HR & Payroll Administrator

King-County,-W; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

King County’s Department of Assessments is seeking a dynamic HR & Payroll Administrator to support approximately 204 administrative and valuation staff. The role oversees all HR and payroll functions, including employee relations, engagement programs, training coordination, health and safety initiatives, and provides support to division leadership.

The ideal candidate brings proficiency with Microsoft tools and HRIS systems (including PeopleSoft), exceptional customer service, and meticulous

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years in HR, personnel management, or lead experience with a diverse employee base.
• Minimum of two years applying HR laws, payroll processes, and benefits and leave management.
• Minimum of two years using Microsoft Office, PeopleSoft, NEOGOV, and other HR data systems.
• Experience in policy development with equity, race, and social justice considerations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee payroll processing and HR actions across the life cycle.
• Administer payroll, employment actions, and recruitment using PeopleSoft and NEOGOV.
• Manage employee leave programs and benefits to maximize utilization.
• Support annual performance evaluations and labor partner relations.
• Communicate engagement programs to staff and lead payroll team.

Skills

HR knowledge

Payroll processing

PeopleSoft

NEOGOV

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Leave management

Education

2+ years HR experience

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Tools

PeopleSoft

NEOGOV

Microsoft Office

HRIS systems

Job description

HR & Payroll Administrator – King County Department of Assessments

King County’s Department of Assessments is seeking a dynamic, collaborative, and employee-focused HR & Payroll Administrator to support approximately 204 administrative and appraisal staff across our growing organization.

The Administrative Services Division HR & Payroll Administrator oversees and administers all human resources and payroll functions, including employee relations, engagement programs, training coordination, health and safety initiatives, and support to division leadership. This position is central to our mission of delivering fair and equitable property valuations for King County taxpayers and requires daily interaction with staff in a generationally diverse environment.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS:

An award-winning leader and innovator in government property assessments, with 210 employees and an annual budget of over $37 million, the department administers King County's property valuation and assessment process. The Assessor’s Office has a significant impact on the funding received each year by a wide range of important County public services. The agency uses innovative business intelligence tools and cutting‑edge technology to be more efficient with current resources and provide value-added services to taxpayers. The Department of Assessments has collaborative partnerships with 150+ separate taxing districts and 39 cities. To learn more, please visit our website at: www.kingcounty.gov/Assessor.aspx

We’re looking for an action-oriented, creative problem solver with strong organizational, analytical, communication, and confidentiality skills—someone who thrives in a fast‑paced setting, excels at multi‑tasking, and is committed to employee success. The ideal candidate brings technical proficiency with Microsoft tools and HRIS systems (including PeopleSoft), exceptional customer service, and meticulous attention to detail to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.

King County values innovation, creativity and diverse perspectives. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, and anyone committed to public service and organizational excellence.

Sound interesting? Come join us!

Applying equity, race, and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and foundational to our work. As the HR & Payroll Administrator, the opportunity will require you:

• To use your grounding in human resources and payroll operations, excellent analytical and problem solving skills, and ability to work within a culturally and generationally diverse community to collaboratively oversee and perform all manner of employee transactions related to the employment life cycle.
• To use your PeopleSoft and NEOGOV skills and abilities to assist in the administration of payroll, employment actions, and recruitment.
• To use your knowledge and experience in managing employee leave programs, including family medical leaves, and others to ensure our employees get the most from their benefit programs.
• To use your performance appraisal and management knowledge in support and oversight of the agency's annual evaluation processes.
• To use your understanding and analysis of collective bargaining agreements in support of our labor partners and employees.
• To use your communication skills to communicate employee engagement programs and initiatives to the employees we support.
• To use your supervision and leadership to lead our payroll team.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WITH:

Any combination of recent and relevant education and/or experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the scope of work described above, to include:

• A minimum of two (2) years of human resources, personnel management, oversight and/or lead experience/education in a human resources role dealing with personnel issues and a diverse employee base, including management and support for employees navigating all aspects of the benefits and leave space,
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience/education working with and knowledge of human resources and leave management processes, payroll processes, applying employment laws and regulations, understanding human resource documents and payroll accounting and audit functions, or other similar complex laws/regulations and the ability to explain laws and regulations in layperson terms,
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience/education using computer applications, such as Microsoft Office Suite, PeopleSoft, NEOGOV, and other web-based applications that assist in the processing and tracking of employee human resources, recruitment, and payroll data.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience/education in understanding and administering HR and Department policy development, including Equity, Race and Social Justice impacts and employee engagement and support.

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work, and play.

UNION MEMBERSHIP:

This position is non-represented

WORK SCHEDULE:

The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 hours per day, 40 hours per week.

WORK LOCATION:

Work will primarily be performed at 201 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:

Questions regarding this announcement or position may be directed to: Alicia Warren Rivet, Deputy Director, Administrative Services; Phone Number: 206-263-2264 or via email at [e-mail]

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation.