Payroll Operations Transition Lead

Role: Payroll Operations Transition Lead

Location: Milton Keynes (Hybrid)

Salary: £59,000 - £67,000

Contract: 18 Month Fixed-Term

Network IT are working with a leading organisation to recruit a Payroll Operations Transition Lead to play a pivotal role in a major People and Payroll transformation programme.

This is a unique opportunity to sit at the centre of a large-scale ERP and payroll migration, helping to transition payroll services from a legacy SAP platform to SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP) while driving operational readiness, business adoption, and process alignment across the organisation. 

This opportunity is an 18-month fixed-term arrangement, please ensure you can accommodate to this circumstance before applying.

Role Overview

As the Payroll Operations Transition Lead, you will act as the key operational representative for Payroll and People Services throughout a critical payroll and HR systems transformation.

Working across People Services, Payroll, Finance, Digital Services, and third-party implementation partners, you will ensure the successful migration of payroll services from SAP ECC to SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP), whilst aligning operational processes, governance, and service delivery models to support the future-state organisation. 

This role requires a highly experienced individual with a strong background in Payroll Operations, People Services, HR Technology, and Transformation Delivery. You will be equally comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders, operational teams, and programme leadership, ensuring business readiness, compliance, and sustainable change throughout the programme lifecycle. 

Key Responsibilities

Lead the operational transition activities associated with a major Payroll and HR transformation programme

Represent Payroll Operations throughout the migration from SAP ECC to SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP)

Align payroll processes, controls, governance, and service delivery with future-state technology solutions

Collaborate closely with programme teams, Finance, Digital Services, Payroll, and third-party implementation partners

Drive business readiness, operational transition, and adoption activities across payroll functions

Provide subject matter expertise across Payroll Operations, People Services, and HR processes

Ensure compliance, statutory controls, and operational governance are maintained throughout the migration

Assess and manage operational impacts arising from process and system change

Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Payroll, Finance, Digital, and People Services functions

Support the successful embedding of new operating procedures and long-term service improvements

Essential Skills & Experience

Proven experience operating within Payroll Operations, HR Operations, People Technology, or HR Transformation environments

Strong understanding of Payroll, Employment, Pension, and statutory compliance requirements

Experience delivering or supporting major Payroll, HR, or People system transformation programmes

Exposure to SAP, SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP), or comparable HR technology platforms

Experience working alongside third-party implementation partners and technology providers

Strong understanding of process migration, business change, data governance, and operational controls

Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels

Experience working across Payroll, Finance, People Services, and wider business functions

Strong organisational, delivery, and relationship-building capabilities

Experience operating successfully within large, complex organisations undergoing significant change

Highly Desirable Skills & Experience

SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP) experience

SAP Payroll or SAP ECC exposure

Experience supporting international or Republic of Ireland payrolls

Background within Higher Education or similarly complex organisational environments

Experience leading operational readiness, service transition, or business adoption activities
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed