[Hiring] Senior Manager, Global Payroll @LaunchDarkly

Role Description

LaunchDarkly is seeking a Senior Manager, Global Payroll to lead and scale the company’s global payroll operations during its next phase of growth. This leader will partner closely with Accounting, Finance, People, Legal, IT, Total Rewards, and external payroll providers to ensure payroll is accurate, timely, compliant, efficient, and employee-centered across all countries and entities where LaunchDarkly operates.

The Senior Manager, Global Payroll will own the end-to-end payroll operating model, including:

• Payroll processing
• Controls
• Compliance
• Vendor management
• Reconciliations
• Reporting
• Systems
• Continuous improvement

This role is ideal for a strategic, hands-on payroll leader who is comfortable driving change across multiple functions and regions, staying close to complex details, and building scalable processes that support a growing global workforce.

Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end global payroll operating model, including payroll calendars, standard operating procedures, data inputs, approvals, processing, funding, reconciliations, reporting, and issue resolution.
• Lead US and international payroll operations across multiple countries, entities, pay frequencies, and local requirements, ensuring each payroll cycle is accurate, timely, and complete.
• Manage relationships with third-party payroll providers, EOR partners, and local payroll specialists, holding partners accountable for service quality, compliance, deadlines, and issue resolution.
• Establish and maintain strong payroll controls, review procedures, and audit-ready documentation across employee data, tax withholding, deductions, benefits, equity, commissions, bonuses, off-cycle payments, and employee changes.
• Partner closely with People Operations and Total Rewards to ensure new hires, terminations, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, benefits elections, leaves, and other employee lifecycle events flow accurately into payroll.
• Partner with Accounting on payroll reconciliations, payroll-related journal entries, accruals, balance sheet accounts, cash funding, and month-end close support.
• Partner with Stock Administration to ensure equity transactions, vesting, exercises, and related taxable compensation are accurately reflected in payroll and reported appropriately.
• Partner with Legal and external advisors on payroll tax, statutory requirements, registrations, wage and hour matters, audits, year-end reporting, and changes in local regulations.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex payroll issues, investigate root causes, and communicate clearly with cross-functional partners and affected employees.
• Lead payroll audits and year-end processes, including W-2s, tax filings, statutory reporting, reconciliations, and other required employee and government reporting.
• Evaluate and implement/improve payroll systems, HRIS integrations, workflows, and reporting to reduce manual effort, improve data quality, and increase operational visibility.
• Partner with IT and business stakeholders on payroll system enhancements, integrations, provider transitions, entity launches, and other initiatives that improve scalability and employee experience.
• Define and monitor payroll operating metrics, including cycle accuracy, timeliness, exception volume, issue resolution, provider performance, reconciliations, and audit findings.
• Analyze payroll data and trends, prepare regular payroll forecasts and workforce-cost projections, investigate discrepancies, and deliver clear reporting and metrics to Finance and leadership.
• Improve the employee payroll experience by responding to questions, resolving issues promptly, and communicating clearly about payroll timelines and changes.
• Identify opportunities to use automation and AI-enabled tools responsibly to improve payroll operations, reporting, controls, and employee support.
• Lead, mentor, and develop payroll team member(s) and external partners, creating clear accountability, strong development paths, and a culture of operational excellence.
• Serve as a trusted partner to Finance and People leadership by balancing strong governance with practical, business-oriented problem solving.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including significant experience leading global payroll operations in a multi-entity organization.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, human resources, business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. CPP preferred.
• Experience managing US and international payroll across multiple countries, pay frequencies, payroll providers, EOR partners, and local specialists, including service-level oversight and issue resolution.
• Strong knowledge of US payroll tax, statutory requirements, year-end reporting, wage and hour considerations, benefits deductions, equity, commissions, and payroll accounting.
• Experience processing or reviewing bonuses, commissions, equity-related compensation, and other off-cycle or non-recurring payroll payments.
• Hands-on experience with payroll solutions (e.g., ADP) and a track record of leading payroll system implementations, migrations, integrations, or major system enhancements.
• Demonstrated success designing and improving payroll controls, reconciliations, audit processes, documentation, and standard operating procedures.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to investigate variances, identify root causes, and communicate clear recommendations.
• Proven ability to partner cross-functionally and influence outcomes across Finance, Accounting, People, Legal, IT, Total Rewards, and business leadership.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and the ability to communicate clearly when handling sensitive employee information and time-critical issues.
• Ability to move between strategic leadership and detailed execution with a high degree of ownership.
• Experience working across regions and time zones in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Requirements

• Target pay ranges based on Geographic Zones for Level M3:
• Zone 1: San Francisco/Bay Area or NYC Metropolitan Area, Boston, Seattle - $136,000 - $187,000
• Zone 2: Irvine, LA, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, Austin, Portland, Philadelphia, Chicago - $122,000 - $168,000
• Zone 3: All other US locations - $116,000 - $159,000
• All Zones inclusive of a 15% Bonus Target.
• Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Benefits

• Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Mental health benefits in addition to salary