Lead Specialist Total Rewards and payroll

Job Title: Lead Specialist Total Rewards and Payroll

Location: Hyderabad, India

Mode: Contractual (12 months)

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a regional Total Rewards and Payroll function supporting multiple countries across the GAPAC region, including APAC, India, China, and Taiwan. The role offers a unique blend of Compensation & Benefits, Payroll Operations, Data Analytics, and Stakeholder Management, enabling the incumbent to influence key reward strategies while ensuring seamless payroll delivery and compliance. The position works closely with HR, Finance, business leaders, payroll vendors, and benefit providers, contributing to both operational excellence and strategic Total Rewards initiatives.

Your key responsibilities:

- Support annual compensation cycles including salary reviews, promotions, bonuses, incentive payouts, and market benchmarking activities across the GAPAC region.
- Administer employee benefits programs, coordinate enrollments and changes, manage vendor interactions, and support annual benefit renewals.
- Coordinate end-to-end payroll activities, including payroll inputs validation, payroll processing, reconciliations, variance analysis, and employee query resolution.
- Ensure compliance with payroll, tax, social security, and statutory requirements, particularly for India and assigned APAC markets.
- Maintain accurate compensation, benefits, and payroll data across HRIS and payroll systems while preparing reports and analytics for stakeholders.
- Participate in regional and global projects involving payroll implementation, process automation, organizational changes, and continuous improvement initiatives.

We offer:

- Shape the global contract management strategy to enhance governance, optimize vendor performance, and enforce contractual rigor across a multi-provider ecosystem.
- Manage the full contract lifecycle using platforms like Sirion, ensuring transparency, financial accuracy, risk mitigation, and operational excellence in regional and global HR services.
- Collaborate across different business units and functions, and regional teams to align expectations, optimize spend management, and maintain consistent contract governance.
- Drive continuous improvement of contract management and vendor management platforms to enhance compliance, insights, and strategic decision-making.
- Lead key initiatives to refine governance frameworks, influence enterprise vendor standards, and develop expertise in digital contract management and supplier performance.
- Operate within a diverse, global environment, supporting enterprise programs and advancing vendor relationships, service quality, and operational outcomes across regions.

You bring:

- Master's degree in Human Resources, Finance, or a related discipline.
- 4-7 years of experience in Total Rewards, Compensation & Benefits, Payroll, HR Operations, or related HR functions.
- Experience supporting multiple countries across APAC, with exposure to India, China, Taiwan, or other regional markets preferred.
- Strong understanding of compensation and benefits programs, payroll operations, and statutory compliance requirements.
- Advanced analytical skills with strong Excel proficiency and experience working with HRIS/payroll systems such as Workday, SAP, ADP, or similar platforms.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, problem-solving, and project coordination skills, with the ability to work across cultures and time zones.

About dsm-firmenich:

At dsm-firmenich, we don’t just meet expectations – we go beyond them. 
Join our global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life.

From elevating health to making fortified food and sustainable skincare, the impact of your work here will be felt by millions – every single day. Whether it’s fragrance that helps you focus, alternative meat that’s better for the planet, or reducing sugar without losing flavor, this is where you help shape the future of nutrition, health, and beauty for everyone, everywhere.

And while you’re making a difference, we’ll make sure you’re growing too. With learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here. And your ideas? They’re essential to our future.

Because real progress only happens when we go beyond, together.

Our application process:

Interested in this position? Please apply on-line by uploading your resume in English via our career portal ( www. dsm-firmenich.com/careers ).

For further information, please contact Anindita Saha, Talent Acquisition Partner ([email protected])

Inclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement:

At dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.

And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make it work.

Agency statement

We’re managing this search directly at dsm-firmenich. If you’re applying as an individual, we’d love to hear from you. We’re not accepting agency submissions or proposals involving fees or commissions for this role.