Payroll and Benefit Specialist

Job Description and Duties

This position requires the Personnel Specialist (PS) to be a resource and responsible for progressively more complex and difficult personnel and payroll processes and issues. The PS researches critical personnel problems; recommends alternative solutions; and applies and interprets laws and rules from available reference manuals and other related revisions issued by the State Personnel Board (SPB), California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), State Controller’s Office (SCO), California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), and the CDPH. The PS also prepares management reports, spreadsheets, and charts; drafts correspondence; functions as a team member on personnel-related projects; and may provide functional guidance to lower-level staff.

NOTE: This classification is eligible for a $2,400-$4800 per year recruitment and retention pay differential every twelve consecutive qualifying pay periods (QPP) in accordance with the following: 12 or more QPP - $2400, 24 or more QPP - $3000, 36 or more QPP - $3600, or 48 or more QPP - $4800.

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

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You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Telework Information

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Special Requirements

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) . Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control #(528140) and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application . Please remove any confidential information (i.e. social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email View email address on us.fitly.work for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Dependable, flexible, and customer service oriented.
• Effective time-management skills.
• Ability to organize and establish workload priorities in a high volume, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Ability to research and provide recommendations to upper management on a variety of Pay and Benefits topics. 
• Attention to detail, organizational skills, and self-motivation.
• Ability to research employment laws, rules and regulation; civil service laws, rules and regulation; as well as State and Departmental policies and procedures.
• Ability to learn the State Controllers (SCO) systems and processes.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively both verbally and writing.
• Ability to use good judgment and make sound decisions.
• Ability to achieve results according to objectives.
• Ability to research, analyze, evaluate information and take effective action.
• Commitment to the highest ethical standards of confidentiality.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ)

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, website searches, and third-party reviewers can be helpful in researching responses to the SOQ; however, by submitting your application for this position, you understand and acknowledge the SOQ you submit is your own work, in your own words, and accurately reflects your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences. Submitting a document that is not your own may be cause for disqualification from the hiring process.

The SOQ serves as documentation of your ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. In your SOQ, describe your experience, knowledge, and competencies as they relate to each of the items listed below. The items must be addressed and numbered in the same order as listed; do not consolidate responses. The SOQ must be no more than one page typed, using 12-point Arial font on standard letter-sized paper with one (1)-inch margins. Describe the extent of your knowledge and/or experience with processing payroll, attendance/record-keeping, and employee benefits.

1. Describe your ability and experience in working in a high pressure/heavy workload environment and the steps you take to ensure deadlines are met.
2. Detail your experience delivering customer service in a high-volume, confidential human resources setting.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Other -

  Please see Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) instructions below at end of posting . Applications received without a written response to the SQ may be rejected.