Core HR and Payroll Specialist

JOB PURPOSE

This role exists to ensure smooth and reliable Core HR and Payroll operations by managing employee data, HR processes, and payroll activities support with accuracy and care. By working closely with HR, Finance, and payroll partners, you help make sure employees are paid correctly, data is compliant, and processes run on time across countries. The scope of this position is global, covering not only the domestic market but also supporting international locations such as Switzerland and Spain. You’ll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet.

Because here, we don’t just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Core HR Operations
  • Operational management of the employee lifecycle
  • Preparation and administration of employment contracts, amendments, and employee documentation
  • Maintenance of accurate employee data in Workday and/or local HR systems
  • Administration of absences, parental leaves, and statutory HR processes
  • Providing Core HR guidance in line with local labour law and company policies
• Payroll Operations
  • Support pre- and post-payroll session for the countries in the scope (eg. Spain, Switzerland)
  • Support during internal and external audits related to HR and payroll data
• Compliance, Controls & Reporting
  • Ensuring compliance with local legislation, global payroll framework, and HROF requirements
  • Performing data quality, cut-off, and approval controls with full audit trail
  • Monitoring SLAs/KPIs and preparing operational payroll & HR reports
  • Contributing to continuous improvement and standardisation initiatives
• Stakeholder & Vendor Management
  • Day-to-day operational interaction with payroll vendors
  • Close collaboration with HR Business Partners, Finance, Reward, and Global Payroll teams
  • Providing second-line support for employee Core HR & Payroll queries

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field
• 3-5+ years of hands-on experience in Core HR and/or Payroll operations within a multinational or complex environment
• Strong knowledge of local labor law
• Practical experience working with HRIS and payroll systems (Workday experience is highly valued)
• Proficient English skills, with strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and a high level of ownership

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting HR and payroll operations for other European countries
• Previous exposure to internal or external audits related to HR or payroll data
• Experience working with outsourced payroll vendors and global payroll frameworks

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What do we offer?

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.