Job Description

In close alignment with the Health, Wellness, and Belonging and Strategic Insights and Optimization teams, this position catalyzes continuous process improvements and ensures effective communication throughout all phases of program development, with a strong emphasis on measurable outcomes, risk mitigation, and employee experience improvement.

Reporting directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Enterprise Rewards Solutions, the Senior Director works across segments and functions to simplify processes, deliver scalable solutions and advance delivery speed and reduce friction for stakeholders.

The Senior Director will have full people-manager supervision over functions including global mobility, payroll, international tax, and employee value proposition (EVP). This role presents a unique opportunity to shape and oversee payroll compliance, tax withholding accuracy, and regulatory adherence across Vanderbilt’s expanding footprint, including all current and future entities, offices, and campuses in Tennessee, California, New York, Florida, and other applicable state jurisdictions.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Lead strategy implementation and operationalize enterprise rewards programs including payroll, tax, global mobility, and EVP by translating strategic direction into actionable processes, tools, and delivery plans that ensure consistency, accuracy, and measurable impact; maintain deep expertise in multi-state payroll compliance, ensuring adherence to state-specific wage, tax and labor regulations.
• Advance continuous improvement and innovation within enterprise rewards operations, in collaboration with Strategic Insights and Optimization, by modernizing workflows, implementing data-informed enhancements, and ensuring programs remain responsive to evolving workforce requirements and the future of work.
• Measurably activate Vanderbilt’s EVP through rewards program execution, communications, analytics, and experience-centered service design, in collaboration with People, Culture and Belonging COEs, Vanderbilt business units, Marketing and Communications (MARCOM), and other key partners to align messaging and rewards strategy to the employee experience.
• Develop, in partnership with enterprise rewards programs leadership, dashboards and monitoring mechanisms that track exceptions, error rates, cycle performance, and emerging compliance trends, enabling early identification of risks and rapid remediation.
• In collaboration with OGC and Internal Audit, conduct regular audits of enterprise rewards programs to identify operational gaps, strengthen internal controls, and ensure readiness for internal, external, and regulatory reviews, including payroll and tax compliance audits across all applicable state jurisdictions where Vanderbilt has an office or campus presence.
• Implement corrective actions and process improvements that mitigate compliance risks across enterprise rewards programs, ensuring continuous institutional adherence to federal and state requirements including multi-state wage laws, payroll tax regulations and benefits compliance.
• Modernize, in partnership with Strategic Insights and Optimization, employee-facing communication, digital tools, and service resources to improve understanding, transparency, and engagement with enterprise rewards and immigration programs, ensuring accessibility and consistency across the employee lifecycle.
• Advise, in alignment with the AVC, on vendor relationships including benefits administrators, immigration counsel, and related service partners by evaluating performance, negotiating improvements, and ensuring cost-effective, high-quality service delivery that aligns with operational needs.
• Coordinate with legal and stakeholder groups to operationalize immigration procedures, provide audit-ready documentation, and translate regulatory changes into clear, actionable processes that support institutional advocacy and policy positions.
• Lead AI adoption by applying data, technology and generative AI to drive high-quality core operations.
• Other duties as assigned to drive the institutional and divisional vision and mission.

Supervisory Relationships

This position does have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Enterprise Rewards Solutions.

Education and Certifications

Bachelor’s or an equivalent combination of education, relevant military experience, and relevant skills is necessary

Experience and Skills

12 years of experience is necessary

A passion for AI and tools to revolutionize ways of working is necessary

Demonstrated adaptability in dynamic work environments and changing priorities is preferred

Proficiency in data analysis to inform design decisions and optimize outcomes is preferred

Proficiency with analytics or automation tools applied to HR or rewards operations (e.g., Robotic Process Automations (RPA), workflow tools, BI platforms) is preferred

Experience supporting EVP development, total rewards communication strategy, or future-of-work initiatives is preferred

Expertise in product lifecycle management and process improvement initiatives is preferred

Experience with Oracle HCM, People Analytics, or comparable HRIS/analytics platforms is preferred

Background designing or deploying digital employee self-service tools or total rewards communications is preferred

Experience with one or more of the following: Employment and International Tax, Employee Value Proposition, Global Mobility/Immigration, & Payroll is preferred

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.