-
Job Description
Position Type:
Human Resources/Payroll and HRIS Specialist
Date Posted:
11/21/2025
Location:
Administration Office
Closing Date:
11/28/2025
Payroll Specialist
Human Resources Department
40 hours/52week | Monday - Friday | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Starting Wage Range: $1178-$1365/week depending on experience + Benefits
Join the Duluth Public Schools team, where we work to inspire every student to achieve their potential and prepare students to lead productive, fulfilling lives.
Under the direction of the Payroll/HRIS Supervisor, the Payroll Specialist serves as a subject matter expert and
directly manages the comprehensive and accurate execution of the district's payroll operations and the Payroll
Clericals. This high-level role involves the meticulous processing of multi-cycle payrolls, detailed financial data
management, complex reconciliations, and the completion of all essential tax filings and liability payments. The
Payroll Specialist is a trusted point of contact for all payroll-related matters, maintains absolute confidentiality,
and ensures strict adherence to all financial regulations. The position demands exceptional precision, strong
independent problem-solving skills, and the ability to thrive under pressure with critical deadlines. This position is
responsible for supervising the Payroll Clericals.
Education/Experience Requirements: Minimum education and experience required to perform
adequately in position could reasonably be attained only by completing the following:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Degree Required: Associate's Degree
- Required Work Experience in Addition to Formal Education/Training:
- Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in payroll processing, financial datamanagement, or a closely related business support role is preferred, OR a combination of education and experience.
- Required Supervisory Experience: Minimum of one (1) ear of supervisory experience (or demonstrated leadership experience over technical staff or functions.)
Essential Knowledge. Skills an Abilities Required to Perform the Work:
Knowledge
• Expert knowledge of payroll principles, federal and state wage/hour laws, tax regulations, and accounting
standards.
• In-depth knowledge of union contracts and their direct impact on payroll processing.
• Demonstrated expertise in an enterprise payroll and HRIS system for complex data management, reporting, and
reconciliation.
• Strong understanding of internal controls.
• Manages payroll processes and controls to ensure accurate payroll processing.
Skills
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills for high-volume, complex workloads.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills to articulate complex payroll information clearly and effectively
to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and train other staff members.
• Advanced proficiency in data analysis and reconciliation using spreadsheets.
Abilities
• Independently analyze, diagnose, and resolve complex payroll and administrative problems.
• Provide effective leadership and direction to the payroll team, fostering a collaborative and efficient work
environment.
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality and exercise discretion with sensitive information.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve and streamline payroll processes.
• Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships.
Preferred Education/Experience Requirements:- Bachelor's Degree. Prior experience in Payroll leadership.
- Experience in school district setting preferred.
- Experience in supervising staff who are members of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Medical/Prescription Drug Plan with Health Reimbursement Arrangement- Single Coverage - District pays 100% of premium (FREE) + contributes $2,612.50 into HRA annually
- Family Coverage - District pays 75% of premium (25% employee contribution) + contributes $5,225 into HRA annually
- Single Coverage - District pays 100% of Basic premium (FREE)
- Family Coverage - District pays 25% of Premium
- District provides minimum of $50,000 of life insurance at no cost, employee may purchase supplemental life insurance
- District-provided at no cost to employee
- Employees may elect to contribute on a pre-tax basis to Health Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Accounts
- The District contributes 7.25% of your total salary in the Public Employees Retirement Association) pension plan.
- Employees may also elect to participate in Tax-Shelter Annuity options.
- Each bargaining unit contract defines time off provisions such as holidays, sick/personal leave, vacation, etc.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at 218-336-8722 or email noncerthr@isd709.org
Attachment(s): -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
-
-
Duluth Public Schools
Show moreDuluth, or Onigamiising in Ojibwe, is the seat of St. Louis County, the largest city in the northern two-thirds of Minnesota, and the fourth largest city in the state. It is located on the western tip of Lake Superior and its city limits encompass 67 square miles of land and nearly 50 square miles of water. It is part of the Twin Ports metropolitan statistical area which includes all of Wisconsin's Douglas County, and Minnesota's Carlton, Lake, and Saint Louis counties which boasts a population of 291,638, ranked as the 170th largest metropolitan area in the United States.
After years of building economic diversity, Duluth is growing into a robust regional economic, medical, aviation, higher education, outdoor recreation and arts center. Duluth has long been recognized as an innovative region that is supported by a wide variety of services and industries, including the largest, farthest inland freshwater port, the Port of Duluth-Superior.
The city also boasts a vibrant arts culture, home to art museums, theater, and numerous festivals throughout the year. It is the home of two colleges and a university whose local sports teams include nationally ranked and championship teams.
Duluth Public Schools offers an excellent, competitive and comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical, prescription drug, dental, life, and disability coverage. A pension plan, tax-sheltered annuities program, flexible spending accounts (FSA), health care savings plan and employee assistance program round out the district’s robust benefits program.
The district pays a significant portion of the premium for medical hospitalization, dental and prescription coverage for employees and dependents and offers Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) funding.
The district also has generous provisions for vacation, holidays, family and medical leave and other types of paid and unpaid leave. The district recently added Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth to our list of paid holidays.
-