Payroll/HR Assistant

Position Title: Payroll/HR Assistant

Location: Chicopee, MA

Pay Range: $52500.00 - $62400.00

Salary Interval: Full Time Hourly

Application Instructions

Application Instructions

• You will receive a confirmation email within the next 24 hours verifying that we have received your application. If you do not receive this confirmation, please check your spam or junk folder, or contact our office for assistance.
• Should we need any additional details or clarification regarding your application, our team will reach out to you directly via email or phone.
• If your application progresses to the next stage, you will be invited for an interview. Please monitor your email for an invitation with scheduling options and further instructions.
• We will notify you via email regarding important updates and decisions.
• If you have any questions or require assistance at any point during the application process, please do not hesitate to contact our team at ***email_hidden***.

We are committed to making your application experience as clear and user-friendly as possible. Thank you again for your interest, and we look forward to reviewing your materials.

Position Description

We are seeking a detail-oriented, tech-savvy Payroll & HR Assistant to support weekly payroll processing and key HR administrative functions. This role is responsible for accurate and timely payroll execution across multiple states, divisions, and union/non-union pay types, while also supporting HRIS data integrity, onboarding, benefits assistance, and employee portal administration. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with strong critical thinking, a high sense of ownership, and a collaborative, positive approach. This is a full-time, benefited position reporting directly to the HR Manager.

Position Requirements

Payroll Processing

• • Process weekly payroll accurately and on schedule for multi-state, multi-division employees, including union and non-union pay types.
  • Follow up with managers on missing or incorrect submissions.
  • Review and audit payroll data for accuracy (coding, rates, deductions, garnishments, reimbursements, accruals, and exceptions) and resolve discrepancies prior to finalizing payroll.
  • Run standard payroll and audit reports; confirm totals and support payroll balancing and reconciliation as needed.
  • Maintain payroll records and documentation in accordance with internal controls and confidentiality requirements.
  • Support payroll compliance activities by following federal and state wage-and-hour requirements and applicable union agreements; escalate complex or high-risk items appropriately.

HR Administration

• • Maintain accurate employee data in the HRIS, including new hires, job/compensation changes, status updates, and routine employee record maintenance.
  • Support employee onboarding: coordinate documentation, system setup, and onboarding checklists; help ensure timely completion of required forms and system steps.
  • Assist employees and managers with employee portal access, navigation, and workflow questions; support portal content/permissions management as assigned.
  • Provide benefits assistance support (enrollments/changes as directed, basic employee questions, and coordination of required documentation) and route complex cases to the HR Manager.
  • Respond to employee inquiries related to payroll and HR with a service-minded approach while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.

Process Improvement & Cross-Department Support

• • Develop a strong end-to-end understanding of the payroll workflow (time entry, approvals, coding, corrections, and processing) and consistently follow established controls.
  • Proactively identify inefficiencies, recurring issues, and opportunities to streamline weekly payroll and HRIS workflows; document and propose improvements to reduce rework and processing time.
  • Create and maintain job aids, checklists, and training/reference materials for managers related to time entry, approvals, and common payroll/HRIS questions.
  • Build working knowledge of how data flows between the employee portal, HR module, and payroll module; troubleshoot workflow issues by identifying where data originates and where it may be breaking.
  • Learn, run, and interpret standard system reports used for payroll accuracy checks, approvals verification, and audit support; maintain organized files for recurring payroll cycles.
  • Support cross-department communication and reporting needs by partnering with HR, managers, and accounting to provide timely data and administrative assistance.
  • Assist the Accounting department as needed with data checks, reconciliations, and administrative support connected to payroll processing.

Required Qualifications

• • Prior experience in payroll, human resources, and/or administrative support (combination of experience and education considered).
  • Ability to process sensitive, confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
  • Strong technology skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook); comfort learning HRIS/payroll systems and running reports.
  • High attention to detail with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines, especially around weekly payroll.
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills and a customer-service mindset for supporting employees and managers.

Preferred Qualifications

• • Hands-on experience processing weekly payroll in a multi-state environment.
  • Experience with union payroll and working knowledge of pay rules within collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
  • Experience supporting HRIS data maintenance, onboarding workflows, and employee self-service/portal administration.
  • Experience assisting with employee benefits administration and employee support during enrollment changes.
  • Working familiarity with payroll and HR compliance concepts (e.g., wage and hour requirements, leave administration such as FMLA/PFML).

