Senior Director, HRIS & Payroll

Since 1989, SBA Communications has been a pillar of the wireless industry. Today, as a publicly traded global leader and S&P 500 company, our network of over 46,000 communication sites spans 10+ countries, forming the critical infrastructure that connects millions. We are the force behind the scenes —the essential infrastructure that keeps our world connected.

We are looking for innovators to join the dynamic team that makes it all possible. In an industry that moves fast, we rely on our agility to stay ahead of the curve and deliver results. However, we never achieve it alone. Our culture is defined by a "Team First" focus, where every team member matters, and we collaborate passionately to support our customers' objectives.

We believe in shared success. At SBA, we invite every team member to think like an owner.

Financial Wellbeing:

• Plan for your future with our Global Ownership Program (Annual RSU awards for eligible employees), a 401K with a generous company match, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan offering company stock at a discount.

Mental Wellbeing:

• We prioritize your health with access to a dedicated Health Concierge service.

Personal Growth & Balance:

• Enjoy a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) package, paid holidays, and paid volunteer hours. We also fuel your ambition with tuition reimbursement, support for professional certifications, and a wellness reimbursement program.

If you’re ready to make an impact with a stable industry leader, we want to hear from you.

Your Next Career Opportunity – Senior Director, HRIS & Payroll

The Senior Director leads strategy, administration, and continuous improvement of HRIS systems and payroll operations to enable efficient, compliant, and scalable global people operations. Reporting to the Vice President, Global Human Resources, this role has direct people leadership responsibility for the HRIS and Payroll functions.

This position oversees HRIS and global payroll operations leadership, drives process automation and reporting, manages cross-functional partnerships (HR, IT, Finance, HR Compliance, and Benefits), and ensures data integrity, security, regulatory compliance, and a strong employee experience across U.S. and international operations.

What You Will Do – Primary Responsibilities

Strategy, Governance & Leadership

• Set the HRIS and payroll technology strategy and roadmap, translating business objectives into Workday enhancements that improve efficiency, analytics, scalability, and employee experience.
• Provide overall leadership for Workday and related HR/payroll systems, including configuration oversight, optimization, adoption of new features and releases.
• Lead and develop HRIS and Payroll teams, setting priorities, allocating resources, managing budgets, coaching performance, and fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain governance models for HRIS and payroll operations, ensuring clear ownership, decision-making authority, and accountability.

Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Oversee U.S. payroll operations, leading multi-state and multi-division payroll processing in a shared services environment and ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant execution.
• Provide strategic oversight, governance, and compliance support for international payroll operations across multiple countries, in partnership with regional HR teams and external payroll providers.
• Direct federal, state, and local payroll tax filings; ensure compliance with applicable payroll regulations and labor laws.
• Oversee annual payroll-related activities such as bonus payments, equity/stock processing, and associated accounting and vendor reporting (e.g., Fidelity, proxy/SEC support as applicable).
• Serve as a senior escalation point for complex payroll issues, maintaining confidentiality and a high standard of employee experience.

Controls, Audit & Risk Management

• Design, maintain, and test payroll and HRIS controls in support of SOX, internal audits, and external audits; remediate control gaps and lead corrective actions.
• Establish controls and procedures to ensure data integrity, security, and privacy across HRIS and payroll systems, including periodic audits, security profile reviews, and control testing.
• Partner closely with HR Compliance and Finance to ensure regulatory readiness and defensible processes across all payroll and HRIS activities.

Systems, Integrations & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee Workday modules and capabilities as applicable (e.g., HCM, Payroll, Benefits, Talent, Time Tracking/Absence, Advanced Compensation, Financials, Prism, Workday Help), ensuring stability, scalability, and compliance.
• Lead payroll accounting activities, including reconciliation of payroll, payroll taxes, and related balance sheet accounts to the general ledger in partnership with Finance.
• Manage timekeeping systems, interfaces, and integrations (benefits vendors, new hire reporting, payroll tax providers, and other HR/payroll systems) to ensure end-to-end data accuracy.
• Plan and execute Workday releases, enhancements, and implementation projects, coordinating testing/UAT, change management, and stakeholder communications.
• Streamline workflows and automate processes through Workday configuration, integrations, and upgrades; design and implement process improvements and internal controls.

Reporting, Analytics & Stakeholder Partnership

• Develop dashboards, reports, and people analytics to support leadership decision-making and monitor HRIS and payroll operational performance.
• Partner with HR, IT, Finance, HR Compliance, Benefits, and external vendors to align systems and payroll operations with business needs.
• Support internal and external reporting requirements, including headcount and payroll metrics, audit requests, monthly and year-end financial reporting, and SEC/proxy support as applicable.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Work with Talent Acquisition to recruit, interview, select, hire, and employ a talented and diverse group of high-performing team members.
• Provide oversight and direction to team members in accordance with the organization's policies and procedures.
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members, including overseeing new team member onboarding and providing career development planning and growth opportunities.
• Empower team members to take ownership of their job and goals. Delegate responsibilities as needed and provide routine constructive feedback on performance.
• Create a culture that is consistent with the organization's focus on team member engagement, and that aligns with the organization's mission, vision, and values.
• Lead team members using a performance management and development-focused approach to assist in goal setting, two-way feedback, and performance development planning.
• Lead team members to meet the organization's expectations for productivity, quality, and goal accomplishment.

What You’ll Need – Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
  • 7+ years of HRIS/Workday administration experience, including 5+ years in a supervisory or leadership role; experience supporting large, multi-entity and/or multi-location organizations preferred.
  • 10+ years of progressive payroll experience for mid-to-large organizations, including payroll processing, balancing, controls, and payroll tax compliance; demonstrated success driving payroll strategy and improvements.
• Deep expertise in U.S. payroll compliance, including federal, state, and local payroll regulations and payroll tax execution.
• Strong working knowledge of Workday (HCM and Payroll required; additional modules a plus), including integrations, security configuration, UAT/testing, and reporting/analytics; Workday certification (e.g., Workday Pro) highly desirable.
• Experience reconciling payroll, payroll taxes, and related balance sheet accounts to the general ledger; strong partnership mindset with Finance.
• Experience supporting or overseeing international payroll operations through third-party providers preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills; ability to lead change and influence stakeholders at senior levels.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and make independent, risk-aware decisions.
• High integrity and discretion when handling confidential payroll and employee data.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency preferred.
• Exposure to emerging HR and payroll technology trends, including automation and AI-enabled optimization, is a plus.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to stoop, bend, kneel or crouch.
• Ability to stand, walk and sit.
• Ability to reach with hands and arms.
• Visual ability correctable to 20/20.
• Sitting up to 90% of the day.
• Ability to respond verbally in an understandable, professional manner in person and over the telephone.
• Manual dexterity to input data into the computer and the calculator and operate the equipment listed above.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office/ Cubicle workspace.
• Moderate noise level.