Global Time & Attendance Product Strategy Lead

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Global Time & Attendance Product Strategy Lead

Company: Remote - Referral Board

Location: DACH | Iberia | UK&I | Western Europe | Southern Europe (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Revenue Operations / GTM Operations (with a strong focus on compliance and product strategy)

Date Posted: May 06, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic vision and compliant implementation of global Time & Attendance (T&A) systems, ensuring adherence to diverse country-specific labor laws and regulations.

• Act as the primary compliance liaison for T&A initiatives, bridging the gap between Product, Payroll Operations, Implementation, Legal, and country compliance experts.

• Translate complex legislative requirements, including working time directives, overtime rules, and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), into actionable system controls and functional specifications.

• Develop and maintain robust governance frameworks and documentation standards to ensure T&A processes are scalable, transparent, and audit-ready across all operating regions.

• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate compliance risks within T&A systems and processes, coordinating audit responses and remediation efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Strategy Lead," the core responsibilities and required skills heavily lean towards operations, compliance, and project management within the T&A domain. This role requires a deep understanding of how product features translate into operational compliance and how to manage projects that ensure this. The "strategy" aspect likely refers to defining the long-term compliance roadmap for T&A systems rather than pure product roadmap development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Embed country-specific labor law requirements (working time regulations, overtime rules, rest periods, collective bargaining agreements, statutory accruals) into the design, configuration, and validation phases of T&A projects.

• Ensure compliance reviews are integral to T&A project lifecycles, from requirements gathering and configuration validation through to user acceptance testing (UAT) and go-live readiness.

• Translate complex statutory obligations (e.g., maximum working hours, mandatory breaks, overtime calculations, accrual logic, record retention) into clear system configuration rules, technical specifications, and operational controls.

• Serve as the central compliance point of contact for all T&A-related initiatives, facilitating alignment and communication among Product, Payroll Operations, Implementation, Legal, and country compliance subject matter experts.

• Establish and manage governance checkpoints and review processes that ensure ongoing regulatory alignment without impeding delivery velocity.

• Proactively identify potential compliance gaps or control weaknesses within T&A systems and processes, assessing their operational and regulatory impact in collaboration with subject matter experts.

• Coordinate internal and external audit requests pertaining to Time & Attendance systems and processes, partnering with stakeholders to compile accurate and defensible documentation.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive T&A compliance documentation, including control narratives, process maps, risk registers, and change logs, ensuring transparency and audit readiness.

• Oversee the integration of compliance impact assessments into the system and process change management framework for T&A solutions.

• Drive the continuous improvement of T&A compliance processes and system configurations to adapt to evolving legislation and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong need for process ownership and improvement within the T&A domain, which is a core function of operations roles. The emphasis on embedding compliance "by design" points to a proactive, strategic approach to operationalizing regulations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in a role focused on global payroll, HR systems, compliance, or a related operations function, with a significant emphasis on Time & Attendance systems and processes.

Required Skills:

• Hands-on experience with global Time & Attendance systems such as Workday Time Tracking, UKG, ADP, or Ceridian Dayforce, across multiple jurisdictions.

• Deep understanding of Time & Attendance compliance requirements, including working time directives, overtime calculations, mandatory rest periods, statutory accruals, and record-keeping obligations in various global markets.

• Proficiency in interpreting and translating labor legislation and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) into actionable operational controls and system configurations.

• Strong project management skills, with experience embedding compliance into agile or hybrid delivery frameworks and managing project lifecycles.

• Demonstrated ability to identify, assess, and mitigate compliance risks in multi-country operational environments.

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to align cross-functional teams (Product, Operations, Implementation, Legal, Compliance) without direct authority.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex regulatory requirements clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within a high-growth, globally distributed SaaS company or similar fast-paced environment.

• Familiarity with automation and AI capabilities as mentioned in the company description, particularly as they apply to compliance and T&A processes.

• Certifications in Project Management (e.g., PMP) or Compliance (e.g., CIPP).

• Experience in a role that directly supported global payroll operations or HR compliance functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills heavily emphasize practical experience with specific T&A systems and a nuanced understanding of global labor laws, which are critical for operations professionals in this domain. The ability to bridge technical, legal, and operational aspects is paramount.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate experience in managing T&A system implementations or significant configuration projects, showcasing the project scope, methodologies used, and key outcomes.

