The Diocese of Bridgeport is seeking an experienced, service-oriented Part-Time HR and Payroll specialist for its Curia office in Shelton, Connecticut. This role supports employees and managers across the Diocese with human resources, benefits, payroll, recruiting, and onboarding needs.

The Human Resources and Payroll Specialist will support the day-to-day operations of the organization, including employee relations, recruitment, onboarding, benefits administration, payroll and tax compliance, payroll processing and timekeeping initiatives. This position will function as a centralized Help Desk for Employees, Parish and School Bookkeepers, HR Business Partners, Managers, and Finance and Payroll team members.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY:

Talent Acquisition, Applicant Tracking (ATS) & Onboarding 

• Coordinate recruitment activities, including job postings, candidate screening, interview scheduling, and hiring logistics.
• Facilitate onboarding and offboarding processes to ensure positive employee experience and compliance with organizational requirements.
• Maintain employee records and process employment status changes, including new hires, rehires, transfers, promotions, and terminations.

Benefits Administration 

• Assist employees with benefit enrollment, eligibility questions, and benefits-related inquiries.
• Process and administer Qualified Life Event (QLE) requests.
• Coordinate COBRA administration and monitoring.
• Audit health, welfare, and retirement plan deductions to ensure accuracy.
• Collaborate with benefit vendors to resolve eligibility, enrollment, billing, and coverage discrepancies.

Payroll & HR Data

• Support payroll processing activities, including employee and company level system setup, pay changes, deductions, timekeeping, and payroll audits.
• Assist with payroll tax inquiries, system configuration, employee transfers, and troubleshooting payroll-related issues.
• Payroll system workflow set-up functionality and approvals maintenance.
• Review payroll and HR data for accuracy and compliance.
• Monitor electronic data interchange (EDI) files, investigate data issues, identify root causes, and coordinate resolutions with internal stakeholders and vendors.
• Serve as help desk to answer internal employee, HR Business partner(s) and Finance Managers and Bookkeepers.

Compliance

• Provide guidance to employees and managers regarding HR policies, procedures, and employment practices.
• Support compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Assist with FLSA classification reviews and employment status determinations.
• Conduct routine audits to ensure compliance with hiring, termination, payroll, benefits, and employee recordkeeping requirements.
• Adhere to the U.S.C.C.B. Charter for Safe Environments Policy for Virtus compliance and adhere to the civil laws and reporting procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with Paycor, or similar payroll, and benefits platforms preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in human resources, employee benefits, payroll, HRIS administration, or a similar employee-support role; five years preferred.
• Knowledge of HR best practices, compliance requirements
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel a must, Word, Outlook, and general workplace technology.
• Experience using and administering HRIS, payroll, benefits, applicant tracking, and onboarding systems; ability to investigate discrepancies across systems.
• Strong customer service, interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple employee questions and priorities, work collaboratively with HR, Payroll, Finance, schools, parishes, managers, and outside providers, and follow issues through resolution.
• Previous human resources experience within a nonprofit organization preferred.
• Working knowledge of employee benefits, eligibility, enrollment, qualified life events, payroll deductions, retirement contributions, and employee record administration a must.