Are you someone who thrives on structure, accuracy, and helping others navigate complex information? Do you enjoy refining systems and applying best practices to improve day-to-day operations? Are you steady, organized, and confident managing details - but also open to change and process improvement? If so, this might be the right fit for you!

About Us:

MNL is a full-service ecological restoration company dedicated to Healing the Earth. We provide decades of experience, knowledge, and industry leadership. Our services include native seeding and plant production, shoreline and wetland restoration, prescribed fire/burns, conservation grazing, vegetation management, and ecological consulting. We also support solar and infrastructure projects with pollinator-friendly practices and land stewardship expertise.

Our clients span the public and private sectors - and we frequently work on projects requiring strict compliance with prevailing wage laws and certified payroll reporting.

As we continue to grow, we're modernizing our systems and processes to better support our team and our mission. That includes implementing a new ERP system to automate key business operations like payroll - and we're looking for someone who can help us manage this transition and own the payroll and benefits process.

The Opportunity:

We're seeking a Payroll & Benefits Specialist at our Otsego, MN office who will play a key role in both supporting the rollout of our new ERP system and taking ownership of the day-to-day payroll and benefits operations once the new process is in place.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys payroll as a craft - someone who's detail-oriented, compliance-minded, and confident in bringing best practices to the table. You don't need to lead the ERP implementation, but we'll look to you to provide input, help refine workflows, and ultimately ensure that the new system supports accurate, efficient, and compliant payroll operations.

What You Will Do:

• Process weekly and bi-weekly multi-state payroll for approximately 200 employees, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and alignment with certified payroll and prevailing wage laws.
• Contribute to the implementation of a new ERP system by testing payroll processes, identifying gaps or inefficiencies, and helping document new procedures.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records including timekeeping, job codes, wage classifications, and labor allocations to support job costing.
• Own quarterly payroll tax filings and SUI updates across multiple states, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Submit certified payroll reports and project-specific wage data through client and government portals, acting as the liaison between MNL and external agencies.
• Set up and manage company credit card accounts for employees and process expense reports, ensuring timely documentation and adherence to policy.
• Reconcile benefits invoices monthly, identify discrepancies, and coordinate with finance and HR to ensure accurate billing and enrollment.
• Serve as the go-to resource for employee questions related to payroll, benefits, and timekeeping systems - providing timely, helpful, and clear communication.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation and responding to payroll- or benefits-related inquiries.
• Help identify process improvements, inefficiencies, or compliance risks within payroll and benefits workflows, recommending best practices for long-term scalability.

What You Will Need To Be Successful:

• 5+ years of experience in payroll, preferably in a construction, manufacturing, or project-based setting.
• Familiarity with multi-state payroll processing, including certified payroll and prevailing wage requirements.
• Working knowledge of federal and state tax filing requirements (including SUI updates and quarterly reporting).
• Experience with payroll and ERP systems.
• Strong attention to detail, high integrity, and the ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills; able to work independently and collaborate across teams.

Additional Experience That Will Set You Apart:

• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification.
• Experience with certified payroll platforms.
• Prior involvement in ERP or payroll system implementations.
• Background in benefits administration.