Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations Section Manager

***This opportunity is a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) open to regular King County employees in the Department of Human Resources ONLY.  This SDA is anticipated to last 6 months.

King County’s Department of Human Resources is seeking a seasoned people leader who is customer-focused, collaborative, and a results-driven individual to lead the Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations Section (BPROS) within the Central Employee Services Division.

Reporting to the Director of Central Employee Services Division, the BPROS Manager is responsible for providing collaborative leadership and a clearly articulated vision for responsibly managing daily operations. This position works with division staff, department directors, the County Executive, and separately elected leaders, where applicable, to manage services.

ABOUT BENEFITS, PAYROLL AND RETIREMENT OPERATIONS SECTION (BPROS)

BPROS administers employee benefit programs, centralized payroll services, and retirement programs. King County puts the health, well-being, and safety of its employees first. Through innovative practices, King County is building a culture of health that supports engaged, thriving employees. As part of its overall compensation, King County provides a modern benefits package that contributes significantly to its ability to recruit, engage, and retain employees. The benefits package also supports eligible dependents and retirees.

To learn more about BPROS and the services we offer, please check out our website at: https://kc1.sharepoint.com/sites/DHR-Intranet/SitePages/Benefits,-Payroll-and-Retirement.aspx

• Oversee the day-to-day operations and approximately 40 employees, and serve as a key strategic and technical adviser to executive level management on all benefits, retirement, and payroll related issues;
• Direct the development and implementation of strategic goals, vision, workforce management, performance measures, strategies, policies, best practices, and initiatives;
• Establish common goals, make or recommend decisions regarding payroll and benefit practices, strengthen collaboration between agencies, and ensure compliance with laws and labor contracts;
• Direct and shape systems to promote an organizational culture that supports continuous improvement and embeds embraces equity and social justice forinto its efforts to serve employees;
• Foster a culture of innovation and sustained change with a strong sense of how to develop and offer new products and services;
• Leverage the county’s information and business intelligence systems to drive operational improvements with a focus on performance, measurement, and accountability;
• Utilize internal and external resources, technology, and continuous improvement techniques to report metrics, improve processes, create more capacity, and deliver greater value to our customers and community;
• Oversee and/or conduct internal reviews of complex payroll and benefit practices to identify risks, analyze options, and make recommendations for corrective actions;
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team within the Employee Health and Safety Central Employee Services Division and as a leader in the Extended Leadership team of the Department of Human Resources, and participate on boards, committees and teams that influence BPROS.
  

• 3+ years of experience supervising human resources, payroll, or benefits operations teams;
• Have strong analytical and communications skills with the ability to analyze detailed data, draw conclusions, and present findings/recommendations both verbally and in writing;
• Have a solid understanding of complex enterprise systems like payroll, benefits and/or human capital management systems and operations;
• Have strong knowledge and understanding Have a strong ability to understand law and policy to ensure that of federal and state payroll, benefits, and retirement regulations, guidelines and reporting requirements for compliance;meet compliance requirements;
• Bring a strong background in managing and providing strategic leadership to multi-faceted organizations, including working collaboratively at all levels;
• Have an exceptional record of successfully managing, developing, and/or implementing strategic initiatives, policies, systems to achieve these outcomes;
• Be customer-focused and comfortable advising and partnering with senior and executive level management about complex initiatives, policies, and issues;
• Understand how to manage complex projects including scoping and organizing resources, developing work programs, and facilitating multi-disciplinary teams;
• Be an excellent people leader and understand how to manage through others. Have strategies and ideas to continue to build on a culture of employee engagement which supports the development, learning, coaching, and team building necessary for the workforce of the future;
• Be able to persevere and adapt as required, while working in a multi-faceted,  and sometimes ambiguous environment.
  

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.

Who May Apply
This opportunity is a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) open to regular King County employees in the Department of Human Resources ONLY.  Acceptance of this SDA by a King County employee is subject to approval by the employee's current/base department based on operational needs. Compensation will be based upon the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement or Coalition Labor Agreement for their base assignment.

Application Process
If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Michael Strutynski, Human Resources Manager II at [email protected]

Forms and Materials Required

• A letter of interest that does not exceed two pages that explains how you meet the qualifications we’ve listed and why you’d be the right person for this opportunity.
• A resume

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

Teleworking Requirement
This position works a hybrid schedule of remote and onsite work, requiring work in the office at least three days a week. Hybrid work schedules are subject to change based upon operational necessity. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Union Status
This position is not represented by a collective bargaining agreement and is classified as a Finance Manager; classification code: 1040100.

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.