Human Resources Specialist

This is the first of four levels in the Human Resources series. Under the guidance of the HR Generalist, incumbents provide operational and administrative support for assigned human resources functions while serving as a liaison between Human Resources and designated City departments. Responsibilities include coordinating and executing day-to-day HR processes such as recruitment support, onboarding, employee transactions, and basic benefits and policy guidance. The HR Specialist assists in gathering, reviewing, and maintaining data; supports the implementation of HR programs and initiatives; and communicates processes, procedures, and program information to employees, candidates, and department leadership. This role focuses on delivering consistent, high-quality HR services to business units while escalating complex issues to the HR Generalist as needed.

Essential Functions:

• Serves as the primary point of contact and liaison between Human Resources and assigned business units, building strong working relationships to support departmental needs and ensure consistent application of HR policies, procedures, and practices.

• Provides day-to-day human resources support to assigned departments, including coordination of full-cycle recruitment activities, pre-employment processes, onboarding and offboarding, performance management tracking, employment actions, and responding to basic benefits-related inquiries in partnership with the HR Generalist and Benefits team.

• Advises employees and supervisors on routine human resources matters, escalating more complex or sensitive issues to the HR Generalist as appropriate. Assists in addressing employee relations concerns and supports fact-finding efforts for workplace issues and investigations.

• Serves as the primary point of contact for all new hires and candidates, guiding them through the full onboarding process from offer issuance through new hire orientation. Responsibilities include coordinating and communicating offer details, facilitating pre-employment screenings, collecting and processing required documentation, and ensuring a smooth and timely transition into employment.

• Maintains accurate and up-to-date employee records and documentation, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and City regulations, as well as established policies and procedures.

• Supports the implementation of HR programs, initiatives, and training efforts within assigned business units, helping to reinforce organizational priorities, workforce planning efforts, and employee development activities.

• Monitors and promotes adherence to City policies and procedures within assigned departments, providing guidance and clarification as needed.

• Assists in the execution of HR projects, process improvements, and departmental initiatives, offering feedback from business units and helping to ensure effective implementation at the operational level.

• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Education and Experience

• High school graduate or GED equivalent.

• One (1) year of human resources, business, or related experience

• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the job's essential duties.

License and Certifications

• None.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Basic Human Resources principles and practices.

• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the Security Rule.

• English grammar and business writing.

• Mathematical principles.

• Basic accounting practices.

• Record maintenance techniques.

• Computers and related software applications.

• Customer service principles.

Skill in:

• Maintaining records and files.

• Preparing and presenting information to employee groups.

• Gathering, compiling, and organizing information.

• Performing mathematical calculations.

• Composing and drafting business correspondence.

• Maintaining confidentiality.

• Providing customer service.

• Using computers and related software applications.

• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Physical Requirements:

The work is sedentary work which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination sound.

• Mental Acuity: Making rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.

• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.

• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

• Visual ability 1: sufficient to perform an activity like preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.

• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or move from one work site to another.