Compensation & Payroll Specialist

BASF SE • Southfield, MI

5d • Onsite

About The Position

BASF Coatings is a global supplier of high quality, durable coatings for new vehicle manufacturing, including advanced color design as well as efficient, high-standard repair solutions with digital color matching and surface treatment solutions under the Chemetall brand for preparing and protecting metal, plastic, and glass surfaces, ensuring adhesion and corrosion resistance. This role reports to the Head of People and Culture and will require an on-site presence up to four days a week.

The experienced candidate will lead strategic initiatives in compensation design and payroll implementation across the U.S./Canada and Mexico. This role is critical in shaping competitive compensation programs, managing incentive structures, and ensuring seamless payroll provider onboarding through complex data migration and testing processes.

Requirements

• High School Diploma and 8+ years relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business Administration, or related field and 5 years experience. Advanced degree or certifications (e.g., CCP, CPP) preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in compensation design and payroll implementation in a multi-state environment.
• Strong knowledge of U.S./Canada and Mexico payroll regulations and compliance requirements.
• Expertise in market data analysis and compensation benchmarking tools.
• Proven experience managing complex system implementations and data migrations.
• Must be able to think strategically, lead projects, analyze and interpet data for actionable insights and build effective realationships.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with HRIS and payroll systems (e.g., Workday, ADP, SAP).
• Strong project management skills with ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Demonstrate business acumen and flexibility to provide the support needed to the business
• Spanish speaking

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of U.S., Canada and Mexico compensation strategies, including market competitiveness, pay equity, and incentive program design aligned with organizational and global COE objectives.
• Provide strategic consultation to leadership on compensation decisions, organizational structure, and major people‑related initiatives.
• Oversee major compensation cycles and programs (e.g., annual planning, sales incentives) and guide the rollout of compensation processes and policies.
• Lead the strategic onboarding and implementation of the new U.S., Canada and Mexico payroll provider, overseeing system design, data migration, testing, governance, and cross‑functional alignment.
• Manage the payroll BPO relationship and establish compliance, controls, and high‑level oversight of multi‑state payroll, tax obligations, and integration with Finance and HR.
• Drive data‑based insights that inform compensation and payroll strategy, policy recommendations, and executive decision‑making.
• Deliver clear, strategic reporting and analysis to senior leadership to support planning, forecasting, and workforce investment decisions.
• Contribute to global compensation and benefits strategy development, ensuring U.S., Canada, and Mexico programs align with global frameworks while meeting regional needs.

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements whenever possible
• Highly competitive retirement savings plan with company match and investment options
• Well-being programs that include comprehensive mental health support for you and your household family members
• Family forming benefits (fertility, adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, maternity/parental leave, and more)
• Back-up child and elder care with discount programs for families of all ages and stages
• Mentoring and career development opportunities that allow you to share, learn, and thrive
• Matching gifts program that allows you to deepen the impact of your contributions to qualified charities.
• Employee crisis support for when the unexpected happens
• Access to our BASF wine cellar, employee discounts, and much more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees