HR Specialist Payroll / HR Generalist

Thales is seeking an HR Specialist Payroll / HR Generalist in Zurich to support approximately 200 employees. This role involves managing the full employee lifecycle, coordinating payroll with an external provider, and serving as the primary contact for HR and payroll inquiries. The specialist will also administer benefits programs and ensure compliance with Swiss labor law, contributing to the digital and physical security solutions for Switzerland.

Must Have

• Act as the primary HR operations contact for ~200 employees, partnering with HR Business Partner and HR Operations Manager.
• Manage employee lifecycle administration (records, preboarding, onboarding, changes, terminations).
• Coordinate payroll inputs and processing with an external payroll provider, ensuring accuracy.
• Serve as the first point of contact for employee HR and payroll inquiries.
• Administer employee benefits programs and support enrollments, changes, and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with Swiss labor law and company policies, and prepare required HR reports.

Good to Have

• Experience with Workday
• Experience with Abacus
• Experience with payroll/tax compliance

Perks & Benefits

• Collective labor agreement MEM-Industrie Swissmem
• Flexible and mobile working without core hours
• Part-time models to promote work-life balance
• Shareholding program "Sharing Thales"
• Allowances for special occasions
• International development opportunities within the Thales Group
• Extensive training opportunities in the Thales Learning Hub
• Regular development discussions
• Benefits platform with employee discounts
• Free cold and hot drinks
• Paid premiums for accident and daily sickness allowance insurance
• Monthly meal allowance of 180 CHF
• Asset building foundation Avadis

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

We say HI* – Welcome to the Thales Team!

Human Intelligence

Thales in Switzerland is part of a globally leading technology group in the areas of defense and security, training and simulation, space, and digital identity and security. In a world full of uncertainties, we ensure that our customers, partners, and employees can confidently and securely break new ground. For a future we can all trust.

Say HI* – to your career as

HR Specialist Payroll / HR Generalist

at the Zurich location

In Zurich, you support our customers in their task of ensuring the digital and physical security of Switzerland. Secure broadband communication and efficient energy management are examples of innovative solutions that we develop locally for the Swiss Army and security organizations and also export. You are in the right place here if you are interested in solutions for cyber security and want to advance digitalization in defense and security. Become part of the Thales expert team at one of the leading providers for Defense & Homeland Security in Switzerland – and in the world. We look forward to meeting you!

Your Mission

• Act as the primary HR operations contact for the entities' ~200 employees, partnering closely with the HR Business Partner and HR Operations Manager.
• Manage employee lifecycle administration, including employee records, preboarding, onboarding, internal changes, and terminations.
• Coordinate payroll inputs and processing with an external payroll provider, ensuring accurate data collection, validation, and approval.
• Serve as the first point of contact for employee HR and payroll inquiries, delivering high-quality employee support.
• Administer employee benefits programs and support enrollments, changes, and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Ensure compliance with Swiss labor law and company policies, and prepare required HR reports and documentation.

What we look forward to

• Further training in Human Resources with proven experience in an HR Generalist role, ideally with a focus on payroll.
• Fluency in German and English (minimum B2 level), with strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• High attention to detail, strong organizational and time-management skills, and a structured, reliable working style.
• High level of discretion and integrity when handling confidential employee and payroll information, combined with problem-solving ability and adaptability.
• Solid IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Workday, Abacus, and payroll/tax compliance is an advantage.

What awaits you at Thales Suisse SA

Collective labor agreement MEM-Industrie Swissmem | Flexible and mobile working without core hours | Part-time models to promote work-life balance | Shareholding program "Sharing Thales" | Allowances for special occasions | International development opportunities within the Thales Group | Extensive training opportunities in the Thales Learning Hub | Regular development discussions | Benefits platform with employee discounts | Free cold and hot drinks | Paid premiums for accident and daily sickness allowance insurance | Monthly meal allowance of 180 CHF | Asset building foundation Avadis

For our 85,000 employees in 68 countries, we open up forward-looking perspectives, realize individual career paths, and enable creative freedom. This is achieved through courage, diversity, and the firm will to make the demanding challenges of our time safer and more inclusive. With our sustainable, value-oriented employee leadership, we actively advocate for diversity.

Say HI* – Your way to us

When the signs of the times point to change, our international teams are there to meet today's complexity with tomorrow's industry-leading technologies. Are you in? Your contact person Frederic Martin (Talent Acquisition Partner) looks forward to your online application via our career portal.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here, apply now!

Interested in finding out more about Thales and why you should join us?

Say HI* to new career opportunities.