Employment Onboarding and Payroll Assistant

About Roxbury Community College:

Roxbury Community College (RCC) is a public institution of higher education offering associate degrees, certificate programs and lifelong learning opportunities to the Greater Boston community. The Department of Education recognized RCC as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and as one of the top 100 community colleges in the country for student outcomes through the Postsecondary Success Recognition Program, making it the only community college in Massachusetts with these designations.

RCC offers 24 associate degree programs, 6 credit-based certificate programs, 13 non-credit professional certification programs, 30+ lifelong learning and fitness classes, and customized incumbent worker training programs. The college hosts hundreds of civic and community events at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center each year. RCC is committed to providing all learners with the academic and non-academic support required for degree completion and long-term success.

Roxbury Community College is guided by our six core values of Accountability, Equity, Excellence, Honesty, Integrity, and Respect. RCC is also an AA/EO employer and strongly encourages applications from candidates who would enhance the diversity of its staff. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act requires all institutes of higher education to disclose campus policy statements and crime statistics. Our annual report is available at Clery Report. 

Job Description:

Title: Employment Onboarding and Payroll Assistant  

Unit: Non-Unit 

Department: Human Resources Department

Reports to: Payroll Manager

Date: 2026

Position Overview

Employment Onboarding and Payroll Assistant plays a vital role in managing the daily lifecycle of our workforce. Reporting directly to the Payroll Manager, this position owns the day-to-day administration of student employee operations, new hire onboarding, and essential payroll transactions. You will act as a key institutional resource, ensuring seamless, accurate, and timely payroll processing while delivering exceptional support to student employees, staff, and departments. This is an excellent opportunity to build a career in Human Resources, payroll operations, and higher education administration.

Key Responsibilities

Onboarding & New Hire Operations

• Own the onboarding lifecycle and payroll setup for all student employees and newly hired staff.
• Audit hiring documents for compliance, including tax forms, direct deposit setup, and employment authorization (I-9 verification).
• Manage data integrity by entering and maintaining employee records within payroll and HR information systems.
• Enforce institutional policies regarding student employee eligibility, tracking work-hour limits, and employment status.
• Partner with hiring managers, supervisors, and HR to ensure timely, efficient setup for all new hires.
• Serve as a primary resource for student employees, guiding them through forms, timesheet access, and paycheck inquiries.
• Lead operational support during peak seasonal hiring cycles.

Payroll Processing Support

• Collaborate with the Payroll Manager to execute accurate biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly payroll runs.
• Audit employee time entries, reviewing timesheets and approvals for completeness and accuracy.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies proactively by partnering with individual departments to correct missing data.
• Generate payroll reports, summaries, and critical audit documentation for leadership.
• Execute payroll adjustments, including off-cycle checks, retroactive pay, and corrections as needed.
• Manage the payroll calendar to keep departments informed of upcoming submission deadlines.

Administrative & Compliance Duties

• Safeguard confidential files, maintaining secure and organized payroll and employee records.
• Ensure strict compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations governing payroll and student employment.
• Support year-end processes, assisting with W-2 preparation, data reconciliations, and formal audits.
• Deliver prompt, professional customer service to all payroll and employment-related inquiries.
• Drive process improvements by identifying ways to increase efficiency and accuracy in daily workflows. 

Requirements:

Qualifications

• Education: Associate degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience: 1-3 years of administrative support, payroll, HR, or office operations experience.
• Detail Orientation: Exceptional attention to detail with a proven track record of data accuracy.
• Organization: Strong time-management skills with the ability to handle peak seasonal workloads.
• Trustworthiness: Demonstrated ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with a strong customer service orientation.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, with intermediate to advanced Excel skills.

Preferred

• Direct experience utilizing payroll systems, HRCMS, or automated timekeeping software.
• Prior experience in higher education or managing student employment administration.
• Direct experience utilizing payroll systems, HRCMS, or automated timekeeping software.
• Prior experience in higher education or managing student employment administration.

Additional Information:

(If benefitted position) Employees of Roxbury Community College are considered employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and receive benefits that include: 

• High quality and affordable health insurance through the Commonwealth's Group Insurance Commission (GIC) 
• Reasonable Dental and Vision Plans 
• Flexible Medical Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance Account  
• Low cost basic and optional life insurance  
• Retirement Savings: State Employees' Pension or Optional Retirement Program (ORP) and Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan or 403(b). 
• 12 paid holidays per year and competitive Sick, Vacation, and Personal Time  
• Tuition Benefit for employees and dependents at state colleges and universities  
• Short-Term Disability and Extended Illness program participation options offered by AFLAC  
• Professional Development and Continuing Education opportunities 
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program 
• Cell Phone Bill Discounts with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Cell Phone Carriers 
• Access to the Commonwealth's Mass4You, employee assistance program 
• Free employee parking on the Roxbury Campus
• Public Transportation is available to the College via the MBTA Orange Line Roxbury Crossing Station & connecting bus stops, an eight-minute walk to the campus.  

Location: Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02120

Unit Status: Non-Union

Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Compensation Range: $52,000-$56,000 per year

Application Instructions:

All applicants must apply online by submitting:

Cover Letter
Resume
Names and contact information for three (3) professional references 

Successful applicants will be required to complete a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI/SORI) request.

After completing all the steps above, please go back into the newly created account and double check that your resume and cover letter uploaded as you intended.

Roxbury Community College understands that persons with specific disabilities may need assistance with the job application process and/or with the interview process. For confidential assistance with the job application process, please contact Pat Noel, ADA Coordinator, at 857-701-1290 or pnoel1@rcc.mass.edu.

ADA Compliance:

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education - Roxbury Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education - Roxbury Community College will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. 

Roxbury Community College only accepts application materials through our online application system. We are unable to accept application materials through mail, email, fax, or hand delivery. If you do not have access to a computer, please contact Human Resources at hrstaff@rcc.mass.edu.