Director of Payroll

Job Description Summary

SOLV Energy is a leading provider of infrastructure services to the power industry, designing, building and maintaining utility scale solar, battery storage and high voltage substation projects nationwide. The Director of Payroll is responsible for the strategic leadership, execution, and continuous improvement of payroll operations across a multi-state, high-growth EPC and related services organization. This role ensures accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing for both salaried and hourly field employees, while building scalable systems, strong controls, and a high-performing payroll team.

The Director of Payroll serves as a key partner to People & Culture, Finance, Legal, and Field Operations, supporting complex labor structures, prevailing wage requirements, union and non-union environments, and project-based work forces. This role is located full‑time in the San Diego, CA office. Specific location details and expectations will be discussed during the interview process.

This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

• Lead and evolve payroll strategy to support rapid growth, geographic expansion, and project-based labor models.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing payroll team with a focus on accuracy, accountability, and service.
• Establish payroll policies, procedures, controls, and documentation aligned with best practices.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for salaried and hourly employees across multiple states.
• Ensure accurate processing of wages, overtime, per diem, bonuses, commissions, retro pay, and off‑cycle payments.
• Manage payroll calendars, cutoffs, approvals, and audit readiness. Partner with HRIS, IT (Time & Attendance), Labor Compliance, and Finance to ensure clean upstream and downstream data.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local wage and hour laws.
• Oversee payroll compliance related to prevailing wage and certified payroll reporting, union and non‑union labor requirements, multi‑state taxation and local jurisdiction rules.
• Manage payroll audits, internal controls, and SOX‑aligned processes.
• Stay current on regulatory changes impacting payroll and labor compliance.
• Own payroll systems and vendor relationships (e.g., ADP, Workday, CMiC, or similar).
• Lead payroll system implementations, upgrades, and M&A integrations.
• Drive automation, standardization, and process efficiencies across payroll operations, including acquisitions.
• Partner with IT and HRIS teams on data governance and system optimization.
• Collaborate closely with Field Operations and Project Controls on labor forecasting and reporting;
  Finance on reconciliations, accruals, and payroll costing;
  People & Culture on employee experience, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Act as a trusted advisor on payroll implications for new projects, acquisitions, or workforce changes.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership of payroll teams.
• Deep experience with multi-state payroll in a high-volume, hourly workforce environment.
• Strong knowledge of wage and hour laws, payroll tax compliance, and labor regulations including California pay rules.
• Experience supporting construction, EPC, energy, or similarly complex project-based industries.
• Ability to travel as required to support teams across SOLV’s corporate offices and other locations.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation.
• Experience with prevailing wage and certified payroll reporting.
• Experience in both union and non-union environments.
• Payroll system implementation or transformation experience.
• Public company or SOX-controlled environment experience.
• Strategic mindset with strong operational execution.
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to operate in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Continuous improvement and problem-solving…