Coordinator of Payroll and Human Resources

Colorado Community College System (CCCS); La Junta (CO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Colorado PERA retirement

Health benefits

Employee assistance

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Discount programs

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Job summary

Otero College in La Junta, CO seeks a Coordinator of Payroll and Human Resources to provide comprehensive admin support for HR and payroll operations, with primary responsibility for payroll processing, timesheets, leave administration, compliance, and records management.

This role ensures accuracy and adherence to payroll processes, supports recruitment and onboarding, assists employees with HR and payroll inquiries, and cross-trains with staff to maintain continuity of operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel; strong computer skills.
• Experience with payroll processing preferred.
• Experience with Banner or similar HRIS is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage biweekly and monthly timesheets and leave; communicate with employees and supervisors.
• Ensure payroll deadlines are met and payroll reports are accurate.
• Review payroll and new hire entries for accuracy and compliance.
• Complete and reconcile work-study awards and payroll matches.
• Support HR and Payroll inquiries; assist employees with forms and timesheets.
• Process I-9 reviews and audits; maintain HR/payroll documents and records.

Skills

Strong attention to detail

Customer service experience

Strong computer skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education/experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Banner

Job description

Title: Coordinator of Payroll and Human Resources

Position Type: Professional Tech Full time, 12 month 261 work days per year

College: Otero College

Division: Office of the President

Department: OC Human Resources

Campus: Otero College

Location: La Junta

Salary Range:$40,000- $43,000

Who We Are:

At Otero College, we are more than a college, we are a community dedicated to students’ personal and professional growth through high-quality education and workforce training. With more than 30 academic and workforce programs, a student-centered culture, and a commitment to supporting employee growth, Otero College provides an opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day.
Our faculty and staff are passionate about student success and work to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where students feel a sense of belonging. Through meaningful connections and personalized support, Otero employees help students build confidence, stay engaged, and achieve success both in and out of the classroom.
Otero College offers the opportunity to contribute to student success while enjoying the benefits of living and working in a rural community. Join the Rattler family and help shape the future of our students.

Job Summary:

Provides comprehensive administrative support for Human Resources and Payroll operations, with primary responsibility for payroll processing, timesheet and leave administration, compliance, and records management. Ensures accuracy and compliance with payroll and employment processes, coordinates recruitment and selection activities, supports employees and supervisors with HR and payroll inquiries, and maintains required employment documentation. Provides customer-focused support to the HR team and cross-trains with HR staff to ensure continuity of departmental operations.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• 1. Manage, monitor, review, and finalize biweekly and monthly timesheets and leave requests/reports. Communicate with employees and supervisors regarding timesheet questions and issues.
• 2. Ensuring the Human Resources office adheres to biweekly and monthly payroll deadlines
• 3. Update the reconciliation documents and run payroll reports before, during and after payroll to ensure accuracy
• 4. Review all payroll and new hire entry to ensure accuracy and compliance
• 5. Completes and reconciles work-study awards and balances and the Work Study payroll match for each biweekly pay period.
• 6. Provide support, both general and customer service based, for HR and Payroll as needed including assisting employees on completing forms, timesheets, etc., answer questions pertaining to HR and Payroll forms
• 7. Responsible for monitoring and processing compliance for Commercial Driver License Holders in alliance with Federal Department of Transportation regulations i.e. clearing house, random drug screening, and pre-employment drug screening.
• 8. Coordinates and schedules internal committee selection and interviews and communicates process as needed
• 9. Schedules selection interviews with candidates and communicates with the Human Resources Director for distribution process
• 10. Enter background checks to be processed for potential new employees
• 11. Make and update new employee packets both full-time and part-time and on the electronic onboarding system. Ensure compliance with required policies and forms
• 12. Completes new hire orientation for part-time employees including work study and student hourly employees
• 13. Responsible for all scanning, indexing and filing for the HR/Payroll documents as required by the system office. Completes bi-annual audits of the filing system
• 14. Responsible for I-9 review for new hires, I-9 retention, and a yearly I-9 audit.
• 15. Assists the Human Resources Assistant Director in preparing various documents for fiscal year changes, payroll audits, and employment verifications.
• 16. Cross-train with HR staff to provide backup when appropriate.
• 17. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience may substitute year-for-year for the degree.
• Strong computer skills, proficient in keying data into Microsoft Word and Excel

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with and knowledge of payroll processing
• Experience with automated business support systems such as Banner
• Customer service experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong attention to detail

Selection Process:

Position will remain open until filled with a priority date of September 8, 2026

Additional Information/Benefits:

• Flexible retirement benefits including Colorado PERA’s Defined Benefit Plan or Defined Contribution Plan. Otero contributes 21.61% of your salary on your behalf. Supplemental retirement plans including 401(k) and 457 plans are also available.
• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and flexible savings benefits.
• Employee assistance services such as counseling, professional coaching, financial planning, and more, are available to you and members of your household at no cost through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP).
• Generous paid time off benefits including up to 15 hours of annual leave and 10 hours sick leave per month, 10 paid holidays per year, and up to 18 hours for academic and volunteer activities.
• Tuition assistance for employees and their eligible dependents at any community college within the Colorado Community College System or CCCOnline.
• State employees are eligible to participate in BenefitHub which offers discounts for retailers and services and other benefits resources.
• Employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Additional information about this program can be found on the Colorado Division of Human Resources website.