Business Systems Analyst, Payroll Systems Job 2026 – Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (Salary: US$124,000–US$186,000)
Organisation: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)
Position: Business Systems Analyst, Payroll Systems
Location: Redwood City, California, USA (Hybrid)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Salary: US$124,000–US$186,000 per year
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (Approximately 3 days per week onsite)
Are you an experienced Business Systems Analyst with expertise in Workday Payroll, Payroll Systems, and HR Technology? The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) is seeking a talented Business Systems Analyst, Payroll Systems to join its growing Operations team in Redwood City, California.
Offering a competitive salary of US$124,000–US$186,000 annually, this hybrid position provides an exciting opportunity to help build technology solutions that support groundbreaking work in science, education, artificial intelligence, and biomedical research. If you have experience designing and optimizing payroll systems, business processes, and enterprise applications, this role offers an excellent chance to make a meaningful impact while working alongside world-class innovators.
About the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) was founded in 2015 by Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg with an ambitious mission to help solve some of society’s greatest challenges through technology, science, and collaboration.
CZI invests in transformative initiatives that aim to:
- Accelerate scientific discovery
- Advance open science
- Improve education through technology
- Harness artificial intelligence for research
- Build healthier and more equitable communities
The organization works closely with flagship initiatives including Biohub and Learning Commons, supporting scientists, educators, engineers, and innovators working to improve lives worldwide.
About the Business Systems Analyst Role
The Business Systems Analyst, Payroll Systems will join the People and Finance Systems Team, reporting directly to the Finance Systems Lead.
The successful candidate will play a critical role in improving payroll, planning, and absence management processes through the Workday platform. Working closely with Payroll, Finance, Total Rewards, and IT teams, you will gather business requirements, design technology solutions, manage projects, and optimize enterprise systems that support the organization’s continued growth.
This is an ideal opportunity for professionals passionate about combining technology, finance, and human resources to improve business operations.
Key Responsibilities
As the Business Systems Analyst, Payroll Systems, your responsibilities will include:
Business Analysis
You will:
- Gather and analyse business requirements from Payroll, Finance, and Total Rewards teams.
- Identify operational challenges and process improvement opportunities.
- Translate business needs into practical technology solutions.
- Create user stories, workflows, and business documentation.
Solution Design
Responsibilities include:
- Designing Workday-based solutions.
- Recommending best-practice system configurations.
- Preparing technical specifications.
- Supporting application enhancements and customisations where necessary.
Project Management
The successful candidate will:
- Prioritise business requests.
- Develop project plans and timelines.
- Monitor project delivery.
- Coordinate testing and deployment activities.
- Communicate project progress to stakeholders.
Workday Administration
You will:
- Configure Workday Payroll and Absence Management modules.
- Develop reports and dashboards.
- Support system integrations.
- Ensure system performance and security compliance.
- Recommend new Workday capabilities and enhancements.
Collaboration
You will work closely with:
- Payroll teams
- Finance teams
- Total Rewards specialists
- Information Technology teams
- Business stakeholders
- Project managers
- Senior leadership
Strong communication skills will be essential for translating technical concepts into business-friendly language.
Required Qualifications
Applicants should possess:
- At least 5 years of Payroll Systems implementation and design experience
- At least 5 years of Workday configuration experience
- Strong knowledge of Payroll and Absence Management processes
- Experience writing reports and managing Workday integrations
- Experience with Agile project methodologies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
Preferred Qualifications
The following qualifications will be advantageous:
- Workday Certification
- Consulting experience
- Workday Adaptive Planning integration experience
- Enterprise security and compliance knowledge
- Experience working within rapidly growing organisations
Essential Skills
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
- Business analysis
- Requirements gathering
- Process improvement
- Project management
- Workday configuration
- Payroll systems expertise
- Data analysis
- Stakeholder management
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving
- Agile methodologies
- Technical documentation
- Enterprise systems integration
Salary and Benefits
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative offers an outstanding compensation package.
Salary
- US$124,000–US$186,000 per year
Salary placement will depend on experience, technical skills, and interview performance.
Benefits Include
Employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Competitive salary
- Employer-matched 401(k) retirement plan
- Annual flexible lifestyle benefit
- Housing assistance support
- Student loan repayment assistance
- Childcare support
- Commuter benefits
- Life of Service charitable giving programme
- Paid volunteer leave
- Family-forming benefits
- Relocation assistance for eligible employees
- Professional growth opportunities
- Collaborative mission-driven work environment
Hybrid Work Arrangement
This position follows a hybrid work model.
Employees are expected to work:
- Approximately 60% of the month onsite
- Around three days each week in the Redwood City office
Specific office schedules will be determined by the hiring manager.
Why Join the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative?
Working at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative means joining one of the world’s most innovative philanthropic organizations where technology, science, and social impact intersect.
As a Business Systems Analyst, you’ll help build the digital infrastructure supporting researchers, educators, and innovators tackling global challenges in health, education, and artificial intelligence. Your work will directly contribute to improving systems that enable groundbreaking scientific discoveries and educational innovation.
With competitive compensation, outstanding employee benefits, flexible work arrangements, and meaningful projects, CZI offers an exceptional environment for professionals looking to make a lasting impact.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative careers portal.
Applications are encouraged even if your experience does not perfectly match every qualification listed, as CZI values diverse experiences and transferable skills.
APPLY ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where is the job located?
The position is based in Redwood City, California, USA.
Is the position remote?
No. This is a hybrid role requiring employees to work onsite approximately three days per week.
What is the salary?
The annual salary ranges from US$124,000 to US$186,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
What software experience is required?
Applicants should have extensive experience with Workday Payroll, Workday configuration, Payroll Systems, and Absence Management.
Is Workday certification required?
Workday certification is preferred but not mandatory.
