Human Resources & Payroll Generalist

Job Title: Human Resources & Payroll Generalist Annual Salary: Starting at $86,500 Work Calendar: 12-Month Work Calendar Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Location: Remote Office Position Type: Full-Time Exempt Job Definition: Under the general supervision of Distance Learning Solutions, Inc., the employee performs a variety of administrative and professional tasks in support of the organization’s Human Resources and Payroll functions. Reports to: Director of Business Operations, Distance Learning Solutions, Inc. Job Characteristics: The Human Resources & Payroll Generalist is responsible for administering the daily operations of the Human Resources department while ensuring the accurate and timely processing of monthly payroll through the HRIS. This role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including full-cycle recruiting, onboarding and offboarding, employee relations, benefits administration, payroll processing, and maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws as well as company policies. The Generalist serves as a key point of contact for employees, addressing questions and concerns while fostering a positive and supportive workplace culture. High-level or escalated HR issues are managed in partnership with the Director of Business Operations. This is a fully remote, work-from-home position, and the individual selected must maintain a secure, professional, and reliable home office environment equipped to handle all functions of the role. Primary Functions:

• Human Resources:

• Oversee HR information management across the organization, ensuring accurate employee records and personnel files.
• Manage the talent acquisition process, including recruitment, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and orientation of new staff.
• Prepare and update job descriptions in collaboration with department leaders.
• Conduct position and pay research, support compensation decisions, and assist with administering the company’s pay structure, including preparation of total compensation statements for employees.
• Support employee performance management processes, including evaluations, documentation, and coaching.
• Coordinate employee training and development initiatives to support both onboarding and ongoing professional growth.
• Coordinate employee recognition efforts, ensuring consistent acknowledgment of staff contributions.
• Act as the primary point of contact for employees regarding HR and payroll needs, including benefits, leaves of absence, policies, payroll questions, and employee relations.
• Provide guidance on employee relations issues, investigating and documenting concerns as assigned, and escalating high-level matters to the Director of Business Operations when appropriate.
• Administer employee benefits programs and leave of absence processes, including annual open enrollment.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations; recommend, update, and communicate HR policies, procedures, and the employee handbook to reflect current requirements and best practices.
• Coordinate and prepare mandatory government filings and compliance reporting, including but not limited to EEO, ACA, and other state/federal employment reports.
• Maintain accurate and compliant employee record retention in accordance with federal and state laws; prepare for and support internal and external audits.
• Develop, present, and distribute company-wide communications, ensuring clarity and consistency of messaging.
• Maintain current knowledge of HR best practices, payroll regulations, and employment law.
• Serve as the organization’s Safety Coordinator, ensuring OSHA and other regulatory compliance including maintaining safety training records, documentation, and track mandatory compliance training for all staff.
• Promote a positive and respectful workplace culture that supports the company’s mission and values.
• Maintain integrity, security, and functionality of the HRIS, serving as the system administrator for HR and payroll data.
• Payroll:

• Administer monthly payroll processing in HRIS with accuracy and timeliness, ensuring all wages, salaries, bonuses, overtime, deductions, and adjustments are processed correctly.
• Maintain up-to-date payroll records and employee information in the HRIS, including new hires, terminations, pay rate changes, garnishments, and tax withholdings.
• Reconcile payroll data to ensure accuracy prior to submission and coordinate with Finance to resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare and reconcile payroll reports for management, auditors, and government agencies; partner with Finance on quarterly and year-end reporting, tax filings, and reconciliations.
• Monitor compliance with wage and hour laws, payroll tax regulations, ACA reporting requirements, and filing deadlines.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the company’s HRIS representative, troubleshooting and resolving payroll and system issues.
• Recommend and implement payroll process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.

(These essential functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required.)   Knowledge of

1. Federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO, and ACA.
2. Oregon-specific employment laws and compliance requirements.
3. Human Resources best practices across recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations.
4. Payroll administration, benefits programs, and reporting requirements.
5. HRIS, payroll, and applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Ability to

1. Develop, interpret, and implement HR policies, procedures, and processes.
2. Accurately administer payroll and benefits while ensuring compliance with deadlines.
3. Manage employee relations matters with professionalism and escalate appropriately.
4. Coordinate and lead recruiting, onboarding, and training efforts.
5. Communicate complex HR and payroll information clearly to employees and leadership.
6. Maintain organized HR and payroll records in accordance with retention laws.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, written, and public speaking).
• Ability to build trust, maintain confidentiality, and act with integrity.
• Organizational and time management skills with attention to detail.
• Problem-solving, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in managing multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in HRIS, ATS, and payroll systems, with the ability to learn new technology quickly.

Qualifications: Minimum Requirements: Education/Licensure/Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP, or other HR certification is highly desired.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in Human Resources, Payroll, or a related administrative function.

Other minimum qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state employment laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Experience administering payroll through an HRIS (ADP, Paycom, Paychex, or similar system).
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills with the ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Must have a dedicated workspace free from distractions with consistent and reliable high-speed internet access for teleconferencing.
• Able to adequately meet legal requirements for performing this position.
• Ability to pass required background checks.
• Employees must live in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, or Arizona.

Salary and Benefits:

1. Full time, salary exempt position.
2. Distance Learning Solutions, Inc. will pay 100% family premium for family Major Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance.
3. Distance Learning Solutions, Inc. is not a PERS employer but does contribute a % of salary to the 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan.  

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions: This job requires sitting or standing at a workstation for most of the day. 

• Location: Remote Office
• Frequency of travel:  Occasional travel may be required to various sites for meetings, trainings, and conferences; assigned locations will vary and may require overnight stays.
• Light physical activities and efforts required for working in an office environment.

Physical Requirements during the work day may include: 1.         In an eight-hour day, employees may: a. Stand/Walk                           4-8 hours b. Drive                        3-5 hours c. Sit                                         4-8 hours 2.         Employee may use hands for repetitive: a. Single grasping b. Pushing and pulling c. Fine manipulation 3.         Employee may use feet for repetitive movement as in operating foot controls. 4.         Employee may need to: a. Bend occasionally b. Squat occasionally c. Climb stairs occasionally d. Lift occasionally 5. Lifting: Medium Work - Lifting 50 pounds rarely, 25 pounds occasionally, with frequent sitting and frequent standing/walking.  (Reasonable accommodations will be made in accordance with existing ADA requirements for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability.) AAP/EEO Statement  Distance Learning Solutions, Inc. adheres to all federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information and any other legally protected status. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit. We provide equal opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services of the United States. It is the responsibility of everyone in management to ensure that equal consideration be given to all applicants and employees in personnel actions, which include recruiting and hiring, selection for training, promotion, demotion, discipline, rates of pay or other compensation, transfer, layoff, recalls, and terminations. Reasonable accommodation is available to an employee with a disability when the disability affects the performance of job functions. We make our employment decisions based on the merits of the situation in accordance with defined criteria, not the disability of the individual.  Qualified individuals with disabilities are entitled to equal pay and other forms of compensation (or changes in compensation), as well as job assignments, classifications, organizational structures, position descriptions, lines of progression, and seniority lists.  We make all types of leaves of absence available to all employees on an equal basis. Distance Learning Solutions, Inc. is also committed to not discriminating against any qualified employee or applicant because the person is related to or associated with a person with a disability.  Distance Learning Solutions, Inc. will follow any state or local law that gives more protection to a person with a disability than the ADA gives. Distance Learning Solutions, Inc. is committed to taking all other actions that are necessary to ensure equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in accordance with the ADA and any other applicable federal, state, and local laws. Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.    Experience RequirementsMid Level Apply To This Job