Director of Compensation, Benefits & HRIS

Athens Services; California; On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K & Profit Sharing

Employee Assistance Program

Life Insurance

Paid Vacation and Sick Time

Recognition programs

Job summary

A multi-site waste and recycling organization is seeking a Director of Compensation & Benefits. This strategic role is responsible for payroll, benefits administration, and compensation across multiple sites. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of leadership experience and advanced knowledge of Workday. Key responsibilities include oversight of payroll processing, maintaining compliance with regulations, and developing competitive compensation structures. This position offers opportunities for impact in a safety-sensitive, frontline-driven industry.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive compensation, benefits, and payroll leadership experience.
• Advanced knowledge of Workday (HCM, Payroll, Compensation).
• Experience leading annual compensation and bonus cycles.
• Experience leading annual compensation and bonus cycles.
• Experience with 401(k) reconciliation and compliance testing.
• Strong financial acumen and advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct oversight of multi-site payroll processing.
• Ensure accurate calculation of wages, bonuses, and tax compliance.
• Manage benefits vendor relationships and ensure compliance.
• Manage benefits and retirement programs, including 401(k) testing.
• Ensure compliance with wage laws, ERISA, ACA, COBRA, and related regs.

Skills

Leadership

Payroll Processing

Workday HRIS

Compensation Administration

Benefits Administration

Financial Acumen

Excel Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Finance, Accounting

Tools

Workday

Excel

Job description

The Director of Compensation & Benefits is a strategic and hands‑on leader responsible for payroll, compensation, retirement, and benefits administration across a multi‑site waste and recycling organization. In a safety‑sensitive, frontline‑driven industry, this role ensures employees are paid accurately, competitively, and on time.

This position provides direct oversight of payroll processing, ensures Workday HRIS data integrity, maintains competitive compensation structures, leads annual performance compensation and bonus exercises, validates 401(k) contributions, oversees benefits compliance testing, and delivers exceptional service to frontline employees and leadership.

Essential Job Functions

Payroll Leadership

• Direct, hands‑on oversight of multi‑site weekly and monthly payroll processing.
• Ensure accurate calculation of wages, overtime, bonuses, commissions, and adjustments.
• Maintain payroll tax compliance, garnishments, and year‑end processing.
• Establish strong internal controls, payroll audits and reconciliation processes.
• Serve as escalation point for complex payroll issues and ensure A‑Factor white‑glove service delivery.

HRIS & Workday Oversight

• Serve as system owner for Workday HRIS, Compensation, and Payroll modules.
• Ensure data integrity, organizational structure accuracy, cost center alignment, and reporting accuracy within Workday.
• Govern pay code setup, testing, upgrades, workflow controls, and system enhancements.

Compensation Administration

• Maintain salary ranges and pay structures to ensure external competitiveness and internal equity.
• Lead annual merit and bonus planning processes, including modeling and payout validation.
• Partner with Finance to validate EBITDA, Net Income, and other performance metrics tied to incentive plans.
• Support executive and Board‑level compensation reporting.

Benefits & Retirement

• Validate 401(k) deductions and employer contributions each payroll cycle.
• Perform weekly and quarterly reconciliations between payroll, Workday, and retirement vendors.
• Oversee annual non‑discrimination testing and Form 5500 filing.
• Manage all benefits vendor relationships, including renewals.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, and related regulations.

Compliance & Service

• Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor regulatory developments impacting compensation and benefits programs.
• Maintain documented payroll and benefits procedures.
• Lead and develop payroll and benefits team members. Establish service‑level standard and accountability metrics.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• 8+ years progressive compensation, benefits, and payroll leadership experience.
• Advanced knowledge of Workday (HCM, Payroll, Compensation).
• Experience leading annual compensation and bonus cycles.
• Experience managing 401(k) reconciliation and compliance testing.
• Strong financial acumen and advanced Excel skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• CCP, CEBS, or CPP certification.
• Experience in waste & recycling, transportation, logistics, or other field‑based industries.
• Experience in safety‑sensitive or union environments.
• Primarily office‑based with regular computer use.
• Occasional visits to operational sites (yards, transfer stations, recycling facilities).
• 401K & Profit Sharing
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life Insurance
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time
• Recognition programs

Athens will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and any other applicable state, federal or local laws. EEO/M/F/disability/veteran.