We are seeking a senior Payroll Product Manager to support strategy, planning, and execution for Payroll and Absence Management within the environment. This role will drive initiatives from requirements definition through delivery, ensuring alignment with policies, compliance standards, and operational needs across all locations. This position requires an experienced product leader who can quickly assess the current state, partner with diverse stakeholders, and deliver measurable outcomes in a complex, highly governed environment. Key Responsibilities • Lead product strategy and roadmap planning for Payroll and Absence Management within • Translate business and compliance requirements into clear, actionable product initiatives • Drive initiatives from concept and requirements through delivery and adoption • Partner closely with Center operations, campus payroll leaders, HR, IT, and governance bodies • Balance system-wide standardization with campus-specific operational needs • Ensure alignment with policies, collective bargaining agreements, and regulatory requirements • Provide leadership and direction across cross-functional teams, influencing without direct authority • Communicate clearly and effectively with executive stakeholders, operational leaders, and technical teams Required Skills & Experience • Strong experience with PeopleSoft HCM Payroll and Absence Management • Demonstrated success in product management, strategy, and planning roles • Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams in complex organizations • Experience driving organizational change through clear communication and stakeholder alignment • Deep understanding of payroll operations, controls, and compliance (preferably in higher education or public sector environments) • Ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels Important Candidate Profile Guidance Many candidates have strong technical payroll or PeopleSoft backgrounds but lack the strategic product leadership experience required for this role. This is not a purely functional or technical payroll role. While PeopleSoft and payroll expertise are required, the core of this position is leadership, strategy, and planning. Successful candidates will show: • Experience setting direction, not just executing tasks • Clear examples of leading initiatives, influencing stakeholders, and driving outcomes • Strong cross-functional communication skills, particularly across HR, IT, and executive leadership • Evidence of owning product decisions and navigating governance-heavy environments Candidates who have primarily worked in hands-on payroll processing or technical support roles without product leadership responsibility are unlikely to be a fit. Ideal Background • Product Manager, Product Owner, or Program Leader supporting Payroll systems • Experience, higher education, public sector, or large enterprise HR systems strongly preferred • Comfortable operating in a highly regulated, multi-stakeholder environment Apply tot his job