Payroll Transformation & Implementation Project Manager - Americas

Job description

At ABB, we help industries outrun - leaner and cleaner. Here, progress is an expectation - for you, your team, and the world. As a global market leader, we’ll give you what you need to make it happen. It won’t always be easy, growing takes grit. But at ABB, you’ll never run alone. Run what runs the world. This role sits within ABB's Robotics business, a leading global robotics company. We're entering an exciting new chapter as we’ve announced the plan for SoftBank Group to acquire ABB Robotics. SoftBank is a globally recognized technology group and investor/operator focused on AI, robotics, and next-generation computing. By joining us now, you’ll be part of a pioneering team shaping the future of robotics—working alongside world-class experts in a fast-moving, innovation-driven environment. This Position reports to: Global Payroll Transformation and M&A Lead Your Role: Own the Challenge As ABB Robotics embarks on its journey as a standalone global leader in automation, we are looking for an experienced Transformation Project Manager to lead end-to-end payroll system implementation projects across multiple countries, as well as local discovery initiatives related to Payroll, Employee Life Cycle (ELC), and Time & Attendance processes. In this role, you will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering payroll transformation initiatives while ensuring compliance, stakeholder alignment, and a successful transition to ongoing operations. This position requires strong project management expertise, in-depth payroll knowledge, experience managing third-party vendors, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams in a dynamic global environment. The work model for the role is: Remote This role will functionally report to Global Payroll Transformation Lead who will act as an overarching Program Manager. Preferred candidates are from Mexico or US. Key Responsibilities Lead payroll implementation projects from initiation through go-live and stabilization. Drive local country discovery workshops to understand current state processes and help define future-state solutions. Define project scope, objectives, timelines, milestones, and deliverables. Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, risk registers, and status reports. Coordinate activities across HR, Finance, IT, payroll vendors, and other key stakeholders. Manage payroll system implementations, working closely with integration and data migration teams. Ensure payroll processes comply with local labor laws, tax regulations, and company policies. Facilitate workshops to gather business requirements and document functional specifications. Oversee testing activities, including SIT, UAT, parallel payroll runs, and issue resolution. Monitor project budgets, resources, and timelines to ensure successful delivery. Identify project risks and proactively implement mitigation plans. Provide regular communication and project updates to executive stakeholders. Support organizational change management, training activities, and transition to business-as-usual operations. Ensure effective post-implementation support and successful project closure. Qualifications Bachelor's degree required. 5+ years of project management experience in payroll and HR transformation projects. Proven experience leading payroll implementations in US and LATAM within managed services environments. Experience with implementation of a global payroll provider is a must, if it was Strada is a plus. Strong understanding of payroll operations, compliance requirements, and payroll-related controls. Fluent English required; advanced Spanish and/or Portuguese is a strong advantage. Hands-on experience with Workday is a plus. Experience designing and implementing Workday-to-Payroll integrations. Experience supporting divestiture or separation programs is highly desirable. Experience working with global and cross-functional teams. Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills. High level of accountability with a proactive, collaborative, and partnership-oriented mindset. Strong attention to detail and execution excellence. Flexibility to support multiple global time zones. Willingness to travel for workshops and key project milestones as needed. What's in it for you We want you to bring your full self to work—your ideas, your energy, your ambition. You’ll have the tools and freedom to grow your skills, shape your path, and take on challenges that matter. Here, your work creates impact you can see and feel, every day. More About Us ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer for protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities at ABB. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their- sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law. For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer for Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762. Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB's career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762 or by sending an email to US-AskHR@abb.com. Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner. MyBenefitsABB.com ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees [excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico] Go to myBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn more Health, Life & Disability Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan. Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus Vision benefit Company paid life insurance (2X base pay) Company paid AD&D (1X base pay) Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay. Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance Parental Leave – up to 6 weeks Employee Assistance Program Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption Employee discount program Retirement 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP) Time off ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Vacation is provided based on years of service for hourly and non-exempt positions. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy. ABB Benefit Summary for eligible MX employees Performance Bonus Saving fund Paid parental leave Life insurance Retirement plan Health and dental insurance Wellbeing program Flex days Employee Assistance Program (PAE) Access to development platforms: Spark, Harvard Manager Mentor and English Learning EF English Live School (EF) Contribute to a collective vision. This is where progress takes flight, teams turn ideas into impact, and we de