FORTIS Resource Partners is a boutique recruiting firm supporting successful companies in Southern California.
Our client is seeking an experienced leader in Payroll & Human Resources to join their dynamic company.
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time, Direct Hire
BENEFITS: 401k match, Medical, Dental, and Vision
COMPENSATION: $150-170k (depending on experience)
WORK MODEL: Onsite to start, Hybrid up to speed and established
LOCATION: Anaheim, CA
The Opportunity
A growing, operations-driven organization is seeking a Payroll & Human Resources Director to lead Payroll execution, HR operations, and Labor Compliance across a complex, multi-site environment with a union and non-union population. This role works closely across finance, operations, and workforce management, with a strong emphasis on accuracy, compliance, and risk mitigation.
This position is ideal for a hands-on leader who thrives in highly regulated environments and can bring structure, consistency, and scalability to payroll and HR processes while partnering closely with executive leadership and field teams.
What You’ll Own:
- Oversee full-cycle payroll processing across a diverse workforce, including union, prevailing wage, and non-union employees, ensuring accuracy and compliance across multiple job sites
- Drive process improvements across Payroll and HR systems, including strengthening internal controls, standardizing procedures, and improving overall efficiency
- Manage certified payroll reporting and related compliance requirements, including wage determinations, fringe calculations, and agency submissions
- Interpret and apply collective bargaining agreements, including wage rates, benefits, deductions, and work rules across multiple unions
- Ensure compliance with California wage and hour regulations, including overtime, double time, meal/rest break requirements, and final pay obligations
- Partner closely with finance to align payroll with job costing, labor allocations, and project-level reporting, supporting accurate cost tracking and forecasting
- Oversee payroll-related audits, agency inquiries, and compliance reviews, maintaining a high level of audit readiness at all times
- Manage payroll taxes, garnishments, workers’ compensation reporting, and year-end processing (W-2s, 1099s)
- Serve as a key advisor on labor compliance, supporting leadership with interpretation of union agreements, contract requirements, and workforce-related risk
- Support employee relations matters including investigations, disciplinary actions, and terminations, with a focus on mitigating legal and regulatory exposure
- Ensure compliance with federal and California employment laws, including leave programs, classification standards, and employee protections
- Lead recruiting, onboarding, and retention efforts across both field and corporate teams
- Partner with operations and safety leadership to support workforce compliance, training initiatives, and safe job site practices
- Monitor workforce trends including overtime, turnover, absenteeism, and labor cost drivers, providing insights to leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop payroll and HR team members while establishing clear processes, accountability, and performance expectations
What You Bring:
- 8–12+ years of experience in Payroll and HR leadership within a regulated, manufacturing or construction environment
- Bachelor’s Degree in HR, Business, or related field; Master’s Degree preferred
- Experience working with both union and non-union populations
- Deep knowledge of payroll compliance, including Certified Payroll, prevailing wage, and union environments
- Experience interpreting and working within collective bargaining agreements
- Strong understanding of California wage and hour laws and employment regulations
- Proven ability to operate in audit-heavy, compliance-driven environments with a high level of accuracy and accountability
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor teams and partner cross-functionally with operations, finance, and executive leadership
- Experience supporting large-scale or multi-project environments (preferred)
- Experience with Sage ERP or similar a plus
- Professional certifications such as CPP, SHRM-SCP, or SPHR (preferred)
FORTIS Resource Partners provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
