Payroll Specialist - Prevailing Wage

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all prevailing wage and public works compliance matters
• Review project bid documents, contracts, and Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) to identify prevailing wage obligations, labor classifications, apprenticeship requirements, and compliance risks
• Determine applicable wage determinations based on project scope, county, craft, shift, and other project-specific requirements
• Process and oversee bi-weekly payroll for 150+ employees, ensuring accurate pay, prevailing wage rates, overtime calculations, union deductions, fringe benefits, certified payroll requirements, and compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations
• Partner with HR and Operations to ensure employee records, job assignments, labor classifications, and payroll data are accurate and complete prior to each payroll cycle
• Verify employee hours by project, job number, classification, location, overtime, shift differentials, and other applicable reporting requirements
• Oversee California DIR compliance, including certified payroll reporting through DIR eCPR, LCPtracker, or similar labor compliance platforms
• Ensure reporting compliance with other states; which currently include Oregon, Washington and Nevada
• Manage apprenticeship compliance, including DAS forms, apprentice ratios, dispatch documentation, and related reporting requirements
• Maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with prevailing wage laws, union obligations, and public agency requirements
• Respond to labor compliance inquiries from public agencies, prime contractors, auditors, unions, and internal stakeholders
• Identify potential compliance issues early and recommend corrective actions before they become audit findings or project risks
• Develop and improve internal compliance processes, documentation standards, and reporting workflows
• Leverage technology, AI, and automation tools to improve reporting accuracy and efficiency

Required Qualifications

• Significant hands-on experience managing California and federal prevailing wage and certified payroll compliance for public works projects
• Strong working knowledge of California and federal prevailing wage laws, wage determinations, labor classifications, overtime rules, fringe benefits, apprenticeship requirements, and certified payroll reporting
• Demonstrated experience reviewing contracts and Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for labor compliance requirements
• Experience using California DIR eCPR, LCPtracker, or comparable certified payroll and labor compliance systems
• Ability to work independently and confidently serve as the organization's prevailing wage compliance expert
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, payroll systems, document management platforms, and AI productivity tools
• Experience collaborating with Payroll, HR, Operations, Finance, and field teams
• Experience in construction, vegetation management, forestry, utilities, infrastructure, or other field-service industries

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience with California DIR regulations, DAS apprenticeship requirements, training fund contributions, labor compliance audits, and public agency reporting
• Experience working with school districts, municipalities, utilities, state agencies, prime contractors, or other public works owners
• Experience with UKG Ready, ERP systems, project management software, or certified payroll software
• Experience building or improving prevailing wage compliance programs and internal processes