We’re Hiring: HR & Payroll Specialist

Posted on by PEC

Join one of the most effective community-based environmental groups in the country.

Title: HR & Payroll Specialist
Supervisor: Deputy Director of HR
Office Location: Warrenton, Virginia
Job Classification: Part-time, Non-Exempt (15-20 hrs/week)

About PEC

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) conserves and restores the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.

Your Role

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is seeking to hire a part-time HR & Payroll Specialist to work in our headquarters office in Warrenton, VA. This individual will provide support to the HR Department in basic day-to-day functions, including payroll processing and providing essential administrative support across the human resources spectrum. This role will require a high level of numerical accuracy for payroll operations, paired with strong interpersonal skills to handle employee relations, onboarding, benefits administration and compliance. PEC has a staff of approximately 60 employees and a broad offering of benefits.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Administration:

  • Manage biweekly payroll runs for hourly and salaried employees, ensuring accuracy in coding and hours worked, processing payroll, and reconciling any payroll discrepancies, ensuring data integrity.
  • Maintain and update payroll records; process employee status changes, including but not limited to salary updates, bonuses, earnings, deductions and new employee records.
  • Process wage garnishments, payroll tax adjustments and quarterly or year-end reporting.
  • Generate routine and ad-hoc payroll data reports for appropriate personnel.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for employees regarding payroll inquiries, resolving any discrepancies quickly and discreetly.
  • Create and maintain payroll calendars.
  • Transmit electronic payments and data on HSA and FSA accounts.

Human Resources Support:

  • Support and assist in recruiting efforts to include posting jobs, drafting offer letters, as well as managing projects in Asana, employment verifications, employee reference requests, background checks and other related responsibilities.
  • Assist with conducting onboarding and offboarding, processing paperwork and maintaining personnel files.
  • Assist with benefits administration to include assisting employees during the annual open enrollment process, reviewing and maintaining accurate benefits records, and reconciling benefits insurance bills monthly.
  • Interact with all PEC staff on HR and benefits matters and occasionally interact with members of the Board and donors.
  • Maintain accrued leave balances, adjust year-end leave carryover, and assist with FMLA, ADA and paid leave programs.
  • Review unemployment claims, gather necessary documentation, and respond to state agencies within deadlines.
  • Assist with workers’ compensation claims administration, return-to-work coordination, compliance and reporting.

Geographic Focus

This position will be based out of PEC’s headquarters office in Warrenton, VA or in a hybrid manner to be decided jointly with their supervisor. PEC’s hybrid work policy includes a requirement of at least one day per week in the office. This nature of this role will require two to three days in office.  This position may require limited travel within PEC’s nine-county service area. Occasional nights and weekends may be required.

Required Qualifications

  • Associate’s degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience
  • 1-3 years’ experience handling payroll and human resource coordination
  • Experience with automated payroll systems (Dominion Payroll / iSolved)
  • Experience with and basic understanding of employee benefits
  • Strong work ethic and commitment to PEC’s core values, mission and vision
  • Proficiency in or willingness to learn and excel in the following software (or similar): project management systems (Asana), MS Office Suite and Google Suite 
  • Strong ability to plan, organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple projects with initiative and time management skills to meet deadlines consistently
  • Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative abilities, including the ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds and work styles
  • Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, and strict adherence to confidentiality
  • Ability to work independently after initial instruction
  • Ability to prioritize among competing demands (with direction)

Preferred Qualifications

  • Human resources certification such as SHRM-CP or equivalent or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred
  • Experience in a nonprofit setting preferred

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This position will mainly be completed in an office environment. Office work requires extended sitting or standing and the use of a computer, keyboard, and mouse. Occasional attendance of outdoor events may occur, in all weather conditions. Occasional lifting of materials up to 40 lbs. is required (such as a carton of paper).

Compensation

This is a part-time, non-exempt, hourly position with minimal benefits. Salary range is $25.00 to $30.00 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

Part-time or seasonal employees generally receive minimal fringe benefits, including:

  • Hybrid work environment and flexible work schedule.
  • Cell phone reimbursement, up to $75 per month
  • Travel expenses / mileage reimbursement

Application Process

Interested applicants should fill out our job application form. Candidates must submit a cover letter and resumé as a PDF. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application Deadline: August 14, 2026 The position will remain open until it is filled.

Desired start date: September 28, 2026.

If your qualifications and experience are a good fit, PEC will reach out to you within two weeks of receiving your application or two weeks after the application deadline closes, whichever is later. The following is what you can expect as part of our hiring process:

  1. First Round of Interviews (Panel / Hiring Manager, Virtual)
  2. Second Round of Interviews, if needed (Panel / Hiring Manager, Virtual or In-Person)
  3. Final Interview with Hiring Manager and President (In-Person preferred)
  4. Reference Check

Offer Letter and Background Check

The Piedmont Environmental Council recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, and therefore our job descriptions are guidelines. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process may be requested. If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected].

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.