Benefits and Payroll Administrator

Houston Zoo•Houston, TX

22d

About The Position

Your work supports a mission that matters connecting communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife, and caring for the people who make that possible. You will: Support the day-to-day administration of employee benefits and biweekly payroll, including benefit enrollments/changes, open enrollment support, vendor coordination, payroll validation, reconciliations, and compliance documentation. Individual contributor role with no supervisory responsibilities. Contribute to a culture grounded in Unity, Passion, Integrity, Inclusion, Stewardship, and Excellence. If you’re a benefits and payroll professional who enjoys both detail work and big-picture thinking – and you’re excited to support the people behind our mission – we’d love to hear from you. We are seeking a Benefits & Payroll Administrator to optimize and administer the programs that support our incredible staff – from health and retirement benefits to accurate, timely pay. This position: Administers day-to-day benefit programs (health, welfare, retirement, and related plans). Owns the functionality and integrity of benefits and payroll processes. Serves as a direct point of contact for staff on benefits, payroll, and related compliance. Helps ensure every team member is paid correctly, covered appropriately, and supported through key life and work moments. Our Mission: Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife. Our Vision: Houston Zoo will be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife.

Requirements

Associate degree (or higher) in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
Three (3) or more years of experience in benefits administration, payroll processing, or a closely related HR function.
Experience with outsourced payroll providers and HRIS/timekeeping systems; strong attention to detail and data integrity.
Working knowledge of wage and hour requirements and payroll tax basics; familiarity with benefits regulations (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA).
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for reconciliation and reporting; high discretion with confidential information.

Nice To Haves

HR certification: SHRM-CP and/or PHR.
Experience in the nonprofit and/or hospitality industry.

Responsibilities

Provide customer-focused support for routine benefits and payroll questions; escalate complex issues appropriately.
Process benefit enrollments, changes, and terminations; coordinate with vendors and resolve eligibility/deduction discrepancies.
Coordinate open enrollment logistics, communications, and system readiness (testing/configuration and follow-up).
Support biweekly payroll processing, including timekeeping validation, audits, and correction of errors in partnership with the payroll provider.
Maintain accurate employee records (status changes, pay changes, tax set-ups) with strong documentation and internal controls.
Reconcile benefit deductions and vendor invoices; support compliance and year-end activities (ACA/ERISA/COBRA and W-2 readiness).
Partner with vendors, brokers, and Finance on reconciliations, invoices, retirement plan contributions, and audits.
Support compliance activities (e.g., ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FLSA, Texas wage and hour) through data, reporting, and process design.
Educate staff through orientations, training, and user-friendly resources (FAQs, guides, and intranet content).