Job Description

Reference No: 3145
Office Type:
Elevate Your Career with Zalaris
Zalaris is a rapidly expanding global leader in Tech HR and payroll solutions.
We're big enough for you to grow and be a part of an international environment but small enough for you to be visible and truly make a difference.
We foster open communication and short decision-making paths that encourage creative and innovative thinking.
Zalaris' culture is rooted in values inspired by Nordic working ethos: everyone matters, aiming high and team spirit. We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone brings their own uniqueness. Zalaris' employees come from different backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life, and we are proud of it.
Role Summary:
Zalaris is establishing a Global In-Country Partner (ICP) Procurement & Governance Hub based in India to expand its payroll and HR service delivery footprint across new geographies.
The Head of Procurement & Vendor Governance will be responsible for setting up and leading this team, driving sourcing, contracting, and governance of country-specific payroll vendors (ICPs) who will handle last-mile statutory and compliance activities across APAC, EMEA, Europe and other Zalaris regions.
This role combines strategic supply chain leadership with operational excellence, ensuring cost efficiency, compliance, and scalable vendor partnerships that enable Zalaris to maintain high service standards and protect global margins.
Key Responsibilities
1. Team & Function Setup

• Establish and lead a Procurement & Governance team based in India to support all regions.
• Define processes, tools, and templates for vendor identification, onboarding, and monitoring.
• Build capabilities for continuous market research and ICP benchmarking.

2. Vendor Identification & Development

• Create a country-wise vendor database using local payroll associations, chambers of commerce, and industry networks.
• Identify potential In-Country Partners (ICPs) for statutory compliance, filings, and local last-mile payroll support.
• Build and manage long-term strategic vendor relationships ensuring availability, performance, and coverage.

3. Due Diligence & Vetting

• Conduct compliance, data protection, and capability assessments (GDPR, ISO 27001).
• Evaluate vendors on operational maturity, references, system integration readiness, and cost competitiveness.
• Maintain vendor risk profiles and approve qualified ICPs for onboarding.

4. Contracting & Documentation

• Develop and manage Master Service Agreement (MSA) and Statement of Work (SoW) templates for global use.
• Ensure contracts cover:

• Scope of work and exclusions
• Confidentiality and data protection
• Liability, dispute resolution, and termination
• SLA metrics (timeliness, accuracy, responsiveness)
• Partner with Legal and InfoSec to ensure alignment with Zalaris' compliance framework.

5. Commercial & Pricing Framework

• Define country-specific cost caps to retain 40-50% gross margin while remaining competitive.
• Implement standard ICP payment models (fixed per-payslip fee + add-ons for filings/language support).
• Establish and monitor billing flow: Zalaris invoices client ? pays ICP under back-to-back SLA.
• Manage FX and tax implications - ICPs bill Zalaris India entity where feasible.
• Design and implement an incentive model for ICPs based on SLA adherence and accuracy scores.

6. Onboarding, Training & Enablement

• Create and execute structured onboarding plans for ICPs covering:

• PeopleHub data exchange standards
• File formats and cut-off timelines
• SLA governance, escalation process, and reporting cadence
• Facilitate knowledge transfer from ICPs to Zalaris teams on local payroll rules, statutory updates, and SAP configuration requirements.

7. Governance, Audit & Reporting

• Conduct monthly ICP reviews on SLA compliance, accuracy, and statutory adherence.
• Maintain KPI dashboards and audit checklists for management reporting.
• Lead quarterly vendor performance reviews and annual audits for risk, compliance, and cost efficiency.
• Present performance summaries and risk registers to regional leadership and CFO functions.

Qualifications & Experience

• 12-18 years of experience in Procurement, Vendor Governance, or Global Supply Chain, preferably within HR/Payroll, ITES, or Shared Services sectors.
• Proven experience in building vendor ecosystems or BPO partner networks across multiple countries.
• Strong understanding of contracting, commercial modeling, and global compliance frameworks (GDPR, ISO 27001, ESG).
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and implement structured governance programs.
• Exposure to SAP, HR technology platforms, or managed payroll operations will be a strong advantage.

Key Skills

• Strategic sourcing and contract negotiation
• Vendor risk management and audit
• Financial acumen and cost modeling
• Data protection and compliance orientation
• Stakeholder management across global regions
• Strong communication and leadership capability

What We Offer:

• A strategic role with the opportunity to impact the organization significantly.
• Collaboration with an innovative and supportive leadership team.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development.

Ready to become part of our team? Join us at Zalaris and be a part of a vibrant, collaborative community of Tech HR and payroll experts dedicated to grow and innovate. #team Zalaris

Skills Required