Associate Director - US Payroll Support and Global Payroll Supplier Manager

Job Description

The Associate Director, US Payroll Support and Global Payroll Supplier Manager oversees the US payroll support function and payroll inquiry process. The role also defines and manages service level agreements (SLAs), standard guidelines, and processes for selecting, evaluating, and supporting global payroll vendors. The position is accountable for high-quality payroll services and strong vendor performance across regions.

This role is based in Rahway, New Jersey and reports to the Director, US Payroll and Global Payroll Strategy within HR Operations.

Key Responsibilities

US Payroll Support

• Oversee the payroll support function, including the ADP call center and the company’s ServiceNow payroll ticket management process, ensuring the timely and accurate resolution of payroll inquiries and issues for U.S. employees.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to manage and resolve payroll inquiries and related issues.
• Continuously evaluate and improve payroll support processes to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and the employee experience.
• Lead payroll support teams and maintain the payroll knowledge base to support high-quality service delivery.
• Partner with the ADP Service Center to establish and manage a centralized employee payroll support process.

Process Improvement and Reporting

• Develop reporting frameworks that provide actionable insights into payroll operations and support informed decision-making.
• Leverage artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and advanced analytics to streamline payroll operations, enhance employee support, improve service delivery, and drive continuous process improvement.

Global Payroll Supplier Management

• Partner with payroll vendors, including ADP and regional providers, to ensure high-quality service delivery and compliance with contractual agreements.
• Establish and implement standard guidelines and processes for the selection of global payroll vendors, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and cost-efficiency goals.
• Implement global payroll standards and service level agreements (SLAs) that define clear expectations for performance, quality, and service delivery.
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate vendor performance and ensure compliance with established SLAs.
• Address vendor performance issues, facilitate effective communication, and drive timely resolution to maintain service excellence.
• Collaborate closely with regional teams to understand vendor performance, business requirements, and ongoing country-specific priorities and needs.
• Execute strategies to consolidate payroll providers across global markets to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree, current pursuit of degree completion, or equivalent relevant work experience.

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in global payroll and vendor management, with a proven track record of driving performance outcomes. A minimum of 8 years of experience is required with a master’s degree.
• Proficiency with payroll systems, particularly ADP, and familiarity with other global payroll platforms.
• Strong understanding of payroll software, data analytics, and automation tools.
• Demonstrated transformational mindset with extensive experience in process improvement and service delivery optimization.
• Strong focus on service innovation and continuous improvement, combined with intellectual curiosity.
• Experience leading and supporting change management initiatives.
• Proven experience building and managing relationships with strategic vendors and business partners.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret data and make informed business decisions.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience leveraging AI, machine learning, predictive analytics, and workflow automation tools to streamline processes, reduce manual effort, enhance service delivery, and generate actionable business insights.

MSJR

Required Skills:

ADP System, Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Payroll, Business Process Standardization, Business Strategies, Change Management, Data Analytics, Global Payroll, Payroll Software, Payroll Systems, Process Improvements, Process Streamlining, Service Delivery, Service Level Agreement (SLA), ServiceNow Platform, Staffing Services, Stakeholder Satisfaction, Strategic Planning, Supplier Governance, Supplier Performance Evaluation

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$129,000.00 - $203,100.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

11/20/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.