Job Class: 0994, Executive Director

Salary Range: $164,038-$213,383/annually

Appointment Type: PEX (what does this mean?)

Length of Appointment: 3 years

Calendar: Full Time / Full Year

The Executive Director of Payroll provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all payroll functions for a large, complex urban school district serving approximately 9,000 employees. The position ensures the accurate and timely processing of payroll across multiple employee groups, pay cycles, and collective bargaining agreements.

The Executive Director is responsible for payroll compliance, internal controls, retirement reporting, payroll tax reporting, and implementation of compensation provisions in labor agreements. The role partners closely with Human Resources, Budget, Accounting, and Department of Technology to ensure alignment of employee data, payroll systems, and financial reporting.

Essential Duties

The duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to the job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive or exhaustive list.

Key Responsibilities

Districtwide Payroll Administration

• Directs and oversees the processing of all district payrolls, including certificated, classified, substitute, extra-duty, and temporary employees.
• Ensures accurate and timely payroll processing for thousands of employees across multiple pay cycles.
• Oversees payroll adjustments, retroactive pay, stipends, and off-cycle payroll processing.
• Establishes and maintains procedures that ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.

Collective Bargaining Agreement Implementation

• Interprets and implements payroll provisions in multiple collective bargaining agreements.
• Coordinates with Human Resources and labor relations staff to operationalize salary schedule updates, stipends, and negotiated compensation changes.
• Oversees implementation of retroactive pay adjustments associated with labor agreements.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensures compliance with all payroll-related laws and regulations, including federal and state tax reporting, wage and hour requirements, and garnishments.
• Oversees preparation and submission of required reports including quarterly and annual payroll tax filings and employee wage statements.
• Ensures accurate reporting to retirement systems, including California State Teachers' Retirement System and San Francisco Employees' Retirement System
• Coordinates payroll-related audits and ensures timely resolution of audit findings.

Systems and Process Management

• Oversees payroll system functionality and integration with human resources and financial systems.
• Leads initiatives to modernize payroll operations, improve automation, and strengthen data integrity.
• Develops payroll reporting tools to support financial planning, workforce management, and executive decision-making.

Internal Controls and Financial Coordination

• Establishes and maintains strong internal controls to ensure payroll accuracy and safeguard district funds.
• Coordinates payroll reconciliations with accounting and financial reporting teams.
• Ensures payroll data aligns with staffing and budget records.

Leadership and Staff Development

• Provides leadership, supervision, and professional development for payroll staff.
• Establishes performance expectations and ensures high standards of accuracy, efficiency, and customer service.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and responsiveness to employee payroll inquiries.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Partners with Human Resources, Budget, Accounting, and Information Technology to ensure accurate employee data, compensation structures, and payroll processing.
• Advises district leadership on payroll implications of staffing decisions, compensation changes, and labor agreements.

The strongest candidates will have:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of large-scale payroll administration.
• Federal and state payroll tax regulations and reporting requirements.
• Public retirement systems reporting requirements, including California State Teachers' Retirement System
• Collective bargaining agreements and compensation administration in public organizations.
• Payroll system design, enterprise HR/payroll systems, and data management.
• Governmental accounting principles and internal controls.
• Experience implementing payroll system modernization or automation initiatives.
• Experience managing payroll and business operations serving thousands of employees is highly desirable.
• Experience supporting payroll and business operations in a unionized public sector environment.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or similar certification.
• A master's degree is preferred.
• Eight to ten years of progressively responsible experience in payroll and business operations.
• At least five years of supervisory or management experience overseeing payroll or business operations staff.
• Experience in the public sector or educational organizations is preferred.

Skills and Abilities in:

• Lead complex payroll operations serving large employee populations.
• Interpret labor agreements and apply compensation rules accurately.
• Develop effective payroll procedures and internal controls.
• Analyze complex payroll issues and resolve discrepancies.
• Communicate effectively with employees, union representatives, and executive leadership.
• Manage organizational change and payroll system improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in payroll and business operations. The required experience must include supervising or managing payroll or business operations staff.

Substitution

• Up to 4 years of education requirement may be substituted for additional experience on a year-for-year basis

What We Offer

SFUSD offers a competitive salary of $164,038-$213,383/annually commensurate with experience in a similar position. We offer a comprehensive benefits plan including dental and vision plans, a defined benefit pension plan, disability, life insurance, flexible spending account options and vacation time. We also offer an inclusive and equity-centered environment where we encourage staff to bring their whole selves to work.

How to Apply

• Visit https://jobs.sfusd.edu/ and create a new account to begin your application.
• Visit careers.sf.gov and begin the application process.
• You will be prompted to electronically attach a letter of interest, resume, list of professional references

and any applicable credentials or licenses

• Our Human Resources team will then review your entire application to determine your eligibility status

and contact you directly should you move forward in the process

Verification

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements.

Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification from this and future job opportunities with the San Francisco Unified School District.