Payroll & Benefits Manager

In-person role at our El Segundo, CA office. 

Our Pacific Aviation/SAS family creates an environment where, together, we can all succeed by using our individual personalities and having fun along the way.

Want to grow your career? We welcome you come aboard and join Pacific Aviation!

We are an airport service provider dedicated to providing exceptional customer service for some of the world’s finest airlines across all their service needs including passenger services, flight operations, cargo services, charter flights, cleaning services, and more. Pacific Aviation operates in three central hubs across the West Coast – Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, and have recently expanded to the East Coast.

By developing and growing our people, we know that our team members are the reason for our 30-year plus success record.

Position Overview

Pacific Aviation is hiring a Payroll & Benefits Manager who's ready to move beyond day-to-day operations and make a meaningful impact. In this role, you'll lead payroll operations and benefits administration while playing a key role in advancing automation, improving workflows, and helping us evolve our benefits strategy.

Ready to do more than just process payroll? If you're a payroll and benefits expert who thrives on accuracy and innovation. Someone who understands compliance and systems like UKG Ready, but also gets excited about streamlining processes and shaping strategy—we want to meet you.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Management

• Drive end-to-end payroll accuracy and compliance for 1000+ employees while optimizing system performance and reporting capabilities

• Ensure 100% regulatory compliance with federal and state requirements, minimizing risk and audit exposure
• Work independently to deliver seamless payroll operations with minimal supervision and zero processing errors

Benefits Administration & Strategy

• Lead strategic benefits program development and vendor negotiations to maximize employee value while controlling costs

• Oversee self-insured medical plan administration and ensure full compliance with ACA, ERISA, and COBRA regulations
• Drive vendor performance improvements and contract optimization to achieve measurable cost savings and service enhancements

System Optimization & Process Improvement

• Optimize UKG Ready functionality and lead system integrations to improve operational efficiency by 20%+ annually

• Spearhead cross-functional automation projects that streamline workflows and reduce manual processing time

• Lead HRIS system conversions and process improvements that deliver quantifiable business results and enhanced user experience

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• 5+ years of progressive experience in payroll and benefits administration
• 2+ years in a supervisory or leadership role

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency with UKG Ready (system optimization, reporting, integration)
• Advanced skills in UKG custom reporting
• Strong Microsoft Office Suite skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
• Process improvement experience required

Knowledge & Competencies

• Comprehensive understanding of payroll and benefits compliance, including federal and state regulations (ACA, ERISA, COBRA, etc.)

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with proven vendor relationship management experience
• Excellent communication skills with ability to handle sensitive information and work independently with minimal supervision

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field

• Experience with organizations of 1000+ employees and familiarity with multiple Payroll/HRIS systems (Dayforce, Paycom, Paylocity, UKG)

• Professional certifications (CPP or CEBS) and HR/payroll system conversion experience

Note: Certification in CPP or CEBS is strongly preferred and should be completed within one year of employment if not already obtained.

Application Process

This position requires successful completion of a background investigation including employment verification, credit report, criminal records search, and social security verification.

Our Compensation & Benefits: 

• Salary range: $85,000 - $95,000 annually. Actual compensation determined by qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations in accordance with California's Pay Transparency Act.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Voluntary 401(k) and Roth 401(k)
• Life, AD&D, and Long-term Disability insurance
• PTO

Additional Perks

• Rewards and recognition program
• Entertainment discounts (movies, travel, car rentals)
• Variety of voluntary benefits

If You Like What You See, What Are You Waiting For?

You will be joining an amazing team with great leaders and team members who work hard and have fun while at work. If this all sounds good, and you meet our job requirements, please let us know by applying. If your skills are compatible with our needs, we would love to chat with you.

Pacific Aviation is an equal opportunity employer, we will consider all suitably qualified applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, age, sexual orientation, disability status or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and their passion for creating better outcomes, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.