HR Payroll Operations Specialist (TE)

Human Resources Payroll Operations Specialist (TE) (HR Administrator I, 2366)

This is a temporary employment (TE) opportunity, one-year employment. Are you ready to take on a career where your work directly impacts the lives of thousands of Marylanders every day? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments, enjoy solving real-time challenges, and feel motivated by meaningful public service? If so, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) wants you on our team.

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is recruiting for a Human Resources Payroll Operations Specialist. The Human Resources Payroll Operations Specialist serves as a critical liaison between Human Resources, Payroll, HRIS, and employees to ensure accurate and timely pay. This position is responsible for investigating and resolving payroll-related issues, ensuring HR transactions are accurately reflected in payroll systems, supporting workforce timekeeping processes, and collaborating with HR, Payroll, and HRIS teams to maintain payroll accuracy and compliance.

This position also serves as a key resource for employees and supervisors by providing guidance on payroll matters, timekeeping practices, and the impact of HR actions on employee pay. The Payroll Operations Specialist supports continuous process improvement initiatives, system enhancements, audits, and compliance efforts to promote efficient and accurate payroll operations.

The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, customer-service focused, and highly collaborative, with the ability to manage complex payroll issues, interpret policies and agreements, and maintain confidentiality in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities: Payroll Issue Resolution & Employee Support

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee payroll inquiries and concerns.
• Investigate and resolve payroll issues including missed payments, incorrect pay rates, overtime discrepancies, and other compensation-related concerns.
• Coordinate payroll corrections, adjustments, and off-cycle payments as necessary.
• Provide timely and professional customer service to employees regarding payroll matters.
• Research and communicate payroll resolutions while ensuring compliance with applicable policies and procedures.

HR & Payroll Coordination

• Ensure Human Resources personnel actions are accurately processed and reflected in payroll systems.
• Partner with HR teams to identify and resolve payroll impacts related to personnel transactions.
• Review and interpret policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements as they relate to employee compensation and payroll processing.
• Collaborate with Payroll staff to ensure accurate and timely payroll administration.
• Support communication and coordination between Human Resources, Payroll, and departmental stakeholders.

Timekeeping & Workforce Management

• Assist with reviewing and resolving employee timekeeping and attendance discrepancies.
• Troubleshoot timecard issues and ensure accurate recording of work hours.
• Provide guidance and support to supervisors and managers regarding timekeeping procedures and payroll impacts.
• Monitor workforce management processes to promote payroll accuracy and compliance.

HRIS & Systems Collaboration

• Partner with HRIS and Payroll teams to investigate and resolve system-related payroll issues.
• Assist with testing, validation, and implementation activities for HRIS and payroll system enhancements.
• Participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and system improvement initiatives.
• Support system data integrity and accuracy across HR and payroll platforms.
• Data Integrity & Continuous Improvement
• Track payroll issues, inquiries, and resolutions to identify trends and recurring concerns.
• Assist with payroll audits, compliance reviews, and data validation activities.
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to payroll processes, workflows, and reporting.
• Maintain accurate records, documentation, and tracking tools related to payroll operations.
• Provide reports and analysis to support operational decision-making and process enhancements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a public sector, government, or unionized environment.
• Experience utilizing Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), preferably Infor.
• Knowledge of payroll regulations, workforce management practices, and employee compensation processes.

Core Competencies

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent customer service and employee support abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.

Qualifications

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Experience: Three to Five (3-5) years of professional HR work in the areas of either job analysis, job evaluation, salary administration, employee recruitment and selection, employment services and benefits, employer-employee relations, HR program evaluation, or HR policy formulation. Two (2) years of professional experience must have been performing payroll issue resolution in a high-volume environment, including investigating missed pay, incorrect rates, overtime discrepancies, and coordinating payroll adjustments. Selective Qualification recruitments are utilized when the position requires specific or additional bona fide occupational qualifications (knowledge, skill, or ability). No substitution is allowed for a selective qualification.

Notes: 1. Thirty graduate semester credits from a college or university in the fields of HR administration, business administration, public administration, statistics, tests and measurements, or psychology may be substituted for one year of experience. 2. Paraprofessional HR experience or professional HR management work experience may be substituted on a year for year basis for up to four years of the required education. 3. For employer-employee relations positions applicants may substitute the possession of a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from an accredited school of law for up to four years of the required experience. 4. Candidates may substitute equivalent U.S. Armed Forces military service experience on a year for year basis for up to four years of the required education.

5. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Additional Information

Employees should adhere to all safety rules, policies, regulations, and personal protective equipment requirements to support a safe and healthy working environment. Employees may attend and participate in safety meetings and should report hazards, unsafe acts, near misses, injuries, and accidents immediately to the Office of Safety and supervision.

To support a safe and healthy work environment, employees must refrain from willful violations of safety rules and procedures, reckless and negligent behavior, involvement in criminal activities, and the misuse of drugs or alcohol. Failure to adhere to this requirement may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. May only perform work for which they have the appropriate safety training.

To Apply: You must complete a Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) application (Form DTS-1) to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes may not be substituted for the application. Consideration for employment may be based solely on the contents of your application; therefore, it is essential that the application is filled out completely and accurately, listing all relevant experience in detail and addressing the specific requirements shown above. Please include all relevant experience on your application. This includes, but is not limited to, full or part time, volunteer, military, acting capacity, or any other experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for within MDOT, one of the Transportation Business Units, or the Authority. Selected candidates may be subject to background and reference checks. Note: Applications not completely filled out will not be considered. The selected candidate may be subject to background and reference checks. Employees are subject to the State Substance Abuse Policy to include possible drug testing. It is highly recommended that applications be completed and submitted online by registering at Make sure you meet the minimum and selective qualifications and follow the instructions on MDOT's Online Employment Center website. Applicants with degrees granted outside of the United States will be required to provide a written evaluation of education documentation by a credentialing organization such as: International Credential Evaluation (WES), . Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be provided as requested. The Maryland Department of Transportation is not sponsoring new employees in application of the H-18 Visa at this time due to budgetary constraints. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Federal regulations prohibit H1B Visa candidates from paying sponsorship fees; all sponsorship fees must be assumed by the potential employer. TTY call 711 TTY Users May Also Call Their Telecommunications Relay Service WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER MTA does not discriminate based on age, ancestry, color, creed, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, mental