Now hiring! Senior Compensation & Payroll Specialist

Southfield, MI

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. We are seeking an experienced Senior Compensation and Payroll Specialist who brings subject-matter expertise in both domains to lead strategic initiatives, influence key stakeholders, and ensure seamless operational execution. This role reports to the Head of People and Culture and will require an on-site presence up to four days a week.

This role combines two distinct areas of expertise—Compensation and Payroll—which require different knowledge areas, certifications, and scopes of responsibility. Compensation serves as a global and regional strategic thought partner, while Payroll manages the full lifecycle of employee pay, state/federal compliance, regulatory expertise, and vendor management.

Key Responsibilities:

Compensation Responsibilities – U.S. & Canada

• Lead and maintain the company’s compensation philosophy and go-to-market strategy.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition on compensation guidance for hiring, promotions, salary adjustments, and internal equity.
• Manage incentive programs including bonus, long-term incentives (LTI), and other variable pay programs across all employee groups—including union, management-represented, and executives.
• Conduct market analyses and benchmarking to ensure competitive pay structures.
• Support compensation governance, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation.
• Lead compensation-related projects and process rollouts (e.g., annual merit cycles, global initiatives).
• Provide consulting and administration support for the annual compensation planning cycle.

Payroll Responsibilities – U.S. & Canada

• Lead the strategic onboarding of a new payroll provider across U.S. operations, requiring deep payroll expertise.
• Oversee all data migration, sandbox testing, and full end-to-end implementation of payroll systems.
• Act as the primary contact for managing the BPO payroll vendor relationship. Strong vendor management skills are essential.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and IT to ensure accurate and efficient payroll processes.
• Collaborate cross-functionally and influence without authority to drive accurate payroll execution.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, including payroll tax reporting and payments.
• Manage tax registrations, filings, deposits, and reconciliation processes.
• Oversee involuntary deductions such as garnishments, levies, and child support orders.
• Monitor legislative changes and implement necessary updates.
• Partner with Finance on payroll expense allocation, GL posting, and reconciliation.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end payroll close activities.
• Manage payroll funding requirements and related forecasting.

Global Compensation & Benefits Strategy

• Contribute to global and regional compensation strategies as part of the Global Compensation & Benefits Center of Excellence.

Analytics & Reporting

• Provide actionable insights through compensation and payroll data analysis.
• Deliver executive-level reporting and recommendations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or related field. Advanced degree or certifications (e.g., CCP, CPP) preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in compensation and payroll across multi-state environments.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. payroll laws and regulatory requirements.
• Expertise in compensation benchmarking and market analysis.
• Proven experience leading complex system implementations.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with HRIS and payroll platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP, SAP).
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Business acumen and ability to adapt and support evolving organizational needs.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to connect compensation and payroll strategies to business needs.
• Project Leadership: Skilled at leading large-scale, complex initiatives.
• Analytical Acumen: Able to distill data into actionable insights.
• Collaboration: Effective at building relationships across HR, Finance, IT, and vendor teams.
• Change Agility: Able to adapt quickly to global/regional projects and evolving regulatory environments.

Create your own chemistry with you@BASF

At BASF, you will have the chance to do meaningful work towards building a more sustainable future. In addition to competitive compensation and benefits, BASF provides you with access to a wide range of elements to help you be your best. It’s what we call you@BASF. We are committed to providing benefits, programs, and opportunities that support our employees’ overall well-being, personal growth, and a safe, collaborative, and inclusive work environment.

Just some of the many benefits we offer include:

• 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!

About us

As one of the largest chemical companies in North America we have been finding solutions for your everyday needs and addressing the most complex economic, environmental, and sustainability challenges for more than 150 years!

At BASF we empower our employees with the tools, guidance and opportunities they need to advance and succeed in work and life. Giving you the support you need to be your best and fulfill your personal ambitions is what helps us create chemistry. After all, our success is linked to yours. Whatever path you envision, BASF is a great place to build a rewarding, successful career.

Belong to Something Bigger. #belongatBASF

Privacy statement

BASF takes security & data privacy very seriously. We will never request financial information of any kind via email, private text message or direct message on any social medial platform or job board. Furthermore, we will never send a candidate a check for equipment or request any type of payment during the job application process. If you have experienced any of the above, please contact Careers.NorthAmerica@basf.com to report fraud.

Equal employment opportunities

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, citizenship, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, disability status, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.