Payroll Specialist (50-60%)

Job description

The Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering (BIIE) is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to innovation in immune engineering. Founded in 2024 through a generous endowment from Fondation Botnar, the BIIE supports scientists in taking on some of the world’s most challenging problems in immunology and global health. The institute unites experts across immunology, biomedicine, bioengineering, computational biology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, creating a unique multidisciplinary environment with a mission to make a lasting impact and to train future leaders in immune engineering. We are seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist (50-60%) to manage the end-to-end payroll operations of our institute; the workload (Pensum) can be structured flexibly to accommodate your schedule.The successful candidate will ensure accurate and timely payroll processing in full compliance with Swiss labor law and social insurance legislation, and will serve as the primary contact for all payroll-related matters. This role requires a strong command of Swiss payroll regulations, exceptional accuracy, and a high degree of discretion when handling sensitive employee data. The position reports to the Head of HR. Tasks Payroll Processing Execute monthly payroll cycles for institute personnel, including scientific, postdoctoral, and support staff Manage salary modifications, bonuses, and retroactive adjustments with precision and punctuality Issue monthly pay slips and annual Swiss tax certificates (Lohnausweis) Perform monthly reconciliation of payroll entries with the finance department Social Insurance & Compliance Administer statutory social insurance contributions (AHV/IV/EO, ALV, BVG, and health/accident insurance) Handle registrations and mutations with social security bodies and insurance providers Prepare and submit mandatory statutory declarations and reporting Serve as the point of contact for pension funds and insurance companies Personnel Administration Support Maintain employee master data and payroll records within the HR information system Monitor leave management (vacation, illness, parental leave, military service) per legal requirements Support onboarding and offboarding workflows, including final payroll settlements Reporting & Process Improvement Generate regular and customized payroll analytics for leadership and finance teams Drive initiatives to optimize payroll workflows and enhance data integrity Facilitate internal and external audits concerning payroll and social security Requirements Federal certificate in payroll (Sachbearbeiter/in Sozialversicherungen) or equivalent professional credential 3+ years of Swiss payroll expertise, preferably within a research or life sciences context Comprehensive understanding of Swiss labor law and the social insurance framework (AHV, BVG, UVG) Proficiency in modern payroll software solutions (Abacus) Native or bilingual German proficiency; English skills are highly valued Exceptional precision, discretion, and ethical standards Strong organizational aptitude with the ability to meet strict deadlines Prior exposure to international and multicultural working environments (preferred) Benefits A collaborative, international team environment at a growing institute in Basel. Competitive compensation and benefits package. Flexible working arrangement with an immediate start. Real potential for long-term engagement as BIIE continues to grow.