Senior Manager, Payroll & Benefits at Woolpert

Fort Worth, Texas, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

30 Apr, 26

Salary

147800.0

Posted On

30 Jan, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Payroll Processing, Benefits Administration, Cross-functional Leadership, International Expansion Support, Compliance, Tier III Escalation, Vendor Management, Standard Operating Procedures, Continuous Improvement, Dayforce Functionality, M&A Integration, Data Integrity, Stakeholder Communication, Problem-Solving, Global Coordination, Judgment

Industry

Civil Engineering

Description

We seek to move the world forward through innovative thinking. Woolpert is an award-winning, global leader in architecture, engineering, and geospatial services. We blend design excellence with cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional client value. Our team is passionate about their work and committed to building the next generation of industry leaders, and as a certified Great Place to Work®, Woolpert embraces progress and innovation to create limitless opportunities for career growth. Position Overview Woolpert is hiring a Senior Manager, Payroll & Benefits to join our Human Resources team based in the United States. The role will lead Woolpert’s payroll and benefits team with advanced expertise, elevated decision-making authority, and cross-functional leadership. Oversee complex payroll and benefits functions, supports international expansion, ensures compliance across jurisdictions, and serves as the Tier III escalation point above the Payroll & Benefits Manager. Partners closely with HR Operations, Regional HR, Accounting & Finance, Legal, IT, and external vendors to ensure accurate payroll delivery, compliant benefits programs, and exceptional employee experience across the organization. Plays a critical part in coordinating and supporting global regions to drive a unified “One Woolpert” payroll and benefits experience ensuring consistent standards, aligned processes, and collaborative delivery across all countries as Woolpert continues to scale internationally. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must already possess work authorization in the country the job is located. What You Will Do: Serve as the Tier III escalation lead for payroll and benefits inquiries that require advanced expertise or judgment. Provide mentorship, guidance, and functional leadership to the payroll and benefits team. Partner with AskHR, HRBPs, Regional HR, and Finance to ensure employees receive timely, accurate, and supportive payroll and benefits assistance. Support employees through complex payroll and benefits situations, including international hires, leave pay, garnishments, and corrections. Oversee compliance with wage & hour laws, benefits eligibility rules, tax withholding requirements, and reporting standards. Implement and maintain standard operating procedures, controls, and documentation to ensure consistency across payroll and benefits workflows. Coordinate and oversee quarterly and annual payroll filings, including W2s and 1095Cs. Lead continuous improvement initiatives for payroll and benefits, identifying automation opportunities and reducing manual work. Collaborate with IT and HRIS to advance Dayforce functionality, including configuration enhancements, integrations, and global modules. Support implementation of new payroll structures for acquisitions globally. Manage vendor relationships at an advanced level, including benefits carriers, brokers, payroll providers, and international partners. Oversee complex payroll audits, benefits compliance reviews, and regulatory responses. Ensure Woolpert’s payroll and benefits programs meet high standards of accuracy, compliance, and competitiveness. Establish and track KPIs for accuracy, service delivery, processing speed, and compliance targets. Oversee reconciliations, complex pay adjustments, leave pay calculations, and escalated discrepancies. Provide balanced recommendations that consider legal compliance, operational efficiency, and employee experience. Apply strong judgment when addressing sensitive pay or benefits matters, ensuring confidentiality and equitable solutions. Support organizational growth while maintaining healthy workload distribution, clear prioritization, and sustainable processes. Lead and develop a small team and/or cross functional workstreams. Support M&A integration for payroll/benefits, including transitioning acquired firms onto standard calendars, plans, and systems. What You Will Bring: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, or related field required. 12 years of experience in payroll processing and benefits administration required. Experience may substitute for education at a 1:1 ratio. In lieu of a Bachelor’s degree, an additional 4 years of relevant experience is required. FPC/CPP (APA), CEBS, SPHR, GPHR (or regional equivalent) preferred, but not required. Experience with Ceridian/Dayforce or similar HCM/payroll systems. Analytical rigor, vendor management, process design, data integrity, service orientation, and stakeholder communication. High integrity and ability to handle sensitive information with discretion. Proficiency with Dayforce (or comparable HCM/payroll), Excel, and vendor portals. Knowledge of multi‑state payroll laws, tax regulations, and benefits compliance. Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with demonstrated ability to resolve escalated payroll or benefits issues. Excellent communication, customer service, and cross‑functional partnering skills. Ability to manage deadlines across multiple time zones. Global experience coordinating payroll/benefits across at least 3 countries (e.g., EMEA or APAC) with in country providers preferred. Experience leading OE implementations, system upgrades, or multi country payroll launches in Dayforce preferred. Physical Requirements & Working Conditions: Prolonged periods working at a computer. Occasional evening/early‑morning meetings to accommodate global cycles. Travel Requirements: Must be able to travel up to 5% of the time for business purposes. Benefits You Will Love Certified as a Great Place to Work, Woolpert is one of the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and geospatial companies in the world. With over 75 offices and countless projects around the globe, you’ll work on meaningful assignments that improve quality of life around the world. In addition to offering competitive pay, we provide employees with a robust set of unique benefits, including: Freedom to Work program: Set your own schedule and location (as appropriate). Principal program: Earn the opportunity to become an owner of the firm. Flexible paid time off/vacation: Take time off when it makes sense for you and your team. Career development: Explore a wide range of learning and growth opportunities within and across industries. Health, life, vision, and dental insurance: Cover all your medical bases. Paid sick time, retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, pet insurance, identity protection, technology stipend, employee assistance program, and more! #LI-KA1 Base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Pay Range $118,200—$147,800 USD Find out more about what Woolpert has to offer here: http://woolpert.com/about-us/ Woolpert is an equal-opportunity employer. Woolpert is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals. We recruit, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. You may view more about EEO on our website: Equal-Employment-Opportunity-The-Law.pdf and EEO is the Law Poster Supplement. Applicants who require an accommodation throughout the application and interview process should request this in advance by contacting askhr@woolpert.com. If you need to reschedule or cancel your interview, please reach out to your recruiter by contacting recruiting@woolpert.com. To all agencies: Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of Woolpert or any of our subsidiaries about this requisition. All resumes submitted by search firms/employment agencies to any employee at Woolpert via email, the internet, or in any form and/or method will be deemed the sole property of Woolpert, unless such search firms/employment agencies were engaged by Woolpert's Talent Acquisition Team for this requisition and a valid agreement is in place. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of Woolpert's applicant process is hired, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid.

Responsibilities

This role leads the payroll and benefits team, serving as the Tier III escalation point for complex inquiries and providing functional leadership and mentorship. Key duties include overseeing compliance, managing vendor relationships, coordinating global payroll/benefits delivery, and driving continuous improvement initiatives for related workflows and systems.