• Provide examples of how you translated complex regulatory requirements into functional system controls or process improvements, highlighting the impact on compliance and efficiency.

• Showcase documentation samples (e.g., process maps, control narratives, risk assessments) that illustrate your ability to create clear, audit-ready materials for global T&A operations.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of developing and maintaining detailed process documentation for T&A workflows, including requirements gathering, system configuration, testing, and ongoing operational procedures.

• Examples of implementing and documenting change management processes for T&A systems, including compliance impact assessments.

• Documentation showcasing the establishment of governance checkpoints and review processes for T&A compliance initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations roles, a portfolio demonstrating tangible process improvements, system implementations, and documentation skills is crucial. This section emphasizes the need to showcase practical experience in managing and documenting complex operational processes with a compliance focus.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $124,500 - $140,100 USD annually.

Benefits:

• Work from anywhere, offering true global flexibility.

• Flexible paid time off (PTO) to support work-life balance.

• Flexible working hours, enabling asynchronous work patterns.

• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.

• Comprehensive mental health support services.

• Stock options, providing an opportunity for equity ownership.

• Generous learning budget for professional development and skill enhancement.

• Home office budget and IT equipment provision to ensure a productive remote setup.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with significant flexibility due to the company's asynchronous work culture. This allows individuals to plan their schedules around personal needs and time zones, prioritizing life-work balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in USD, aligning with the company's global compensation strategy. The benefits are extensive and tailored for a fully remote, globally distributed workforce, emphasizing flexibility and employee well-being, which are key attractors for operations professionals. The mention of asynchronous work is a significant detail for understanding the daily work rhythm.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: HR Technology / Global Employment Solutions. Remote is a leader in providing a platform that simplifies global hiring, payroll, and compliance for businesses.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, Greenhouse job boards often host roles for companies that are scaling rapidly, suggesting a dynamic and growing organization, likely in the medium to large enterprise category.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company's mission and existing infrastructure imply a relatively modern, tech-forward organization.

Team Structure:

• The role operates within a global structure, likely reporting into a broader GTM Operations, Product Operations, or Compliance function.

• Collaboration is expected across multiple departments including Product Management, Payroll Operations, Legal, Country Compliance Experts, and Implementation teams.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making and a strong focus on automation and AI are core to Remote's operations, as highlighted in the company description.

• Emphasis on building compliance into product and processes from the outset ("compliant-by-design") rather than relying on reactive fixes.

• Asynchronous work culture, promoting autonomy, ownership, and efficient communication without constant meetings.

Company Website: remote.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Remote's culture is defined by its global, remote-first, and async approach. For operations professionals, this means a high degree of autonomy, reliance on asynchronous communication tools, and a focus on measurable impact and documented processes. The emphasis on innovation and AI integration is a key differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-to-senior level, requiring significant experience in a specialized area (T&A compliance) and the ability to operate strategically and influence cross-functional teams. It's a lead role, indicating responsibility for driving specific initiatives and setting direction within its domain.

Reporting Structure: While the direct reporting manager isn't specified, the role is positioned to influence multiple departments. It likely reports into a senior leader within Operations, Product Operations, or a dedicated Compliance function, with significant interaction with leadership in Product Management and Payroll Operations.

Operations Impact: This role has a critical impact on the company's ability to operate compliantly across numerous global markets. By ensuring T&A systems meet legal requirements, it directly mitigates significant compliance risks, supports defensible audits, and enables scalable global expansion. The operational efficiency and accuracy of T&A processes also indirectly impact payroll accuracy and employee satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Deepen expertise in global labor law and T&A compliance, potentially leading to a senior compliance strategist or T&A product owner role.

• Process Optimization: Drive significant improvements in global T&A processes, leveraging automation and AI to enhance efficiency and reduce risk, potentially leading to broader operational transformation roles.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop strong influencing and leadership skills by managing complex, cross-departmental initiatives, opening doors to senior GTM or Product Operations leadership positions.

