IT Project Manager at Albemarle in Budapest, Budapest, Hungary

IT Project Manager Location: Budapest, Hungary Are you inspired by “what’s next”? So are we. When you join the Albemarle team, you contribute to a better tomorrow. You will play a role in powering many of the world’s largest and most critical industries, from energy and communications to transportation and electronics. We are putting innovation to work to improve people’s lives and we want YOU to be a part of it. Job Description Position Scope and Overview At Albemarle, we power the world’s essential industries through innovation and operational excellence. The Project Manager – Global HR Systems serves as the single point of accountability for the delivery of global payroll and HR systems initiatives across multiple regions. This role leads to end-to-end implementations and optimizations of HR solutions, ensuring regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and alignment with Albemarle’s Core Values and global HR and IT strategies. This is a hybrid position located in our Budapest office. Roles & Responsibilities Project Leadership: Lead end-to-end delivery of global HR and payroll systems implementations, from initiation through stabilization, ensuring scope, schedule, cost, and quality objectives are met. Define clear project objectives, deliverables, milestones, dependencies, and resource requirements upfront to minimize scope creep and ensure alignment with business outcomes. Lead RFP processes and vendor selection activities in collaboration with Sourcing and Procurement, including requirements definition, evaluations, and recommendations, ensuring alignment with Albemarle’s technology standards, compliance requirements, and long-term strategy. Develop and maintain integrated project plans, manage budgets, oversee delivery milestones, and proactively identify and mitigate risks in accordance with Albemarle’s project governance standards. Track post–go-live performance and benefits realization, ensuring payroll accuracy, process stabilization, and transition to steady-state operations. Stakeholder Engagement: Partner closely with HR, Payroll, Finance, IT, regional HR leaders, and external vendors to deliver integrated, scalable global payroll solutions. Prepare and present status updates, risks, and decision points to executive leadership and steering committees with clarity, transparency, and accountability. Manage cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams by tracking deliverables, leading regular status and governance meetings, and driving timely issue resolution and escalation. Balance competing regional priorities and guide stakeholders toward standardized, compliant global solutions where possible. Compliance & Governance: Ensure compliance with SOX, GDPR, and applicable country-specific payroll and labor regulations across all in-scope regions. Align projects with the Albemarle project controls and IT project delivery model Design and oversee system-related controls, audits, and validation activities to ensure data integrity, security, and regulatory adherence. Partner with Legal, Internal Audit, and Controls teams to support audit readiness, remediation efforts, and ongoing compliance monitoring throughout the project lifecycle. Technology Integration: Oversee integration of global payroll solutions with core HRIS platforms (Workday), ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA), and Microsoft platforms, including Microsoft 365, Azure-based integration components, and enterprise collaboration tools where applicable. Coordinate integration across internal enterprise systems and external vendor platforms, including global payroll providers, local in-country payroll solutions, benefits providers, and time and attendance systems. Lead data migration, interface design, reconciliation logic, testing, and validation activities in collaboration with internal IT teams and external implementation partners. Ensure integrations align with Albemarle’s enterprise architecture standards, security requirements, and data governance policies. Direct cutover planning, go-live execution, and hypercare stabilization across all integrated platforms to ensure continuity of payroll operations and minimal business disruption. Change Management: Identify and assess change impacts across regions and functions, developing readiness plans that address process, technology, and people implications. Lead development and execution of global training and communication plans to drive adoption, consistency, and sustained usage of new payroll solutions. Measure adoption and effectiveness through defined change and training KPIs, adjusting strategies as needed to ensure successful outcomes. Essential Capabilities Strong leadership, collaboration, and influencing skills with the ability to operate effectively across cultures and regions. Proven ability to manage complex, multi-country payroll programs involving multiple vendors and stakeholders. Demonstrated expertise in global payroll compliance, HR technology platforms, and integration methodologies. Executive-level communication and decision facilitation skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and evolving regulatory environments. Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in business, Human Resources, Finance, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred). 8–10 years of project management experience, including a minimum of 5 years leading global, multi-country payroll implementations. Experience in integration of global payroll solutions with core HRIS platforms (Workday) Proven track record managing large-scale HR technology and payroll transformation initiatives across multiple regions. PMP, PgMP, or similar certification preferred. #LI-SZ1 Benefits of Joining Albemarle Competitive compensation Comprehensive benefits package A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally. Choose to unlock your full POTENTIAL. Apply today.