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Rocket Lab is seeking a Director of Global Payroll and Employment Tax to lead payroll operations for a 3,000+ person workforce across multiple U.S. and international locations. This is an onsite role based at headquarters in Long Beach, California.
You will own the end-to-end global payroll and employment-tax compliance architecture, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of bi-weekly and semi-monthly payroll for salaried and hourly employees. Working closely with HR, Finance, Accounting, and IT, you'll maintain payroll integrity, streamline processes, and drive continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities include: overseeing payroll processing across domestic and international locations; ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and international tax regulations and reporting requirements; leading, mentoring, and developing the payroll accounting team; validating and reconciling payroll data for accuracy; managing new hires, terminations, pay changes, and benefit programs (401k, HSA, ESPP, stock compensation); deploying ADP NZ with compliance to the Holidays Act 2003 and KiwiSaver requirements; managing shadow payroll and multi-jurisdictional assignment documentation; overseeing M&A payroll integration; owning payroll-cycle controls; processing manual and off-cycle checks; investigating and resolving payroll discrepancies; supporting month-end close; and staying current on global payroll regulations.
Required qualifications: 12+ years of multi-country payroll experience including APAC and EMEA compliance, co-sourced payroll operations, and ADP vendor management; Bachelor's degree or equivalent (HS diploma + 16+ years experience); demonstrated team management and development experience; strong knowledge of U.S. and international payroll compliance and tax regulations; proficiency with ADP, Workday, or similar platforms.
Desirable qualifications include NZ and German payroll experience, M&A payroll integration expertise, mobility/shadow payroll processes, GovCon payroll knowledge, Costpoint familiarity, SOX compliance experience, and CPP certification.
