Manager Payroll

Boskalis invites applications for a Manager Payroll to lead a dedicated payroll team at its Papendrecht campus in the Netherlands. The company works on complex infrastructure and maritime projects, with a strong focus on sustainable outcomes. This role sits on-site and would suit someone who thrives guiding a specialist team through global payroll challenges and continuous improvement in a large, multi-country environment.

The position centers on steering a payroll function that serves around 8,200 employees worldwide, with a team of about 13 payroll professionals reporting to you. You’ll shape the direction of payroll operations, coach staff to grow their skills, and ensure processes run accurately every month across diverse regulatory regimes and contract types. The work demands close collaboration with HR and Finance to keep payroll aligned with policy, law, and business needs, and you’ll oversee the AFAS payroll system to maintain smooth, compliant payroll delivery.

Ideal for a hands-on payroll leader who enjoys mentoring others and driving improvements, this role rewards a clear, pragmatic approach that balances accuracy with operational speed. The team you’ll lead operates in a globally dispersed context, so fluent Dutch and English are essential for daily communication and documentation.

Leading Global Payroll at Boskalis in Papendrecht

You’ll guide the payroll function by ensuring timely, fault-free processing each month and by maintaining a staffing plan that keeps the team well supported. Coaching and developing colleagues will be a core part of daily life, helping them grow while you steer the group toward higher performance. You’ll also drive change by implementing updates to wage regulations and collective labour agreements, and you’ll spearhead optimization projects and the automation of processes to keep payroll efficient and accurate.

In this role, handling a range of international payroll questions will be routine. You’ll analyse and resolve issues related to different countries, employment terms, tax regimes, and social security, for a payroll landscape that is as varied as it is complex. You’ll act as a trusted partner to HR, Finance, and management on payroll organization and process improvements, and you’ll be responsible for managing the AFAS payroll system to support reliable payroll operations.

The job also involves translating regulatory changes into practical actions, ensuring that salary systems stay aligned with evolving laws and agreements. You’ll blend a practical, hands-on mindset with strong analytical ability, keeping the organization’s interests front and center while collaborating across functions to deliver solid payroll outcomes.

Candidate Profile For Manager Payroll

• Must-have: a completed HBO degree in business economics with the practical diploma in payroll administration and/or VPS.
• Must-have: at least 5 to 8 years of experience leading teams.
• Must-have: a track record of guiding change initiatives and coaching employees to grow and adopt new ways of working.
• Must-have: experience with payroll issues in an international environment, with understanding of different countries, employment terms, tax regimes, and laws.
• Must-have: the ability to grasp complex issues quickly without needing to be the content specialist, and fluency in Dutch and English in both speech and writing.
• Nice-to-have: experience with the AFAS payroll system or similar platforms.
• Nice-to-have: a history of starting and delivering optimization and automation projects within payroll processes.
• Nice-to-have: strong people management skills and a proven ability to build a cohesive, high-performing team.

To excel in this role, the candidate creates an environment where professionals can perform at their best, collaborates effectively with HR, Finance, and management, and stays focused on the organization’s goals while handling the intricacies of international payroll with poise.

Pay And Practical Details For This Role

The company offers a competitive salary package along with holiday pay, 26 vacation days per year (on a full-time contract), and a number of company-wide days off. The benefits also include a non-contributory pension, group health insurance, and a company car. The position is full-time, typically around 36–40 hours per week, based at the Papendrecht site, with a hybrid arrangement possible by agreement with the manager and team.

The role is described as on-site in Papendrecht, with facilities on the Boskalis campus that include restaurants, a sport field, a quay for ships, and spaces designed for collaboration and client meetings. If you have questions about the role or the team, you’ll report to the General Manager of FSSC, and you’ll join an autonomous, close-knit team of 13 colleagues in Papendrecht.

As with any application, Boskalis makes clear that it does not request money for visa or documents, and it warns candidates to be cautious of recruiters asking for payments. The recruitment process is conducted directly by Boskalis, with interviews held online or at the office, and a formal offer extended if there is a good match after the conversations.

Practical Advice For Applicants

Put your leadership and international payroll experience up front on your resume, highlighting a track record of steering a payroll function and coaching a team of around 13 people to deliver accurate monthly payroll for thousands of employees.

Show concrete examples of the must-have skills in your career history. Describe how you guided change initiatives, implemented regulatory updates, and used automation to streamline processes, especially within an AFAS or similar system, and how you supported a diverse workforce across multiple countries.

Be ready to discuss how you handle complex, cross-border payroll issues. Prepare a concise case where you explain how you interpreted a regulatory change, translated it into payroll changes, and communicated the impact to HR, Finance, and management.

Ask a targeted question about the current payroll automation roadmap or how the team collaborates with HR and Finance on process improvements, and inquire about priorities for the AFAS system and cross-border payroll projects.

How To Apply For This Role

To apply, submit your details and CV through the online application form. Interviews are conducted both online and in-person at the Papendrecht office, and an offer will be extended if there is a mutual match after the interviews.