Human Resources & Payroll Specialist at Clear Water Academy — NeverHard

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionJoin Our Community of Excellence: Living Semper Altius (“Always Higher”) Clear Water Academy (CWA) is a leading independent Catholic school dedicated to forming Christian leaders through academic excellence, character development, spiritual formation, and a commitment to service. We are seeking an experienced Human Resources & Payroll Specialist who is passionate about serving others and fostering a positive workplace while ensuring accurate payroll administration, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. This role is ideal for a collaborative professional who values integrity, confidentiality, and contributing to a mission-driven community. Reporting to CWA’s Business Manager, and working directly with the Executive Director and Directors of Education & Formation, the Human Resources & Payroll Specialist oversees all payroll, benefits and HR administration processes across the school. This role is ideal for a highly organized professional who enjoys creating efficient systems, improving processes, and delivering exceptional service to employees. Position Summary The Human Resources & Payroll Specialist is responsible for the end-to-end administration of payroll, employee benefits, pension administration, HR operations, employee records, recruitment administration, onboarding, policy implementation, and regulatory compliance. This position serves as the school's primary payroll and HR operations resource and plays an important role in continually improving HR processes, documentation, and employee experience. Key Responsibilities Payroll Administration: • Manage full-cycle payroll for all faculty, administration, and support staff. • Process payroll accurately and on schedule while ensuring compliance with federal and provincial legislation. * Reconcile payroll accounts and respond to payroll inquiries. * Maintain payroll policies and procedures while identifying opportunities for process improvement. • Administer payroll changes including: * New hires * Salary adjustments * Leaves of absence * Terminations * Benefit deductions * Vacation and sick leave * Prepare T4s, Records of Employment (ROEs), year-end reconciliations, and * statutory remittances. Pension & Benefits Administration: • Administer Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund (ATRF) reporting and compliance. • Calculate faculty annual pension adjustment values. • Coordinate employee benefit enrolments, changes, and terminations. • Manage employee leaves including maternity, parental, disability, and unpaid leaves. • Liaise with benefit providers, pension administrators, and government agencies. • Ensure all reporting deadlines are consistently met. Human Resources Operations: • Coordinate all employee lifecycle activities from recruitment through offboarding. • Maintain and manage employment contracts, offer letters, and HR documentation. • Manage confidential employee files and HRIS records. • Support recruitment by coordinating postings, interviews, reference checks, offer letters and onboarding. • Administer employee orientation and onboarding programs. • Coordinate annual performance review processes in collaboration with Executive Director and Heads of School. • Assist leaders with employee relations and HR policy interpretation. • Maintain compliance with CWA’s collective agreement, Alberta Employment Standards and applicable legislation. HR Process Management & Continuous Improvement: • Review and improve HR and payroll workflows for efficiency and accuracy. • Develop and maintain HR procedures and documentation. • Recommend technology and process improvements. • Generate HR and payroll reports for leadership. • Support audits and year-end reporting requirements. • Maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism in all aspects of the role. Qualifications • Minimum 5 years of progressive Human Resources and Payroll experience, including full-cycle payroll administration. • Demonstrated experience managing HR operational processes and contract administration in a unionized environment. • Post-secondary education in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related discipline. • PCP (Payroll Compliance Practitioner) designation is strongly preferred. • CPHR designation (or working toward one) is considered an asset. • Experience administering employee benefit programs and pension plans; familiarity with ATRF pension fund platform is considered an asset. • Experience preparing ROEs, T4s, payroll remittances, and year-end payroll reporting. • Strong understanding of: • Alberta Employment Standards • CRA payroll requirements • Defined benefit pension plans • Group Retirement Savings Plans • Payroll compliance and best practices • Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills. • Experience with payroll and HRIS software (Dayforce Powerpay considered an asset). Skills & Competencies The successful candidate will demonstrate: • Exceptional attention to detail • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities • Outstanding organizational and time-management skills • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines • High degree of professionalism and discretion • Commitment to confidentiality and ethical practice • Process improvement mindset • Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with school leadership Why Join Clear Water Academy? At Clear Water Academy, we are committed to cultivating an exceptional workplace where faculty and staff are empowered to grow professionally, personally, and spiritually. Our collaborative and supportive culture encourages meaningful relationships, ongoing learning, and a shared pursuit of excellence. Employees benefit from opportunities for professional development and the unique privilege of contributing to a mission-driven educational community dedicated to forming Christian leaders and inspiring others to live Semper Altius — “Always Higher.” How to Apply Qualified candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and resume outlining their qualifications and experience. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Clear Water Academy is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals representing diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible candidate experience. If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We will collaborate with you to meet your needs. This job ad is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities and qualifications for this position. The job ad is not intended as inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be responsible for.