Sr. Manager, Global Payroll

Position Overview

We are looking for a Senior Manager, Global Payroll to lead the strategy, transformation, and evolution of Calian’s global payroll function. This is an opportunity to build a scalable global payroll operating model that supports a growing workforce across multiple countries, entities, employment models, and providers.

The successful candidate will establish the vision, governance, controls, technology roadmap, team structure, and delivery approach required to create a consistent and sustainable global payroll ecosystem. This role will be particularly well suited to an experienced payroll leader who enjoys solving complex problems, building from the ground up, and combining strategic leadership with hands-on execution.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement Calian’s global payroll strategy, operating model, governance framework, and long-term roadmap.
• Lead payroll delivery across multiple jurisdictions, entities, and employment structures, ensuring payroll is accurate, timely, compliant, and well controlled.
• Assess and evolve the optimal payroll delivery model, including centralized, regionalized, outsourced, in-house, and hybrid approaches.
• Establish standards for payroll governance, controls, reconciliations, service delivery, reporting, escalation management, and employee support.
• Evaluate and optimize payroll processes, reducing complexity, strengthening controls, and driving standardization while recognizing local requirements.
• Lead payroll vendor and partner relationships, including service expectations, performance management, issue resolution, contract discussions, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with People Technology, HR Operations, Finance, and IT to assess, implement, and optimize payroll technologies, integrations, automation, reporting, and data quality.
• Lead payroll due diligence and integration for acquisitions, including risk assessment, transition planning, harmonization, and post-acquisition integration.
• Support international expansion, new-country launches, entity setup, EOR transitions, and workforce mobility initiatives.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, Tax, IT, Internal Audit, and external providers to manage payroll compliance and operational risk.
• Lead responses to payroll-related internal and external audits and maintain strong audit readiness.
• Lead, coach, and develop the payroll team while building the structure and capabilities required to support a growing global organization.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience in a similar function.
• Demonstrated global payroll experience across multiple countries and jurisdictions within North America, Europe and Asia 
• Proven experience building, transforming, or significantly evolving payroll functions, operating models, systems, or processes.
• Strong understanding of global payroll governance, tax, compliance, controls, and risk management.
• Experience evaluating payroll technologies, integrations, vendors, and different payroll delivery models.
• Demonstrated ability to create structure within fragmented or complex environments and develop a clear future-state strategy.
• Strong people leadership experience, including coaching, team development, capability building, and organizational design.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and leading significant cross-functional change.
• Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions, payroll harmonization, international expansion, or entity integration.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and balance strategic leadership with hands-on problem solving.

Additional Requirements

• The ability to obtain and maintain a Canadian Government Security Clearance at the Reliability level.
• A collaborative and thoughtful leadership style with the ability to navigate significant organizational and operational change.
• Strong change management skills and the ability to build trust while challenging existing processes with curiosity and positive intent.
• Resilience, creativity, and a practical approach to solving complex problems.
• A genuine interest in building and transforming a global payroll function rather than simply maintaining an established environment.

Compensation

$140,000 to $150,000CAD base salary + STI.

Position Type

We have 1 full-time, permanent position available.

Job Title: Sr. Manager, Global Payroll

Requisition Number:

Date: October 23, 2026

Location 1: Ottawa, ON

Remote: Yes

Business Unit: Shared Services

Department: HR Global Operations

Job Type: Full-time

#LI-JM1#

#SF#