Key Competencies & Attributes

• • Self-starter: takes initiative, asks smart questions, and drives tasks to completion with minimal follow-up.
  • Ownership: takes responsibility for accuracy, timelines, and follow-through—especially in weekly payroll cycles.
  • Critical thinking & problem solving: investigates discrepancies, identifies root causes, and proposes practical solutions.
  • Team player: collaborates effectively with HR, finance/accounting, managers, and employees to meet shared deadlines.
  • Positive energy & professionalism: contributes to a supportive environment and delivers consistent, respectful service.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ted Ondrick Materials Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Position Requirements

Payroll Processing

• • Process weekly payroll accurately and on schedule for multi-state, multi-division employees, including union and non-union pay types.
  • Follow up with managers on missing or incorrect submissions.
  • Review and audit payroll data for accuracy (coding, rates, deductions, garnishments, reimbursements, accruals, and exceptions) and resolve discrepancies prior to finalizing payroll.
  • Run standard payroll and audit reports; confirm totals and support payroll balancing and reconciliation as needed.
  • Maintain payroll records and documentation in accordance with internal controls and confidentiality requirements.
  • Support payroll compliance activities by following federal and state wage-and-hour requirements and applicable union agreements; escalate complex or high-risk items appropriately.

HR Administration

• • Maintain accurate employee data in the HRIS, including new hires, job/compensation changes, status updates, and routine employee record maintenance.
  • Support employee onboarding: coordinate documentation, system setup, and onboarding checklists; help ensure timely completion of required forms and system steps.
  • Assist employees and managers with employee portal access, navigation, and workflow questions; support portal content/permissions management as assigned.
  • Provide benefits assistance support (enrollments/changes as directed, basic employee questions, and coordination of required documentation) and route complex cases to the HR Manager.
  • Respond to employee inquiries related to payroll and HR with a service-minded approach while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.

Process Improvement & Cross-Department Support

• • Develop a strong end-to-end understanding of the payroll workflow (time entry, approvals, coding, corrections, and processing) and consistently follow established controls.
  • Proactively identify inefficiencies, recurring issues, and opportunities to streamline weekly payroll and HRIS workflows; document and propose improvements to reduce rework and processing time.
  • Create and maintain job aids, checklists, and training/reference materials for managers related to time entry, approvals, and common payroll/HRIS questions.
  • Build working knowledge of how data flows between the employee portal, HR module, and payroll module; troubleshoot workflow issues by identifying where data originates and where it may be breaking.
  • Learn, run, and interpret standard system reports used for payroll accuracy checks, approvals verification, and audit support; maintain organized files for recurring payroll cycles.
  • Support cross-department communication and reporting needs by partnering with HR, managers, and accounting to provide timely data and administrative assistance.
  • Assist the Accounting department as needed with data checks, reconciliations, and administrative support connected to payroll processing.

Required Qualifications

• • Prior experience in payroll, human resources, and/or administrative support (combination of experience and education considered).
  • Ability to process sensitive, confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
  • Strong technology skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook); comfort learning HRIS/payroll systems and running reports.
  • High attention to detail with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines, especially around weekly payroll.
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills and a customer-service mindset for supporting employees and managers.

Preferred Qualifications

• • Hands-on experience processing weekly payroll in a multi-state environment.
  • Experience with union payroll and working knowledge of pay rules within collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
  • Experience supporting HRIS data maintenance, onboarding workflows, and employee self-service/portal administration.
  • Experience assisting with employee benefits administration and employee support during enrollment changes.
  • Working familiarity with payroll and HR compliance concepts (e.g., wage and hour requirements, leave administration such as FMLA/PFML).

Key Competencies & Attributes

• • Self-starter: takes initiative, asks smart questions, and drives tasks to completion with minimal follow-up.
  • Ownership: takes responsibility for accuracy, timelines, and follow-through—especially in weekly payroll cycles.
  • Critical thinking & problem solving: investigates discrepancies, identifies root causes, and proposes practical solutions.
  • Team player: collaborates effectively with HR, finance/accounting, managers, and employees to meet shared deadlines.
  • Positive energy & professionalism: contributes to a supportive environment and delivers consistent, respectful service.

Compensation details: 52500-62400 Hourly Wage