Job Description

Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has been dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective educational programs and services to meet the diverse needs of children and adults in Greater Hartford. Serving 33 member districts and reaching additional communities statewide, CREC supports approximately 12,000 students annually through more than 120 educational programs. Our offerings include professional learning and coaching for educators, specialized programming for students with diverse needs, and PreK-12 education across 16 interdistrict magnet schools. Additionally, CREC provides school construction, operations, and cooperative business services, while also delivering programs that help adults build real, job-ready skills.

The Payroll and Leaves Coordinator III is responsible for coordinating and maintaining accurate employee timekeeping records and supporting payroll processing activities at the site level. This position serves as the primary contact for attendance, time reporting, and payroll-related data collection, ensuring employee work hours, absences, leave usage, and supplemental pay information are accurately recorded and submitted in accordance with CREC policies, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable regulations.

The Payroll and Leaves Coordinator works closely with program leadership, CREC Payroll, CREC Business Services, and employees to verify payroll information, resolve discrepancies, monitor compliance with timekeeping procedures, and support timely and accurate compensation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties/Responsibilities

• Oversee department workflows, ensuring efficiency and alignment with organizational goals.

• Develop, implement, and refine standard operating procedures for consistency and compliance.

• Support and specialize in a specific set of tasks, responsibilities, or projects.

• Supervise, train, and mentor staff.

• Conduct performance evaluations, provide feedback, and collaboratively develop goals with staff.

• Coordinate and process biweekly payroll for all assigned employees, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll administration in accordance with organizational policies, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable federal and state regulations.

• Maintain and audit employee payroll records, entering, reviewing, and updating payroll and personnel data to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and completeness of payroll information.

• Manage employee leave administration, including tracking leaves of absence, workers' compensation-related absences, and associated medical appointments; ensure accurate timekeeping, coding, documentation, and reporting.

• Partner closely with the Staffing Coordinator and school leadership to monitor attendance trends, communicate staffing needs, and support daily operational coverage requirements.

• Reconcile employee leave balances and payroll data by accurately managing information between Munis, TimeClock Plus, and other applicable systems, identifying discrepancies and implementing timely corrections.

• Develop, document, and maintain standardized operating procedures for payroll processing, leave administration, workers' compensation tracking, and related business processes to ensure consistency, compliance, and operational efficiency.

• Serve as the primary school-based liaison to Human Resources/Payroll, facilitating effective communication and resolution of employee inquiries related to payroll, benefits, leave administration, and timekeeping.

• Prepare, analyze, and distribute payroll, attendance, and leave reports; verify data accuracy; identify trends or discrepancies; and provide information to support informed decision-making.

• Deliver high-quality, responsive customer service to employees by addressing payroll questions clearly, resolving issues promptly, and ensuring a positive and professional experience.

• Maintain confidentiality and follow established payroll procedures and timelines.

• Ensure processes align with evolving business needs and best practices.

• Comply with all company policies and procedures.

• Other duties as assigned.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position has supervisory responsibilities.

COMPETENCIES

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems promptly; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem-solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• Delegation - Delegates work assignments; Matches the responsibility to the person; Gives authority to work independently; Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities; Provides recognition for results.
• Change Management: Leads and supports organizational change initiatives effectively.
• Written & Oral Communication - Speaks and writes clearly; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Adaptability - Leads others in adapting to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; Makes self available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); Fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes, products and services.; Continually works to improve supervisory skills.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in a timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly without compromising quality/reliability.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate's Degree (AA) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school, or more than five years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Minimal travel to schools, programs and/or trainings.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Standing (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Walking (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Sitting (continually, more than 2/3)
• Reach with hands and arms (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Climbing or balancing (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Ability to work outdoors (occasionally, less than 1/3)
• Moderate Noise

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Group Health Insurance Plans
• Basic & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability & Short Term Disability options
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Matching Contribution if applicable
• Flexible Spending Account Pre-Tax Savings for Health Care, Dependent Care, and Limited Purpose Post Deductible (if contributing to an HSA)
• Comprehensive benefit time package
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bereavement time & Religious Holidays
• Credit Union Access
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Network Groups
• Access to professional learning opportunities with two fully paid courses through CREC University each year, empowering you to expand your skills and advance your career!
• Benefit from our exclusive partnership with Springfield College, offering a 15% discount on tuition for next-level degree programs to support your academic and career aspirations!

Based on terms and conditions during your employment, specific to your job classification and collective bargaining agreement.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION STATEMENT:

CREC strives to understand and confront the symptoms and causes of racism and prejudice�ranging from biases to aggressions to discriminatory policies, practices, and traditions�that harm people from systemically marginalized groups or that benefit privileged groups. CREC staff and students acknowledge and respect people of all identifiers, such as race, socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression, education, age, ability, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, language, nationality, religion, and veteran status.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To access the job description and salary range document, please click https://www.crec.org/careers/jobs.php