Director, Benefits & Payroll

At PARTNER, success starts with the right mindset: connection, compassion, and curiosity. Whether consulting with clients or collaborating with colleagues, these principles guide how we work. We deliver engineering, environmental, and energy consulting, plus design services across the Americas, Europe, and beyond. As a leader in Commercial Real Estate (CRE), we’re 1,600+ professionals strong in 40+ offices. Our mission is simple: create the best home for talented professionals. If you value delivering exceptional experiences through problem-solving, coordination, and a mindset of care for clients and colleagues, you’ll feel right at home. That approach has earned us recognition on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms, Inc. 5000’s Fastest-Growing Companies, and Zweig’s Best Firms to Work For. Here, your ideas matter, your impact is real, and your work helps shape the future. Come join an all-in HR team committed to hiring great people, developing our talent and creating a culture that our people love!

Learn more about Partner at www.partneresi.com. 

SUMMARY 

Partner Engineering & Science is seeking an experienced, strategic, and hands-on Director of Benefits & Payroll to lead the design, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of the Company’s employee benefits and payroll programs. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and partnering closely with the Chief People Officer and senior leadership team, this role will ensure the delivery of exceptional employee experiences while maintaining operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and fiscal responsibility. 

The ideal candidate is a tech-savvy, analytical leader who combines deep functional expertise with strong business acumen. This individual must be equally comfortable developing long-term strategy, analyzing data, presenting to executives, and rolling up their sleeves to solve day-to-day operational challenges. 

This is an in-office position in Torrance, CA.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & TASKS 

Benefits Leadership & Strategy 

• • Lead the strategy, administration, and optimization of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, wellness, voluntary benefits, leave programs, and retirement plans.
  • Oversee the administration and governance of the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan, including vendor management, annual compliance testing, audits, employee communications, and fiduciary responsibilities.
  • Evaluate benefit plan performance, utilization trends, and market competitiveness while recommending enhancements aligned with business objectives.
  • Manage annual open enrollment processes, employee education, communication strategies, and benefit vendor relationships.
  • Partner with brokers, consultants, carriers, and service providers to ensure high levels of service and cost-effectiveness.

Payroll Leadership 

• • Direct all aspects of payroll administration for a multi-state workforce, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and exceptional service.
  • Establish and maintain payroll controls, processes, and audits to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
  • Partner closely with Finance and Accounting on payroll reporting, reconciliations, labor cost analysis, and year-end activities.

Executive Partnership 

• • Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, including the Chief People Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and executive leadership team.
  • Develop and present executive-level analyses, recommendations, and reporting related to benefits costs, payroll trends, compliance matters, and strategic initiatives.
  • Support board-level and leadership discussions related to employee benefits, retirement programs, and workforce investments.

Technology & Process Improvement 

• • Champion the use of technology, automation, and data analytics to improve efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience.
  • Partner with HRIS, Finance, and IT teams to optimize integrations between payroll, benefits, HR, and financial systems.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to streamline processes and reduce operational risk.

Leadership & Service Excellence 

• • Build strong relationships across the organization and deliver exceptional internal customer service.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop team members while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  • Act as a trusted resource for employees, managers, and executives on benefits and payroll matters.

Compliance & Risk Management 

• • Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, IRS regulations, Department of Labor requirements, and applicable state and local laws.
  • Oversee external audits, filings, plan documents, and regulatory reporting requirements.
  • Monitor legislative changes and proactively recommend policy, process, and program updates.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• A hands-on doer who is comfortable executing day-to-day operational details while maintaining a strategic perspective.
• Highly tech savvy, curious, and eager to leverage automation and technology to improve outcomes.
• An outstanding relationship builder with strong people skills and executive presence.
• Detail-oriented, analytical, and solutions-focused.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Passionate about delivering exceptional employee experiences while protecting the Company’s operational and financial integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in benefits, payroll, total rewards, or related HR leadership functions.
• Significant experience overseeing complex employee benefits programs and 401(k) plan administration.
• Experience leading payroll operations for a multi-state workforce.
• Demonstrated experience partnering directly with senior executives, including Chief Financial Officers and Chief People Officers.
• Strong analytical, financial, and business acumen.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, deadline-oriented and relationship-building skills.
• Strong knowledge of benefits regulations, retirement plans, payroll laws, and compliance requirements.
• Experience leading vendor negotiations and managing third-party service providers.
• Advanced HRIS (UKG experience strongly preferred), payroll, and benefits technology experience; highly proficient with data analysis and reporting tools.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), CPP, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or related certification.
• Experience in professional services, consulting, engineering, architecture, construction, or other multi-state service organizations.
• Experience supporting a national workforce of 1,000+ employees.

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Results Driven: Must have proven track record in Payroll & Benefits.
• Action Oriented: Ability to work hard and get stuff done!  
• Resilient: Handles challenges with poise and maintains positive outlook. 
• Interpersonal Relationships: Must be a self-starter who takes initiative to identify key areas for improvement.

BENEFITS 

Competitive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, vacation and sick time, and a 401(k) plan with a company match. 

COMPENSATION: 

Salary range is $120,000 to $150,000. This is what we reasonably expect to pay for the role. 

The pay scale for this role considers a wide range of factors when making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note, the disclosed pay scale estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic location where the position may be filled. 

You may also be eligible to participate in a discretionary incentive bonus program which is dependent on various factors, including, but not limited to individual and organizational performance. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Partner Engineering & Science, Inc. is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based on an individual’s race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), reproductive health decision making, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. 

We will consider qualified applicants who have criminal histories in a manner consistent with the law. 

California Consumer Privacy Act 

We collect personal information from you in connection with your application for employment with Partner Engineering and Science, Inc.  For details on what personal information we collect and the purposes for which we collect it, please visit: 

https://www.partneresi.com/about/careers/california-consumer-privacy-act