• Industry Influence: Become a recognized expert in compliant global T&A solutions, potentially contributing to industry best practices or speaking engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers substantial growth potential by allowing an operations professional to become a subject matter expert in a critical, complex area of global employment. The ability to influence product and operational strategy provides a pathway to broader leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This role is designed for individuals who thrive in a distributed work environment, requiring self-discipline, strong time management, and proficiency with remote collaboration tools.

Office Location(s): The role is geographically flexible within the specified regions (DACH, Iberia, UK&I, Western Europe, Southern Europe), allowing candidates to work from their home country within these areas. This flexibility is a core tenet of Remote's employment model.

Workspace Context:

• A highly collaborative, asynchronous environment where communication relies heavily on documentation, project management tools, and asynchronous messaging platforms.

• Access to a robust technology stack supporting remote work, including communication tools, project management software, and potentially cloud-based HR and payroll systems.

• Opportunities for interaction with global teams, fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, with a focus on knowledge sharing and peer support.

Work Schedule: While core hours are not strictly enforced due to the asynchronous nature, there will be a need to coordinate with teams across various European time zones for critical meetings or urgent issue resolution. The emphasis is on output and achieving objectives rather than adhering to a rigid 9-to-5 schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote and asynchronous nature of the work environment is a defining characteristic. Operations professionals in this role must be adept at managing their own time, communicating effectively in writing, and contributing to a culture that values autonomy and results over face-time.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Interview with Recruiter: Initial screening to assess general fit, understanding of the role, and alignment with Remote's culture. Preparation should focus on your career trajectory and interest in global compliance.

• Interview with Future Manager: Deeper dive into your experience with T&A systems, compliance knowledge, and project management capabilities. Be ready to discuss specific examples of challenges you've overcome.

• Interview with Team Members: Focus on assessing collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and how you integrate into a distributed team. Prepare situational questions about working with diverse stakeholders.

• Bar Raiser Interview: A more rigorous interview, often conducted by someone outside your direct reporting line, focusing on leadership potential, strategic thinking, and alignment with Remote's core values and long-term vision.

• Prior Employment Verification Check: Standard background check to confirm previous employment details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your experience in T&A compliance, global system implementation, or significant process improvement.

• Structure for Clarity: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the methodology used (e.g., agile, waterfall), the specific challenges faced (especially compliance-related), your solutions, and quantifiable results (e.g., risk reduction, efficiency gains, successful audit outcomes).

• Showcase Documentation: Include anonymized samples of process maps, control narratives, or risk assessments that highlight your ability to create clear, audit-ready documentation.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you partnered with various stakeholders (Product, Legal, Payroll, Country Experts) to achieve project goals, demonstrating your influencing and communication skills.

• Tailor to Remote: Connect your experience and portfolio examples to Remote's mission of simplifying global employment and their focus on innovation and automation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Expect scenario-based questions related to identifying compliance gaps, translating legal text into system requirements, or managing conflicting stakeholder priorities.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach establishing governance for a new T&A feature rollout in a complex regulatory environment.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, demonstrating your analytical and problem-solving skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process at Remote is described as thorough, including a "Bar Raiser" interview, which is common in certain tech companies to ensure high standards. Emphasis is placed on practical experience, collaboration, and strategic thinking, making a well-prepared portfolio essential for showcasing these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Time & Attendance Systems: Hands-on experience with global T&A platforms such as Workday Time Tracking, UKG (Kronos/Ultimate Software), ADP (e.g., ADP Workforce Now, Globalview), or Ceridian Dayforce is essential. Proficiency in configuring rules, managing exceptions, and understanding their compliance implications is key.

• Project Management Software: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing project timelines, tasks, and cross-functional collaboration in an agile or hybrid environment.

• Documentation & Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency with tools like Confluence, Notion, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), or Microsoft 365 for creating and maintaining process documentation, control narratives, and facilitating asynchronous communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of how T&A systems integrate with HRIS and Payroll systems. Familiarity with workflow automation principles is a plus, especially given Remote's focus on AI and automation. Experience with process automation tools could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong technical aptitude with specific T&A systems is non-negotiable. The role also requires proficiency in tools that support remote, asynchronous collaboration and project management, aligning with Remote's operational methodology.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: Proactively seeking new ways to leverage automation and AI to enhance T&A compliance and operational efficiency.

