Program Manager, HR & Payroll Systems

What to Expect

Tesla's Commercial Service Operations team operates & maintains deployed assets including PV, behind-the-meter & front-of-meter storage, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure globally.

As a Program Manager within the Business Process and Software team, you will own payroll software and related pay processes — designing and delivering business process and system solutions that convert payroll strategy into reliable operational execution. You will work closely with cross-functional partners including Payroll Operations, HR, Finance, Tax, Timekeeping, IT, and product/system owners to ensure payroll requirements are clear, integrated, and production-ready.

You will work toward the team's goal of payroll processes that are accurate, efficient, scalable, and systemized. You will take a holistic view of pay and related workflows to ensure root problems are identified and requirements are unambiguous. This role may require some travel. A high degree of ownership, creativity, and self-motivation is expected.

What You’ll Do

• Program Management: Lead end-to-end planning, development, execution, and maintenance of payroll systems and programs (core payroll platform, configurations, releases, and related integrations) that support organizational pay goals

• Requirements gathering: Conduct interviews, workshops, and analysis with Payroll, HR, Finance, and IT stakeholders to gather, document, and prioritize payroll and integration requirements

• Documentation & Reporting: Maintain documentation of payroll system configurations, process flows, calculation/interface rules, user stories, requirements, and training materials

• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve payroll systems and processes — reducing pay defects, manual interventions, and cycle risk while improving efficiency, scalability, and repeatability

• Communication: Maintain clear communication with stakeholders; prepare and present program updates, payroll go-live readiness, performance metrics, and system outcomes to leadership

• System Testing & Validation: Lead UAT for payroll functionality, including pay cycles, off-cycle processing, deductions, taxes, retroactive adjustments, and related integrations, ensuring alignment with business needs

• Compliance: Ensure payroll systems and processes meet applicable wage, tax, labor, security, audit, and other regulatory/compliance requirements

What You’ll Bring

• Minimum of 5–7 years of program management experience involving business systems, preferably payroll or HRIS/payroll platforms

• Strong understanding of payroll processes (pay cycles, deductions, taxes, garnishments, retro, year-end) and system/integration patterns (e.g., HRIS ↔ time ↔ payroll ↔ finance/GL)

• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Experience leading cross-functional programs with operational and technical partners

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment with great attention to detail

• Ability to understand complex information and communicate it to audiences with diverse professional backgrounds