Payroll & People Operations Specialist

Socket.dev; Calgary; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation entitlement

RRSP matching

Health Spending Account

Extended health and dental benefits

On-site gym

Development days

Job summary

Distress Centre Calgary seeks a Payroll & People Operations Specialist to lead payroll, benefits administration, onboarding and HR policy implementation. You will collaborate with a payroll provider to ensure accurate, timely processing and maintain HRIS records with precision.

Ideal candidates have PCP certification, 3–5 years in a similar role, and experience in not-for-profit payroll. Strong numerical skills and confidentiality are essential for this role in a mission-driven workplace.

Qualifications

• Certification as Payroll Certification Practitioner required.
• 3–5 years in a similar position.
• Experience in end-to-end payroll processes and benefits administration.
• Strong numerical skills and payroll calculations.
• Experience in not-for-profit sector is an asset.
• Familiarity with Alberta Employment Standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage internal payroll administration with external payroll provider.
• Prepare payroll changes and submit to provider by deadlines.
• Maintain employee payroll records in HRIS with accuracy.
• Assist with benefits administration and onboarding/offboarding.
• Respond to payroll questions and escalate issues when needed.
• Ensure compliance with Alberta employment standards.

Skills

Payroll administration

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Education

Payroll Certification (PCP)

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

BambooHR

Payworks

PGI

HRIS

Job description

Payroll & People Operations Specialist

This is a Full-Time, permanent position starting on or about October 16, 2026

Location & Hours

Work location: On-site at Distress Centre Calgary (999 8 St SW, Suite 500).

Hours: Monday – Friday 9am-5pm , with occasional evenings or weekends as required.

What We Offer

• Starting salary from $65,000 to $70,000
• Generous Vacation Entitlement
• RRSP matching and Health Spending Account
• Extended health and dental benefits
• Access to on-site gym (999 site) at no cost
• Paid development days and a staff development fund
• A supportive, mission-driven workplace where you can grow, take on new challenges, and collaborate with colleagues that value integrity, hard work, and making a meaningful community impact

Who We Are

For over 50 years, Distress Centre has served Calgary and Southern Alberta by providing 24-hour crisis support, information, and resources at no cost. Distress Centre does not define crisis. We do not judge. Anyone can call us day or night.

We are committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive workplace where employees are valued, experience a sense of belonging, and are confident being their most authentic selves. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and members of equity-deserving groups. We value all the ways that our community is diverse – in identity, experience and perspective.

What to Expect

The Payroll & People Operations Specialist reports to the Director, People and Culture. This role is responsible for furthering the strategic goals of the People & Culture function by ensuring that core pay and benefits processes are running efficiently, accurately and promptly. This position is responsible for payroll, benefits administration (including disability management), onboarding, offboarding, and HR policy implementation.

What You’ll Do

This list highlights core responsibilities and is not exhaustive. Additional related duties may arise over time and will be discussed and supported by your supervisor.

Payroll & Benefits Administration

• Manage the organization's internal payroll administration process, working closely with the external payroll provider to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Prepare and submit payroll information and changes to the payroll provider in accordance with established deadlines and processes.
• Maintain accurate records of payroll changes, including new hires, terminations, salary changes, deductions, leave, benefits, and other employee changes.
• Review payroll information and reports for accuracy and follow up on discrepancies or issues with the payroll provider, employees, and leaders as required.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll information in the HRIS, including tax information, direct deposit details, compensation, deductions, and other relevant employee data.
• Support year-end payroll activities and provide required employee information and documentation.
• Assist supervisors and employees with timesheet and payroll-related questions, including questions related to coding and time entry in the HRIS.
• Review timesheet information and identify potential discrepancies or issues requiring follow-up.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding pay and payroll processes and coordinate with the payroll provider when additional support is required.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of applicable Alberta employment standards as they relate to payroll and employee administration.

Benefits Administration

• Set up new employees and ensure current employee information is updated as required.
• Assist employees navigating their benefits by proactively providing information and answering any inquiries.
• Work with the benefits providers to ensure that employees are informed of their benefits coverages and how to access them.
• Work with disability/disability management providers to ensure both employees and leaders are well supported during this process.

Onboarding and General Administration

• Prepare Employment Agreements and offer letters.
• Set up employee files and ensure that all mandatory requirements are met and documents have been received.
• Communicate with new hires regarding essential information about their employee experience including navigating the HRIS, accessing benefits, and other organizational resources.
• Maintain employee files and follow up on reminders for outstanding documents.
• Assist with the maintenance and upkeep of employee data in the HRIS.
• Respond to inquiries from employees and supervisors regarding areas related to People & Culture.
• Document and maintain process and procedure information.
• Assist with special projects as needed.

What You Bring

• Certification as a Payroll Compliance Practitioner is a requirement of the role.
• 3 – 5 years in a similar position
• Experience in end-to-end payroll processes and benefit administration.
• Strong skills working with numbers and payroll calculations
• Experience in the not-for-profit sector is an asset.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now, BambooHR, Payworks or PGI is an asset.
• Working knowledge of Alberta Employment Standards and the ability to apply relevant requirements to routine payroll and HR administration matters, while recognizing when more complex matters require escalation.
• Working knowledge of Human Rights legislation
• Confidentiality and tact and the ability to handle sensitive information and keep it confidential
• Proven interpersonal and cultural competency skills to work effectively and respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences
• Advanced proficiency with the Microsoft Office Excel and intermediate proficiency in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Keen attention to detail, a high degree of accuracy.

Additional Employment Requirements

As a condition of employment, all successful candidates are required to complete and maintain a Police Information Check. For those in direct service user-facing roles, a Vulnerable Sector Search is also required.

Distress Centre is an inclusive workplace. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know. If you require accommodation during the application process, please call our main office and ask to speak to Human Resources.

We may also use AI-enabled tools to support aspects of the recruitment process. All hiring decisions are made by people and are guided by our commitment to fairness and inclusion.

We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.