HR Specialist

The HR Specialist is a key contributor to the Human Resources team, with a primary focus on multistate leave management and regulatory compliance. This role serves as the main point of contact for employees and managers throughout the leave process, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations as well as company policies. The HR Specialist partners closely with internal teams and external vendors to deliver accurate, timely, and employee-centered support and promoting a positive employee experience.

Additionally, the HR Specialist plays a pivotal role in fostering a positive workplace culture through effective orientation programs and team engagement initiatives. Success in this role requires a passion for process improvement and implementation, with a continuous drive to streamline operations and enhance the efficiency of HR services.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Multistate Leave Management:

• Administer, track, and report on all types of employee leaves (FMLA, ADA, etc.) in compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
• Communicates leave status updates to HR Business Partners and key stakeholders.
• Work closely with third-party leave vendors to ensure accurate and timely service delivery.
• Administer employee leave of absence requests, including FMLA, ADA, Injury benefit plan, workers' compensation, short-term/long-term disability, parental leave, and personal leaves.
• Serve as the subject matter expert and primary contact for employees and managers regarding leave policies, procedures, and status updates.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local leave laws and internal policies.
• Partner with third-party leave and disability administrators to manage claims and resolve escalations.
• Collaborate with Payroll to ensure correct timekeeping, benefits continuation, and pay processing during leaves.
• Support ADA interactive process by coordinating accommodations with employees, managers, and HR Business Partners.
• Provide reporting, analysis, and recommendations on leave trends and compliance risks.
• Assist with audits and ensure proper documentation of leave cases.

Employee Engagement & Support:

• Oversee new hire and exit surveys; analyze and report findings to drive experience improvement.
• Lead or assist with planning department team building and engagement events.
• Support training initiatives and learning activities.

Cross-Functional & Backup Support:

• Serve as a backup to multistate onboarding processes, including all candidate offers, communication, background checks, physical/drug testing, and integration into the HRIS.
• Ensure full I-9 compliance including auditing and documentation.
• Conduct new hire orientation, ensuring compliance with policies, procedures, and cultural integration.
• Maintain security badge access and manage permissions across multiple branch locations.
• Serve as backup support to HR Business Partners in employee relations, administrative tasks, and special projects.
• Respond to general HR inquiries or route to appropriate team members.
• Identify and recommend opportunities for process and system enhancements across HR functions.
• Develop and prepare regular dashboards and reports (onboarding, leaves, surveys) for HR and business leadership.
• Perform additional duties and projects assigned to support the HR function.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; PHR or SHRM-CP preferred
• 3+ years in an HR support role preferred
• 1+ years of leave management experience a strong plus
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365, especially Excel
• Quick to learn HRIS, payroll, and related systems
• Strong interpersonal skills with both hourly and salaried staff
• Proven ability to build effective relationships across all levels
• Broad HR knowledge, including recruitment, employee relations, and compliance
• Excellent written, verbal, and listening skills; team-oriented
• Trustworthy, approachable, and exercises sound judgment with sensitive information
• Able to analyze issues, identify solutions, and take initiative
• Highly organized, self-directed, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
• In person travel within the service territories of Silver Eagle required
• A valid Texas Driver's License, preferred
• Military experience equivalency may substitute for some requirements

Physical Requirement:

• Talk, hear, and see (including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus)
• Performs light to medium work exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects
• This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary

Working Conditions:

• Requires full-time, in-office attendance
• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines
• Work hours will vary daily due to business needs

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.