POSITION SUMMARY:

The HR & Benefits Specialist is responsible for supporting the Human Resources department. This position assists with the day-to-day administrative operations of the department, including assisting employees, maintaining HR records, and leading wellness initiatives. This role reports to the Benefits Manager and oversees all aspects of general office coordination.

Adhere to PACT values. (Purpose: Using our strengths passionately to contribute to our mission. Accountability: Choosing to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrating ownership to achieve results. See It. Own It. Solve It. Do It. Courage: Standing up for what’s right and acting. Transparency: Doing things openly and honestly).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Reliable, consistent, on-site attendance is a requirement. This position requires dependable attendance in order to meet the needs of the business, including attending and participating in meetings and presentations.
2. Operates with a high level of integrity and the ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
3. Demonstrates behavior that is professional, ethical, responsible, composed, and in alignment with HFB policies, procedures, and expectations.
4. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and company policies
5. Greets and establishes credibility with employees by knowledgeably answering questions and assisting them with human resources tasks, including answering calls and transferring to appropriate staff members.
6. Assists the Benefits Manager with benefits administration, employee changes, enrollments, and open enrollment.
7. Maintains leave of absence documents in the leave management system and provides leaders with employee medical and leave updates.
8. Opens, sorts, and distributes incoming correspondence, including faxes and email.
9. Ensures the timely payment of department invoices by securing appropriate signatures and efficiently submitting invoices.
10. Maintains inventory of supplies and office equipment for the Human Resources department and arranges for the repair and maintenance of office equipment.
11. Creates workers' compensation medical authorization forms for employees seeking medical attention.
12. Supports new hire orientation by conducting the Benefits presentation, emailing new hire orientation information, ordering food, reserving the conference room, and organizing handouts and giveaways.
13. Leads the monthly wellness initiative by scheduling, promoting, and obtaining resources and supplies.
14. Leads the annual health fair by scheduling, promoting, working with vendors, and obtaining resources and supplies.
15. Updates employee files, including updating the emergency communication system with hires and terminations.
16. Assist with other general administrative Human Resources tasks and projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business Management, Communications, or a closely related field, or a combination of education and relevant experience.
• 2 years of experience in an administrative role
• Human Resources experience preferred
• Knowledge of employment laws and practices preferred
• Bilingual in English/Spanish strongly preferred

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

• Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and insurance.

Special Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the job holder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including but not limited to Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to learn new software systems
• Ability to work with a diverse population
• Strong customer service skills and willingness to assist others, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Ability to operate with considerable independent judgment and initiative, and collaboration with teams throughout the organization
• Exceptional planning and decision-making skills
• Strong presence in all communication types
• Highly resilient and adaptable to constantly changing business priorities
• Highly proactive
• Meticulous attention to detail and execution of all responsibilities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively interact and communicate with all levels within the company
• Strong Interpersonal and teamwork skills, and the ability to work with a diverse population
• Ability to work effectively with situations that require tact and diplomacy
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to multitask, prioritize, and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated ability to work independently to complete projects and effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior-level leadership
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills
• High attention to integrity, ethics, and sensitivity, particularly regarding confidential information

COMPLIANCE:

Carries out responsibilities in accordance with HFB policies.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the jobholder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

COMPETENCIES:

Action-Oriented / Customer Focus / Drives for Results / Priority Setting / Managerial Courage / Interpersonal Savvy / Creativity / Standing Alone / Time Management / Decision Quality / Self-development / Patience

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required daily to analyze and interpret data, communicate, and remain in a stationary position for a significant amount of the workday, and frequently access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. The employee is regularly required to move about the facility. The employee must frequently lift/move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift/move up to 40 pounds. The employee must occasionally travel to other sites for business.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While the job is generally performed in an enclosed office environment, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, strong food-related smells, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the office environment is typically quiet, but the employee will be occasionally exposed to loud noise levels (e.g., horns, fans).

TRAVEL REQUIRED:

Travel is required for this position (up to 5% of the time and on a domestic basis within our 18-county service area).

This role supports hours of operations at the Houston Food Bank facilities, as necessary, and may require flexibility (e.g., times of disaster, community events, company events).

*Is legally able to work in the United States.