Head of North America Health, Wellness, Payroll and Compliance

Date: November 2

Job Title: Head of North America Health, Wellness, Payroll and Compliance

Reports to: Head of North America People and Culture + Global Ops

Location: Ventura, CA

COVID-19 Vaccinations: Patagonia requires all employees to demonstrate proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of their employment.

The Head of North America Health, Wellness, Payroll and Compliance will provide strategic direction and oversight of the Company’s health and welfare programs, benefits, payroll/tax operations, and employment policy compliance programs.  You will develop strategies and processes for efficient administration and education on the offerings provided to our employees and ensure excellent communication and exceptional customer service from the members of your team.  You’ll also partner with the People and Culture team members to develop and implement benefit strategies for attracting and retaining top talent and act as the main project manager in facilitating changes to plans and concepts.  This position will also work with international business partners to implement benefit concepts. 

What You’ll Do

Benefits

• Research health and wellness program trends and compare against the Company’s plans as required to maintain best in class experience for employees.
• Think creatively to propose unique benefit offerings, always using the lens of equity and inclusion.
• Work with Leadership to evaluate cost, value add, and return on investment for plan innovations.
• Evaluate benefit vendor relationships and market as required to remain competitive.
• Work with global partners to understand employee needs in all locations and create parity amongst plans in alignment with Patagonia mission.

 Payroll and Tax

• Develop strategy for ensuring the payroll function can sustain Company growth and business complexity as needs evolve.
• Advise in creating process efficiency between the Workday Payroll/Tax functions and Company’s Accounting/Tax team.
• Work with the Payroll and Tax Manager to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing.
• Troubleshoot payroll processing, tax, and reporting issues and provide direction and resources for solutions.

• Work with the Payroll/Tax, Benefits, and Workday teams to continually develop improved processes and tools between the three functions which are heavily co-dependent.
• Research payroll practices outside of Patagonia Works and partner with the Payroll/Tax Manager to introduce improvements to internal processes and policies.

Compliance

• Work with Legal team to update U.S. and Canada employee handbooks as needed to keep pace with regulations and policy/benefit changes.  Work with international business partners to review global employee handbooks.
• Develop and maintain processes and audits to ensure compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws, correct taxation methods, maintenance of state disability and family leave requirements, benefit administration, ERISA plans, 401(k), leave of absence administration, and all new regulations.  Work with the Benefits, Payroll/Tax, and People and Culture Business Partners on corrective action when needed.
• Ensure processes for review of health plan census data, benefit claims data, benefit invoices, 401(k) monthly active/terminated participant reports, and other audit processes are completed and corrections are made in a timely manner.
• Oversee EEO reporting and work with Recruiting team to analyze recommendations and create action items as needed.

Budget

• Work with Leadership to analyze cost impact for plan changes, new programs, staffing, operational/system changes and provide recommendations.
• Participate in department budget meetings and decision-making processes.
• Review and approve invoices for payment in areas of oversight.

Team Management and Development

• Manage the Benefits, Payroll/Tax, and Compliance teams, provide clear expectations for administration and customer service levels.
• Develop succession plans and provide support to increase skill and development opportunities.
• Provide guidance on collaboration with the Workday team for system configuration needs.
• Continually assess workload for all functions, realign tasks and responsibilities as needed, provide data analysis to support increase in staffing levels when warranted.
• Continually review team structure for antiquated design, think strategically about changing business structures, evolving people support needs, and the need for improved processes.

Who You Are:

• Strategic: able to think big picture and drive work accordingly. 
• Leader: act as a thought leader, build trusted relationships, influence decisions and drive urgency on critical priorities. 
• Influential: able to communicate through complicated matters, builds trust easily and gets buy in from partners. 

• Strong Communicator: excellent communication and presentation skills. 
• Emotionally intelligent: high level of self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal skills. 
• Inclusive: deeply experienced in collaborating with others across difference. 
• Passionate: cares deeply about people practices and saving our home planet. 
• Self-reflective: Acknowledge own's experience and experiences of other. 

Must Have Qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to mentor others.
• Bachelor’s Degree in applicable filed or equivalent experience.

• 10+ years in human resources experience, including insurance and benefits, 401(k), payroll, and federal and state wage and hour compliance.
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Workday, Smartsheets).
• Extreme attention to detail and organization skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with unimpeachable privacy.
• Excellent customer service using all methods of communication.
• Comfortable with team-based work structure; ability to demonstrate flexibility on the job.
• Demonstrates initiative, is conscientious and provides complete follow-through on areas of responsibility.

Employee Conduct

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive and equitable work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers, and vendors.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Patagonia values a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive workplace.  We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants, period. Patagonia does not favor or discriminate against any applicant or employee based on any protected activity, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other protected classes by law. At Patagonia, we strive to have inclusive representation of our community within our organization and embrace a diverse mix of talent to contribute to our culture. As we are in business to save our home planet, we can only do this together.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Patagonia requires all employees who enter a Patagonia owned or operated facility or who physically interact with others as part of their job duties to demonstrate proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of their employment, subject to exemptions for sincerely held religious beliefs, or medical reasons.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.