Director, Benefits & Payroll

At PARTNER, success starts with the right mindset: connection, compassion, and curiosity. Whether consulting with clients or collaborating with colleagues, these principles guide how we work. We deliver engineering, environmental, and energy consulting, plus design services across the Americas, Europe, and beyond. As a leader in Commercial Real Estate (CRE), we’re 1,600+ professionals strong in 40+ offices. Our mission is simple: create the best home for talented professionals. If you value delivering exceptional experiences through problem-solving, coordination, and a mindset of care for clients and colleagues, you’ll feel right at home. That approach has earned us recognition on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms, Inc. 5000’s Fastest-Growing Companies, and Zweig’s Best Firms to Work For. Here, your ideas matter, your impact is real, and your work helps shape the future. Come join an all-in HR team committed to hiring great people, developing our talent and creating a culture that our people love!

Learn more about Partner at www.partneresi.com. 

SUMMARY 

Partner Engineering & Science is seeking an experienced, strategic, and hands-on Director of Benefits & Payroll to lead the design, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of the Company’s employee benefits and payroll programs. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and partnering closely with the Chief People Officer and senior leadership team, this role will ensure the delivery of exceptional employee experiences while maintaining operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and fiscal responsibility. 

The ideal candidate is a tech-savvy, analytical leader who combines deep functional expertise with strong business acumen. This individual must be equally comfortable developing long-term strategy, analyzing data, presenting to executives, and rolling up their sleeves to solve day-to-day operational challenges. 

This is an in-office position in Torrance, CA.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & TASKS 

Benefits Leadership & Strategy 

• • Lead the strategy, administration, and optimization of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, wellness, voluntary benefits, leave programs, and retirement plans.
  • Oversee the administration and governance of the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan, including vendor management, annual compliance testing, audits, employee communications, and fiduciary responsibilities.
  • Evaluate benefit plan performance, utilization trends, and market competitiveness while recommending enhancements aligned with business objectives.
  • Manage annual open enrollment processes, employee education, communication strategies, and benefit vendor relationships.
  • Partner with brokers, consultants, carriers, and service providers to ensure high levels of service and cost-effectiveness.

Payroll Leadership 

• • Direct all aspects of payroll administration for a multi-state workforce, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and exceptional service.
  • Establish and maintain payroll controls, processes, and audits to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
  • Partner closely with Finance and Accounting on payroll reporting, reconciliations, labor cost analysis, and year-end activities.

Executive Partnership 

• • Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, including the Chief People Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and executive leadership team.
  • Develop and present executive-level analyses, recommendations, and reporting related to benefits costs, payroll trends, compliance matters, and strategic initiatives.
  • Support board-level and leadership discussions related to employee benefits, retirement programs, and workforce investments.

Technology & Process Improvement 

• • Champion the use of technology, automation, and data analytics to improve efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience.
  • Partner with HRIS, Finance, and IT teams to optimize integrations between payroll, benefits, HR, and financial systems.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to streamline processes and reduce operational risk.

Leadership & Service Excellence 

• • Build strong relationships across the organization and d