monitor service level agreements and performance indicators; update metrics to reflect evolving needs, service expectations and regulations.
• Enforce internal controls to avoid fraud and errors; implement corrective action plans when needed.
• You will be the final escalation point for payroll issues, ensuring prompt resolution and communication with internal partners.
• Operating through the lens of continuous improvement, you will enhance service delivery and efficiency while reducing risk.

Vendor Management

• Shape payroll vendor strategy to meet company need;, balancing cost, quality, scalability, and continued innovation.
• You will evaluate and then select and manage third-party vendors, ensuring compliance and performance.
• Hold payroll vendors accountable for Service Level Agreements, performance metrics while upholding data protection standards.
• Collaborate on new capabilities (e.g., automation, analytics) to improve service and experience.
• Coordinate with Time & Absence team on integration requirements.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead a high-performing global payroll team, promoting a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement.
• Provide clear direction and align team responsibilities with strategic goals.
• Support development through training, succession planning, and upskilling.
• Maintain process documentation and performance metrics to lead team effectiveness.
• Establish effectual operating rhythms with Time & Absence team leadership.

Financial Management

• Manage payroll operations budget and contribute to overall global HR budgeting.
• Partner with Finance and Corporate Tax teams to ensure accurate accounting, tax compliance, and reporting.

The Essentials - You Will Have:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience
• Legal authorization to work in the US is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.

The Preferred - You Might Also Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, HR, Finance, or related field.
• Typically requires 12 years of progressive experience in global payro