DEPARTMENT: People & Culture

REPORTS TO: Vice President, People & Culture 

STATUS: Full-time, Exempt 

LOCATION: Chicago, IL (Hybrid Eligible)

Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement  of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, our company, and our city. 

The Director of Payroll oversees the strategic and operational management of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s payroll function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing for all employees across administrative, seasonal, and represented union groups. This position is responsible for payroll administration supporting approximately 500 employees across 11 collective bargaining units and 100+ administrative staff.

The Director serves as the organization’s subject matter expert on payroll operations and compliance, working collaboratively with colleagues across Finance, IT, Artistic, Technical & Production, and People & Culture to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and integrity in all payroll practices. The ideal candidate is a seasoned payroll professional with strong leadership experience in complex, unionized environments and a demonstrated commitment to confidentiality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Strategic Leadership

• Direct all aspects of payroll operations for approximately 500 employees across 11 collective bargaining units and 100+ administrative staff.
• Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on payroll-related compliance, taxation, and reporting.
• Partner with Finance, IT, Artistic, Technical & Production, and People & Culture teams to align payroll systems, processes, and reporting with organizational and financial goals.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance payroll accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience.
• Oversee payroll system upgrades, integrations, and migrations (e.g., ADP Workforce Now) in collaboration with internal and external partners.

Operational Management

• Supervise and mentor payroll staff to ensure high-quality service delivery, accuracy, and compliance.
• Manage and process multi-state, multi-union payroll cycles, verifying earnings, deductions, pension contributions, dues, and garnishments.
• Ensure accurate calculation and remittance of all payroll taxes, pension, and benefit deductions.
• Administer payroll accounting, reconciliations, and year-end reporting, including W-2 and 1099 processing.
• Maintain and audit payroll records and reports to ensure data integrity and compliance.
• Oversee preparation and submission of union reports, benefit remittances, and pension contributions as defined by collective bargaining agreements.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, IRS regulations, and all collective bargaining agreements.
• Partner with Finance and external auditors to support annual audits and internal controls.
• Maintain awareness of legislative changes affecting payroll and implement policy or system updates accordingly.
• Develop and maintain payroll policies, procedures, and documentation in partnership with the People & Culture leadership team.

Collaboration and Service

• Partner closely with Benefits, HRIS, Finance, IT, Artistic, Technical & Production, and People & Culture teams to ensure seamless integration between payroll, benefits, and employee data systems.
• Serve as a key resource for interpreting and applying payroll provisions outlined in 11 union contracts (including AGMA, AFM, IATSE, and others).
• Provide accurate payroll data to support labor negotiations, budget planning, and financial reporting.
• Respond promptly and professionally to employee inquiries, fostering trust and transparency in payroll operations.
   

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: 

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field required.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive payroll experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership or managerial capacity.
• Proven experience managing payroll in a complex, unionized environment required; experience with multiple collective bargaining units preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of ADP Workforce Now or comparable payroll systems required.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Expert knowledge of federal and state payroll laws, wage and hour compliance, and union payroll administration.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving ability with meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a customer-service orientation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information with integrity.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with financial system integration.

• Integrity: Demonstrates confidentiality, accuracy, and ethical conduct in all payroll matters.
• Collaboration: Works cross-departmentally with Finance, IT, Artistic, Technical & Production, and People & Culture to ensure seamless coordination.
• Excellence: Strives for precision, efficiency, and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Inclusion: Supports equitable practices across all employee groups and collective bargaining units.
• Service: Delivers exceptional support and responsiveness to employees and internal stakeholders.

COMPETENCIES:

• Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen
• Relationship Building & Influence
• Confidentiality & Professional Integrity
• Problem-Solving & Compliance Expertise
• Benefits & HR Operations Mastery
• Change Management & Adaptability
• Developing & Leading Others
• Commitment to IDEA Principles

WORK CONDITIONS: 

• Ability to occasionally work evening or weekend functions, deployments, or performances.
• A fast-paced and demanding environment.
• Sitting for extended periods.
• Ability to work to operate a computer and to handle other office equipment.

COMPENSATION:

Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Salary Range is $90,000-$120,000

Application Deadline: Monday, October 20, 2025 (5:00pm CT)

Lyric Opera offers benefits including health, dental, vision, 403B (no company match), 401(k) with company match, PTO (including sick, vacation, and personal days, and holidays), life/AD&D coverage, opportunities for professional development, and complimentary tickets.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to enhancing our diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Lyric prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state or local laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

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