Team Success Generalist (Payroll & Operations)

Highlands College; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Highlands College is seeking a Team Success Generalist (Payroll & Operations) to steward payroll, HR systems, onboarding, offboarding, and compliance across the teammate lifecycle. You will emphasize data integrity, process accuracy, and operational excellence while partnering with Team Success, Accounting, and campus leadership.

The role covers payroll processing, HRIS administration, policy updates, reporting, and support for teammate changes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Process accurate and timely payroll for all teammates in accordance with regulations.
• Serve as primary administrator for payroll functionality in HRIS.
• Maintain payroll records, reports, and reconciliations with Accounting.
• Ensure accurate setup of pay rates, job changes, and earnings codes.
• Support year-end payroll processes including W-2 preparation.
• Assist with onboarding, offboarding, and teammate lifecycle tasks.
• Collaborate with Team Success and leadership to improve payroll efficiency and compliance.

Skills

Payroll knowledge

HR regulations

HR practices

HRIS experience

Confidentiality

Communication

Multi-deadline

Mission alignment

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR

Equivalent experience in payroll/HR

Tools

BambooHR

Payroll systems

Job description

Summary of Responsibilities

The Team Success Generalist (Payroll & Operations) supports the mission of Highlands College by stewarding key operations across the teammate lifecycle, including payroll, HR systems, onboarding, offboarding, compliance, and teammate changes. This role serves as a trusted partner to Team Success, Accounting, and campus leadership, ensuring processes are accurate, efficient, and life-giving for every teammate. With a strong focus on systems, data integrity, and operational excellence, this role helps create clarity, consistency, and health across Highlands College. This position operates as a generalist across Team Success functions, supporting teammate care, development, compliance, and recruitment efforts as needed.

Payroll & Compensation Operations

• Process accurate and timely payroll for all eligible teammates in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Serve as the primary administrator for payroll functionality within the HRIS (e.g., BambooHR or related systems).
• Support payroll system implementations, upgrades, audits, and testing, including documentation of workflows and controls.
• Maintain payroll records, reports, and reconciliations in partnership with Accounting.
• Ensure accurate setup and maintenance of pay rates, job changes, stipends, deductions, and earnings codes.
• Support year-end payroll processes, including W-2 preparation and reconciliation.
• Partner with Team Success leadership to identify opportunities for improved payroll efficiency, automation, and compliance.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Support compliance initiatives, including I-9 management, personnel file accuracy, and audit readiness.
• Maintain HR documentation and records in alignment with internal standards and accreditation expectations.
• Assist with policy implementation and updates, including the Team Handbook and operational procedures.
• Support reporting needs such as EEO-1, internal audits, and Team Success scorecards.
• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and institutional employment practices and guidelines.

HR Systems & Data Integrity

• Maintain accurate teammate data within HR systems related to compensation, job status, and payroll eligibility.
• Audit payroll and HR data regularly to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Create and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), guides, and internal documentation across Team Success functions.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows, automate processes, and increase operational efficiency within HR systems.
• Respond to teammate questions related to payroll, systems, and records with clarity, professionalism, and care.

Teammate Lifecycle Support

• Support administrative onboarding tasks, including system setup, payroll enrollment, and documentation tracking.
• Ensure new teammates are fully prepared in HR systems prior to their start date, including completion of required documentation.
• Support coordination of onboarding checklists, forms, and required acknowledgements.
• Assist with hiring coordination processes, including offer preparation and pre-boarding readiness.
• Support administrative offboarding tasks, including payroll adjustments, final pay processing, and system updates.
• Ensure timely and accurate execution of final pay in accordance with state and federal requirements.
• Support documentation and checklist completion related to teammate transitions.
• Partner with Team Success and Accounting to ensure smooth, compliant, and life-giving onboarding and offboarding experiences.

HR Generalist Support & Change Management

• Serve as the primary Team Success partner for teammate change requests, including job changes, compensation updates, status changes, and organizational transitions.
• Ensure all teammate changes are processed accurately and timely within HR systems, including appropriate documentation and approvals.
• Partner with Team Leads and campus leadership to guide and execute changes clearly, compliant, and aligned with Highlands College processes.
• Maintain and update records related to teammate changes, ensuring data integrity across payroll and HR systems.
• Support communication and coordination of teammate changes, helping create a smooth and life-giving experience during transitions.
• Identify opportunities to streamline and improve change request workflows, documentation, and system processes.

Team Success Support & Culture

• Support Team Success initiatives such as onboarding experiences, Team Time, and teammate engagement efforts.
• Assist with teammate care touchpoints, ensuring meaningful and consistent communication and support.
• Contribute to a healthy, mission-aligned team culture through responsive and service-oriented support.
• Provide administrative and operational support to Team Success projects and initiatives as needed.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner closely with Accounting, Team Success, and campus leaders to ensure alignment with budgets, policies, and processes.
• Communicate timelines, deadlines, and updates clearly to teammates and stakeholders.
• Support cross-functional initiatives by providing accurate data, reporting, and process insight.

Other Duties

• Participate in ministry at Church of the Highlands and Highlands College by leading small groups.
• Affirm and uphold the Statement of Faith and the Core Values and DNA of the College, exemplifying all by word and lifestyle.

Qualifications & Skills

• High attention to detail with strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Working knowledge of payroll regulations, wage and hour compliance, and HR best practices.
• Broad understanding of HR practices across the teammate lifecycle.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems preferred.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.
• Strong communication skills with a service-oriented mindset.
• Ability to balance detail-oriented execution with relational teammate support.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Alignment with the mission, values, and culture of Highlands College.

Strong working knowledge of payroll operations, wage and hour laws, exempt/non-exempt classifications, taxes, deductions, audits, and year-end processing. Broad understanding of HR practices across the teammate lifecycle, including onboarding, offboarding, records management, I-9 compliance, leave processes, and performance support. Proficiency in HRIS/payroll systems such as BambooHR, reporting, spreadsheets, data accuracy, and workflow improvement. Understanding of confidentiality, employment compliance, internal controls, and cross-functional partnership with Finance and leadership. Ability to apply policy with clarity, care, and sound judgment.

Education Level

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• Equivalent professional experience in payroll, HR operations, or people systems may substitute for formal education.

HR or Payroll Certifications Preferred

• SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP
• PHR / SPHR
• FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification)
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional)

Preferred Experience

• Payroll processing experience in a nonprofit, education, or ministry environment.
• Experience supporting HR onboarding and offboarding workflows.
• Familiarity with payroll audits, implementations, or system migrations.
• Experience supporting broader HR operations, compliance, or people systems.

Extent of Public Contact

• High

Physical Demands

• Moderate exposure to physical risk.