Payroll Product Manager Lead Consultant

Seeking a Payroll Product Manager to support strategy, planning, and execution for Payroll and Absence Management within a large HR/Payroll shared services organization in Higher Ed. The Product Manager will drive initiatives from requirements definition through delivery, ensuring alignment with business policies, compliance standards, and operational needs across the institution.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7+ years of product management experience (Payroll, HR, or Benefits systems).
• Strongly preferred Expert functional and business knowledge of PeopleSoft HCM or WorkDay, Payroll and Absence management modules.
• Business Analyst and Project manager experience.
• Proven success leading payroll or HR technology initiatives in large, complex, or shared-services environments.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with experience balancing multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills; ability to work with both technical and non-technical teams.
• Familiarity with product development methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall)

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of payroll regulations, workforce administration, and union agreements.
• Prior consulting, contract, or interim leadership experience.

Scope of Work / Responsibilities

• Own and define the product vision and strategy for Payroll and Absence Management, ensuring alignment with organization s mission, compliance obligations, and evolving business/user needs.
• Lead Roadmap definition and execution for Payroll and Absence Management.
• Partner with operations teams, IT, Business leaders, and other business units to define and prioritize initiatives.
• Gather, document, and validate business requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Oversee development, testing, and deployment of product features and enhancements in collaboration with IT and business teams.
• Lead change management efforts, including stakeholder communications, training coordination, and adoption support.
• Ensure solutions comply with institution policies, regulatory requirements, and union agreements.
• Develop clear documentation, recommendations, and transition materials to support long-term product sustainability.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on progress, risks, and outcomes.