Director of Payroll (Payroll Director)

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain payroll compliance, safeguarding sensitive information, and supporting Redwire’s mission through reliable and efficient payroll administration.
• Develop and implement payroll strategies that align with company goals and support organizational growth.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and exceptional service.
• Maintain strong internal controls to ensure payroll accuracy, prevent errors, and safeguard company assets.
• Manage relationships with external payroll providers, tax authorities, and other relevant vendors.
• Oversee the accurate and timely processing of payroll for all US employees across multiple states, ensuring compliance with varying state laws regarding wages, deductions, and reporting.
• Manage all payroll tax filings, including federal, state, local income taxes, FICA, FUTA, SUTA and other mandated withholdings and contributions.
• Avoid and resolve complex payroll issues, discrepancies, and employee inquiries efficiently and effectively.
• Stay current with all federal, state, local payroll tax laws, regulations, and reporting requirements (e.g., FLSA, IRS, Department of Labor).
• Proactively identify and mitigate payroll-related risks.
• Cook up and facilitate internal and external payroll audits.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive payroll policies and procedures.
• Ensure all payroll processes are SOX compliant.
• Define and implement payroll strategy, team structure, and efficient, compliant processes.
• Analyze department budget needs and contribute to budget development, including identifying cost-savings opportunities.
• Occasionally travel to other Redwire business units to attend meetings or support payroll operations.

Ideal Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in payroll management, with at least 5 years in a leadership/director-level, operating in multiple states.
• In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations, including FLSA, FMLA, and state specific wage and hour laws.
• Expert knowledge of GAAP.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including VLOOKUP and Pivot Tables.
• Experience with major payroll/HRIS systems is essential.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Person as defined by ITAR regulations.

Desired Skills & Qualifications

• Experience processing payroll using Paycor is highly desired.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Experience with Deltek CostPoint ERP strongly preferred.
• Exceptional leadership and team management skills with the ability to inspire and motivate.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a keen eye for detail and accuracy.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Prior experience in government contracting, aerospace, or defense environments.
• Customer service-oriented approach to supporting employees and internal stakeholders.
• Proactive, takes initiative and demonstrates excellent judgement in a dynamic, changing environment.
• High levels of drive, work ethic, and personal accountability with the ability to work under pressure while maintaining sound judgement and a rigorous focus on the details.