HR Program Manager

Wärtsilä is an innovative technology company known for being a forerunner in the Marine and Energy markets. Every day, we – Wärtsilians - put our hearts and minds into turning Wärtsilä's purpose of enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services into reality. Our ultimate aim is to provide increased value to both our customers and society. New, game-changing ideas and continuous improvement have been part of our DNA since 1834. Together, we can create new business opportunities and more sustainable future that we can all be proud of.

We want to transition the world towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. By pushing the boundaries of engineering and technology, we can make it work. We are always on the lookout for future-oriented talent – want to join the ride?

Global Program Manager, HR Time & Payroll Transformation

Role purpose

As our Global Program Manager, you will play a pivotal role in leading one of the most strategically critical initiatives of our HR roadmap: the Global HR Time and Payroll Transformation Program.

This is a multi‑year, multi‑country and multi‑vendor transformation program aiming to fundamentally transform and digitalize our HR Time and Payroll operations by:

• Streamlining and harmonizing diverse local processes under a single global framework
• Reducing and consolidating the application and vendor landscape
• Establishing strong global governance, robust delivery structures and predictable execution across all workstreams

Your primary responsibility is to own the end‑to‑end program delivery, ensuring that all projects, vendors and regional deployments are delivered on time, within scope and within budget, while proactively managing dependencies, risks and stakeholder expectations across the enterprise.

The role is primarily based in Gdansk, Poland, with Bermeo or Madrid, Spain; Esposende, Portugal; Belgrade, Serbia as alternative locations. Remote work may be possible within these countries. Other European locations where Wärtsilä has an entity may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please be aware that this position does not include a relocation package or relocation assistance.

Key Responsibilities

Program leadership and delivery

• Own and lead the delivery of global Time & Payroll transformation as an end‑to‑end program, integrating multiple projects, regions, vendors and timelines into one coherent delivery roadmap
• Define and maintain the overall program plan, milestones, dependencies, resourcing model and critical path
• Ensure consistent application of common program and project management principles and ways of working across all sub‑initiatives
• Proactively manage scope, risks, issues and inter‑project dependencies to secure predictable and high‑quality outcomes

Multi‑vendor and multi‑country coordination

• Lead and orchestrate delivery across multiple external vendors, implementation partners and internal teams
• Ensure clear accountability, contractual alignment and performance tracking for all vendors involved
• Drive consistent ways of working across countries while respecting local requirements and constraints

Stakeholder and governance management

• Act as a senior counterpart to key HR, IT, Finance and Business stakeholders, from country specialists up to executive leadership
• Prepare and steer program governance forums, such as steering groups and executive updates
• Secure timely decisions, escalations and alignment across all impacted functions and regions
• Own overall program communication cadence, ensuring transparency on progress, risks and upcoming milestones

Financial And Benefits Management

• Track overall program budget management and cost , ensuring financial discipline across all workstreams
• Ensure benefits realization is tracked and aligned with the approved business case

Change, communication and adoption

• Ensure change, communication and adoption activities are embedded across all projects rather than treated as stand‑alone work
• Partner closely with change leads to secure business readiness and sustainable adoption in each rollout wave

Reporting line and interfaces

• The role reports into Head of HR Service Development in COE Technology, Strategy & Insights, where HR Project and Program Management is centralized, and will have a matrix reporting to our Global HR Process and Project Lead, Time and Payroll
• Strong matrix collaboration with Global HR leadership, IT, Finance and regional HR organizations
• 100% allocation to the Global HR Time & Payroll Transformation Program

Given the magnitude of the program, you will engage with nearly all HR levels and mul