Program Manager, HR & Payroll Systems

About the role

Tesla's Commercial Service Operations team operates and maintains deployed assets including PV, behind-the-meter and front-of-meter storage, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure globally. As a Program Manager within the Business Process and Software team, you will own payroll software and related pay processes — designing and delivering business process and system solutions that convert payroll strategy into reliable operational execution. You will work closely with cross-functional partners including Payroll Operations, HR, Finance, Tax, Timekeeping, IT, and product/system owners to ensure payroll requirements are clear, integrated, and production-ready. You will work toward the team's goal of payroll processes that are accurate, efficient, scalable, and systemized. You will take a holistic view of pay and related workflows to ensure root problems are identified and requirements are unambiguous. This role may require some travel. A high degree of ownership, creativity, and self-motivation is expected.

What You'll Do

• Program Management: Lead end-to-end planning, development, execution, and maintenance of payroll systems and programs (core payroll platform, configurations, releases, and related integrations) that support organizational pay goals
• Requirements gathering: Conduct interviews, workshops, and analysis with Payroll, HR, Finance, and IT stakeholders to gather, document, and prioritize payroll and integration requirements
• Documentation & Reporting: Maintain documentation of payroll system configurations, process flows, calculation/interface rules, user stories, requirements, and training materials
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve payroll systems and processes — reducing pay defects, manual interventions, and cycle risk while improving efficiency, scalability, and repeatability
• Communication: Maintain clear communication with stakeholders; prepare and present program updates, payroll go-live readiness, performance metrics, and system outcomes to leadership
• System Testing & Validation: Lead UAT for payroll functionality, including pay cycles, off-cycle processing, deductions, taxes, retroactive adjustments, and related integrations, ensuring alignment with business needs
• Compliance: Ensure payroll systems and processes meet applicable wage, tax, labor, security, audit, and other regulatory/compliance requirements

What You'll Bring

• Minimum of 5–7 years of program management experience involving business systems, preferably payroll or HRIS/payroll platforms
• Strong understanding of payroll processes (pay cycles, deductions, taxes, garnishments, retro, year-end) and system/integration patterns (e.g., HRIS ↔ time ↔ payroll ↔ finance/GL)
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience leading cross-functional programs with operational and technical partners
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment with great attention to detail
• Ability to understand complex information and communicate it to audiences with diverse professional backgrounds

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans with $0 payroll deduction options
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both with $0 paycheck contribution options
• Company Paid HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits including critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program

Pay

Expected Compensation: $88,000 - $162,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits. Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.