Description
The Associate Director, Product Owner - SAP HR S4, Strada and Mercans Payroll is responsible for maximising the value of their HR Product portfolio by translating business needs into a prioritised backlog and leading delivery across the HR product lifecycle.
They work closely with business stakeholders to define outcomes and ensure delivered functionality is usable, secure, compliant, supportable, and aligned to product strategy.
The SAP HR S4 Payroll Product Owner guides delivery and operational support teams to ensure requirements are clear, value-driven, and data-informed, while overseeing iterative delivery that improves product performance, adoption, and operational effectiveness.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as the functional and technical SME for SAP HR S4 Payroll, offering expert guidance on configuration, statutory compliance, and best practice.
- Partner with business stakeholders to understand functional needs, refine requirements, and define product outcomes that support business priorities.
- Serve as the escalation point for HR Product teams and business users on functional product issues.
- Own and manage the Product backlog, ensuring requirements are well-defined and supported by minimum data inputs.
- Make prioritisation decisions for the Product backlog based on value, cost, risk, business continuity, and resource capacity.
- Lead the Product team’s delivery activities, guiding Engineers, Architects, and Testers to ensure solutions are fit-for-purpose.
- Drive operational readiness by applying a delivery readiness checklist.
- Define and maintain the Product performance dashboard, tracking adoption, cycle time, stability, and support effort.
- Ensure product changes follow required security controls, risk assessments, data handling policies, and regulated change processes.
Required skills:
- 15 to 19 years of experience working in product delivery, digital solutions, business systems, or process-led technology roles.
- In-depth knowledge of SAP payroll software, including configuration, workflows, and business rules.
- SAP certification in SAP HCM or Payroll, preferably on S/4HANA.
- CSPO, PSPO or SAFe POPM certification.
- Knowledge of functional domains within Global Functions and familiarity with the technology platforms that enable them.
- Knowledge of global or multi-country payroll platforms and managed payroll service providers.
- Familiarity with Strada and/or Mercans.
- Understanding of data protection for payroll data that crosses borders.
- Awareness of how local statutory and regulatory changes drive technical changes in outsourced payroll services.
Preferred skills:
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- Skilled in coaching and guiding Associate Product Owners and delivery team members.
- Able to interpret business processes, user feedback, and operational data to identify opportunities for process simplification.
- Comfortable working within structured governance, security, and data protection requirements.
- Strong analytical mindset.
- Ability to work in a very fast-paced and fluid environment.
This role operates under GSK's "Performance with Choice" hybrid working approach, typically expecting 2–3 days per week in the office.