POSITION SUMMARY

The HR Partner for Payroll & Benefits will serve as a key member of the Human Resources team, managing the end-to-end payroll process and administering employee benefits programs. This role ensures accuracy, compliance and efficiency in payroll and benefits, while serving as a trusted advisor to leadership and employees. The ideal candidate will bring strong attention to detail, good communication skills, and a willingness to support broader HR activities in the organization.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES*:

Payroll

•  Process weekly (or according to the company’s schedule) payroll for employees: timekeeping review, payroll entries, tax and benefit deductions, garnishments, and disbursements.
•  Ensure all payroll tax filings, year-end W-2/1099 forms, and state/local compliance requirements are met.
•  Maintain payroll records, handle audits, resolve discrepancies, and manage wage garnishments or corrections.
•  Partner with operations/finance to ensure proper cost-allocation of labor by project or job.
•  Serve as primary contact for the payroll system/vendor; recommend improvements or outsourcing alternatives.
•  Administer per diem allowances for employees traveling to project sites, ensuring accurate tracking, compliance with Company policy and IRS guidelines, and timely reimbursement or inclusion in payroll

Benefits Administration

•  Administer the company’s benefits programs (health insurance, dental/vision, retirement plan/401(k), paid time off, workers’ compensation, any other supplemental benefits).
•  Manage enrollment, changes, termination of benefits eligibility; respond to employee questions and issues.
•  Coordinate open-enrollment periods, vendor relationships, benefits communications, and compliance (e.g., ACA, ERISA, COBRA where applicable).
•  Maintain benefits records/data, reconcile enrollments, conduct audits of benefits usage and eligibility.
•  Support employee relations by explaining benefits, processing claims/issues, and ensuring a positive employee experience.

HR Partnering & HR Operations

•  Act as HR liaison to managers and employees: answer questions, provide guidance on payroll, benefits, and HR policy.
•  Support HR compliance (federal/state/local labor laws, wage & hour, recordkeeping) especially in a construction context.
•  Assist with HR projects such as onboarding/offboarding, job classification, employee handbook updates, HR metrics/reporting.

*The Key Job Responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list – additional tasks may be assigned to the team member and the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

•  Bachelor’s degree (preferred, but not strictly required) in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field — or equivalent experience.
•  1-3 years of experience in payroll and/or benefits administration; experience in construction or a project-based environment is a plus.
•  Familiarity with payroll software (e.g., Paylocity) and benefits platforms.
•  Strong numerical aptitude, attention to detail, ability to manage deadlines and regulatory compliance.
•  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to explain technical/policy matters to non-HR staff.
•  Ability to work independently in a smaller company setting, adapt to multiple responsibilities, and partner effectively with leadership and operations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/JOB CONDITIONS:

• Full-time salaried/annual role.
• Hybrid (part time in office, part time remote)
• Occasional need to handle urgent payroll/benefits issues outside standard hours (e.g., project payroll deadlines, benefit vendor deadlines).