• Ownership & Proactivity: Taking initiative to identify and address compliance challenges, driving solutions forward without constant oversight.

• Transparency & Documentation: Maintaining clear, accessible, and audit-ready documentation for all T&A processes and controls.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Designing and implementing T&A solutions that are not only compliant but also scalable and efficient for a global, growing organization.

• Customer Focus: Ensuring T&A systems and processes support both internal stakeholders (Payroll, HR, Legal) and ultimately, the employee experience.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Prioritizing written communication, detailed documentation, and asynchronous collaboration tools. Meetings are used strategically for key discussions.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely with diverse teams, requiring strong communication, empathy, and the ability to translate between technical, legal, and operational languages.

• Feedback-Driven: An environment that encourages constructive feedback to continuously improve processes and collaboration.

• Global Mindset: Understanding and respecting diverse cultural nuances and working practices across different regions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Remote's culture values proactive problem-solving and clear documentation, which are critical for operations professionals. The asynchronous nature requires a deliberate approach to communication and collaboration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Global Complexity: The primary challenge is interpreting and applying a wide array of evolving labor laws, working time directives, and collective bargaining agreements across numerous jurisdictions.

• Balancing Compliance with Scalability: Ensuring that robust compliance controls do not hinder the speed and scalability required by a fast-growing company.

• Influencing Without Authority: Aligning diverse, global stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Legal, Operations) who may have competing priorities or different interpretations of requirements.

• Adapting to Technology Evolution: Staying abreast of advancements in T&A technology, automation, and AI, and integrating them effectively into compliant solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Global Labor Law: Gain unparalleled expertise in the intricacies of T&A compliance across various regions, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Strategic Product Influence: Contribute directly to the strategic direction of T&A product features from a compliance perspective, shaping how the product evolves.

• Process Transformation: Lead initiatives to transform and optimize global T&A processes, potentially implementing new technologies or automation solutions.

• Cross-Cultural Collaboration Skills: Enhance abilities in managing and influencing teams across different time zones, cultures, and functional areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges due to the global regulatory landscape and the need for cross-functional alignment. However, these challenges are directly linked to substantial growth opportunities in specialization, strategic influence, and process leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach developing a global T&A compliance framework for a company expanding into three new, highly regulated markets simultaneously?" (Focus on process, stakeholder identification, risk assessment.)

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex legal requirement into a system configuration or operational process. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight analytical skills, translation ability, and impact.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Remote's mission and its approach to global employment?" (Research Remote's values, product, and market position.)

• "How do you see your role contributing to Remote's core values of Innovation and Ownership, particularly in the context of T&A compliance?" (Connect your experience to their stated values.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio examples as compelling narratives. Clearly articulate the "why," "what," and "how" of each project, focusing on the impact of your contributions.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate success (e.g., reduced audit findings by X%, improved compliance rate by Y%, streamlined process saving Z hours per week).

• Visual Aids: Use clear, concise visuals for process maps, diagrams, or data summaries where appropriate. Ensure any proprietary information is anonymized.

• Address Challenges: Be upfront about challenges encountered and how you effectively navigated them, showcasing problem-solving skills and resilience.

• Connect to Remote: Explicitly link your experience and the lessons learned from your portfolio to the specific needs and culture of Remote.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just technical knowledge but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities within a complex regulatory and remote environment, and alignment with Remote's unique culture and operational approach.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Global Time & Attendance Product Strategy Lead position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Greenhouse job board.

• Customize your CV: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your experience with global Time & Attendance systems (Workday, UKG, ADP, Ceridian Dayforce), your project management successes in compliance-driven environments, and your ability to interpret and operationalize international labor laws. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare your portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best showcase your expertise in T&A compliance, global system implementation, or process optimization. Prepare to discuss these in detail, focusing on challenges, solutions, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Research Remote: Understand the company's mission, values (Innovation, Ownership), and their asynchronous work culture. Be ready to articulate why you are a good fit for their unique environment.

• Practice your interview responses: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions by reviewing the suggested interview preparation points and practicing articulating your experience and thought process clearly and concisely, especially regarding compliance strategy and remote collaboration.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.