Global Payroll Implementation Country Lead in Madrid, Madrid, Comunidad de at Jobgether

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Global Payroll Implementation Country Lead based in Spain.

This is a global payroll leadership role focused on delivering successful payroll implementations for international clients. You will act as the country-level payroll expert, guiding projects from initial handover and discovery through parallel runs and the first live payroll. The role combines deep local payroll knowledge with project leadership, stakeholder management, process improvement, and operational discipline. You will work closely with customers and internal teams to ensure payroll requirements, decisions, processes, and documentation are clearly understood and ready for ongoing operations. You will also help improve payroll platforms, processes, and ways of working through testing and continuous optimisation. The position offers a fully remote, international, and highly asynchronous environment where ownership, efficiency, and impact are strongly valued.

• Act as the payroll subject matter expert for the Netherlands, providing expert guidance on local payroll processes, legislation, requirements, and implementation considerations.
• Participate in sales calls, handovers, and client kick-offs, ensuring payroll requirements and expectations are clearly understood from the outset.
• Lead global payroll implementation projects from inception through planning, execution, monitoring, parallel runs, and the first month of live payroll before transitioning to Payroll Operations.
• Develop and maintain detailed implementation plans, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and delivery priorities to ensure projects remain on track.
• Serve as a key point of contact for customers and internal stakeholders throughout the implementation lifecycle, communicating payroll processes, decisions, issues, and required actions clearly.
• Establish standardised payroll processes, project plans, procedures, and documentation to improve consistency, efficiency, and operational readiness.
• Maintain a complete record of implementation decisions, processes, and requirements, ensuring Payroll Operations has the visibility and standard operating procedures needed for business-as-usual delivery.
• Monitor key performance indicators and service-level agreements, identifying risks, delays, and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide support during and after implementation, resolving payroll issues and coordinating with relevant teams when challenges arise.
• Mentor and support Payroll Generalists working alongside you and collaborate with wider implementation and operations teams.
• Work with internal product and technology teams on platform improvements, including user acceptance testing, validation, documentation, and supporting changes through to release.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve productivity, simplify processes, and accelerate implementation and payroll delivery.

• Extensive experience in payroll, particularly within a client payroll or managed payroll environment.
• Expert knowledge of Dutch payroll legislation, regulations, processes, and local requirements.
• Proven experience leading or delivering payroll implementations, ideally across international or multi-country environments.
• Strong understanding of payroll processes, reconciliations, accounting principles, and the operational controls required for accurate payroll delivery.
• Strong proficiency with local payroll systems and technology, together with practical experience using tools such as SAP, Excel, and Google Sheets.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to explain payroll processes, requirements, and complex issues clearly to customers and internal teams.
• Analytical and structured approach to problem-solving, with strong attention to detail and the ability to identify root causes and practical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver effectively in a fast-paced, international, and distributed environment.
• Process-oriented and productivity-focused mindset, with a proactive approach to identifying ways to improve efficiency and speed up delivery.
• Comfortable working asynchronously and independently, taking ownership of priorities and making effective decisions without relying on constant meetings or supervision.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Experience working remotely is not required but would be an advantage.
• Strong coaching and leadership skills, with the ability to support and mentor colleagues while maintaining high delivery standards.

• Fully remote working environment with the flexibility to work from anywhere.
• Flexible working hours designed around an asynchronous way of working.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Competitive annual salary range of €71,850–€80,800 EUR, with compensation determined by factors including location, experience, skills, training, business needs, and market conditions.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Mental health support services.
• Stock options.
• Learning and professional development budget.
• Home office budget and IT equipment.
• Budget for local in-person social events or coworking spaces.
• Opportunity to work with international teams across multiple countries and time zones.
• Strong emphasis on work-life balance, autonomy, and the ability to organise your schedule around your personal life.