Director, Global Payroll

Samsara Samsara · Enterprise · IA · Remote · Payroll and Equity

This role is for a Director, Global Payroll at Samsara. The primary focus is on architecting and scaling the global payroll engine, transforming operations into a high-precision, automated system. Key responsibilities include leading global payroll operations, optimizing the tech stack, leveraging AI and automation to reduce manual work, ensuring internal controls and compliance, and partnering with HR, Tax, Legal, and Accounting. The role also involves building and leading a global team, managing vendor relationships, ensuring accuracy in payroll cycles and tax compliance, and partnering on total rewards and treasury functions. A significant aspect is scaling through AI & Automation and focusing on employee experience.

What you'd actually do

  1. Drive Strategic Payroll Architecture: Provide visionary leadership for our global payroll operations, utilizing data-driven metrics to monitor and relentlessly improve the efficiency and impact of our delivery model.
  2. Build a World-Class Team: Recruit, mentor, and develop an elite, globally dispersed team of payroll professionals, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous technical growth.
  3. Optimize Vendor Ecosystems: Own and evolve our relationships with external global service providers, ensuring they meet Samsara’s high standards for reliability and security.
  4. Engineer Global Precision: Oversee all global payroll cycles, ensuring absolute accuracy and surgical compliance with US and international tax requirements across every jurisdiction.
  5. Strategic Cash & Treasury Partnership: Act as a key partner to the Treasury team by providing high-precision forecasting of global payroll cash outflows. You will ensure accurate cash positioning, allowing for optimized liquidity management across all international entities.

Skills

Required

  • Proven Global Track Record: 10–15 years of progressive payroll leadership, with a deep technical command of both US and international payroll landscapes.
  • Global Leadership Pedigree: Demonstrated success in leading and scaling globally dispersed teams through periods of significant headcount growth.
  • Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of payroll accounting, treasury cash positioning, and the impact of payroll on the broader balance sheet.
  • The Growth Mindset: A self-starter who thrives in high-velocity environments, with the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously.
  • Customer Obsession: A commitment to providing an elite, high-trust experience for every Samsarian.

Nice to have

  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or equivalent global certification.
  • Hands-on mastery of Workday and CloudPay is highly preferred, with a focus on optimizing existing configurations.
  • Experience leveraging AI, RPA, or advanced data analytics to drive cost savings and operational efficiency within a unified global system.

What the JD emphasized

  • global payroll engine
  • global payroll operations
  • global tech stack
  • international growth
  • international tax requirements
  • international entities
  • global payroll inquiries
  • global workforce
  • global service providers
  • global payroll cycles
  • global payroll cash outflows
  • global tax compliance
  • global payroll leadership
  • international payroll landscapes
  • globally dispersed teams
  • international entities