Payroll & Benefit Specialist-Adv

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is committed to ensuring every child graduates ready for further education and the workforce. We must align our efforts, so students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities. To build on our long-standing commitment to public education, we strive to recruit and retain quality employees who are willing to talk openly and commit to helping us increase the diversity of our organization. Our employees are vital to the success of our students, schools and communities. For more information about DPI, please go to http://www.dpi.wi.gov.

Click this video to learn more about the benefits of working at DPI! We are a workplace focused on equity and inclusivity. Staff enjoy flexible work schedules and access to an exceptional employee assistance program that offers tools to help promote wellness.

The Human Resources Services Team within the Office of the State Superintendent is seeking applicants for an Advanced Payroll and Benefits Specialist position. This position is part of a close-knit payroll team and has the option to work 90% remote with a requirement that the employee is expected to have access to secure high speed internet.

This position provides comprehensive payroll and benefits services to the Department of Public Instruction. In collaboration with other members of the team, this position is responsible for all aspects of the agency’s payroll and employee benefits program covering more than 700 permanent and project employees and 125 limited term employees at multiple locations. This position prepares complex federal and state reports; directing employee benefit orientation and counseling; interpreting federal and state tax laws, statutes, and policies and procedures from the Department of Administration (DOA), Division of Personnel Management, and the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF); responding to payroll-related problems or questions; and keeping current on federal and state rules regarding FMLA, FLSA, and other labor laws. This position counsels’ employees on complex payroll and benefit inquiries, manages leave and leaves of absence; and is responsible for providing training and technical assistance regarding payroll and benefits functions to DPI.

Depending on qualifications, the salary will be between $20.24 - $33.00 per hour (approximately $42,099 - $68,640 per year). For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at time of hire. This position is in pay schedule 81, range 04. A one-year probationary period will be required.

This position offers excellent benefits. The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

This position will need to be on campus one day every other week to assist new hires with onboarding and operationally as needed. The position is headquartered at 309 West Walworth Avenue in Delavan, WI, and employees are required to report to 125 South Webster Street in Madison, WI, on their first day of employment. Mileage reimbursement for traveling to the employee’s headquarters is not provided. Remote work flexibility will be discussed in more detail during the interview process.

A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire.

A TB screen will be required prior to start.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

Please address the following in your resume and/or letter of qualifications

A minimally qualified applicant must have all the below:

• Experience with benefits administration and/or payroll processing (e.g., entering or processing payroll or benefits transactions, modifying timesheet entries, calculating leave hours, running/reconciling work/leave time reports, etc.).
• Experience auditing and resolving payroll and/or benefits discrepancies or fiscal data.
• Experience providing technical assistance and/or consultation relating to payroll, benefits, and/or HR related functions to employees/customers.

Well-qualified applicants will also have experience:

• Working with a Human Resources Information System (e.g., PeopleSoft, Workday, SAP, ADP, etc.) for payroll or benefit processing.
• Processing payroll and/or benefits for a large organization (i.e., 200 or more employees).
• Performing payroll or benefit duties in the public sector.

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process. Sign into your account or click “Register Now” to create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Helpful Tips:

• Current state employees must apply through the STAR “Careers” tile. Do not create an external applicant account.
• There will be no opportunity to change your application materials once you have clicked “Submit”.
• The system will automatically log you off after 30 minutes of inactivity, so click “Save as a Draft” often.
• Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section for general WiscJobs user information and technical assistance.

Each time you apply for a state job; you should update and tailor your resume and letter of qualifications. You should clearly describe your education, training, and experience related to the items listed in the “Qualifications” section of the job announcement. These qualifications should be addressed in your resume and expanded upon in your letter of qualifications. This will allow a fuller assessment regarding your qualifications and those required for the job applying for.

Your resume should include the following:

• Your educational background including any course work that relates to the position in which you are applying.
• Your employment history, including experiences and/or duties and a summary of accomplishments and skills learned or used.
• Any training or experience, including volunteer work or internships, you have related specifically to the “Qualifications” section of the assessment.
• Spell out any acronyms and/or abbreviations the first time used.

Your letter of qualifications should include:

• Additional information regarding your past work experience, including volunteer work and internships, or coursework you have taken.
• Highlights of your most relevant skills and experiences as they related to the specific job you are applying for.
• Specific examples that clearly demonstrates your level of expertise.

What not to include in your resume or letter of qualifications:

Your application materials should not include any information that is not job-related, such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, creed, disability, or genetic information. Further, do not include any self-identifying information such as photos, social security numbers, political affiliation, citizen status or conviction records. This document is not a letter of recommendation that someone else wrote about you.

Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place.

If you are a veteran with a 30% or greater service-related disability and are not currently employed in a permanent position with Wisconsin State Government, please send a letter of qualifications, resume, DD-214 and documentation of your service-connected disability rating (dated within 12 months) to the contact listed below.

The State of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA , and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter at:

Amanda Edl

Human Resources Specialist-Senior

Department of Public Instruction

Phone: (608) 266-2813

Email: Amanda.Edl@dpi.wi.gov

The deadline for this announcement is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.