Associate Human Resources Consultant

Lakeside HR Group • Bloomington, MN

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Lakeside HR Group is seeking a Part-Time Associate HR Consultant to provide hands-on HR support and guidance to Lakeside clients across a variety of industries, sizes, and business stages. This role is ideal for an HR professional who has built a strong foundation in core HR practices and is ready to grow their career in consulting. Working both independently and alongside experienced HR Consultants, the Associate HR Consultant supports interim HR needs, completes client projects, researches and resolves HR questions, and helps ensure clients have practical, compliant, and effective people practices in place. Success in this role requires strong follow-through, curiosity, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to build credibility with clients and fellow HR Consultants, while recognizing when an issue requires additional expertise or escalation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Approximately 2+ years of progressive human resources experience.
• Working knowledge of core HR practices and the employee lifecycle.
• General understanding of federal and state employment laws and the ability to research unfamiliar requirements.
• Experience supporting employee relations, performance management, leave administration, recruiting, onboarding, offboarding, policies, or related HR functions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple clients, projects, deadlines, and competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently while knowing when to ask questions, seek additional expertise, or escalate risk.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate, professional work.
• Demonstrated discretion when handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Comfort learning and working across multiple HR systems, technology platforms, and client environments.

Nice To Haves

• HR certification such as SHRM-CP or PHR is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as either a dedicated or paired HR resource for assigned clients, responding to HR questions and providing practical guidance.
• Build strong, responsive relationships with client contacts and develop an understanding of each client's business, team, culture, and HR needs.
• Provide guidance on foundational HR matters, including employee relations, policies, performance management, attendance, leave administration, hiring, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Research HR questions and employment requirements and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Recognize higher-risk, complex, or unfamiliar situations and partner with a Consultant or Senior HR Consultant as appropriate.
• Follow through on client commitments, action items, and deliverables accurately and on time.
• Support the development, implementation, and administration of HR policies, procedures, programs, and practices.
• Assist with employee handbook development and updates.
• Support leave-of-absence administration and coordination of applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Prepare employee communications, HR forms, templates, letters, and other documentation.
• Assist clients with personnel file practices, documentation, recordkeeping, and other compliance-related activities.
• Monitor changes in employment laws and HR practices and help identify updates that may impact assigned clients.
• Support clients with routine employee relations and performance matters.
• Help managers prepare for employee conversations, including coaching, feedback, attendance concerns, and performance improvement.
• Assist with documentation related to performance management, corrective action, and employee separations.
• Participate in employee relations matters and workplace investigations under the direction of a more experienced Consultant when appropriate.
• Apply sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality when handling sensitive employee information.
• Support recruiting and hiring activities as needed, including job descriptions, interview processes, offer preparation, and candidate coordination.
• Assist clients with onboarding and new-hire processes that create an organized and positive employee experience.
• Support compensation benchmarking, job documentation, and other foundational compensation activities.
• Assist with employee engagement, retention, and culture initiatives.
• Coordinate employee offboarding activities and related documentation.
• Participate in HR assessments, implementations, audits, and special projects.
• Gather and organize client information, identify gaps, and assist in developing recommended solutions.
• Create polished, client-ready documents, presentations, spreadsheets, communications, and HR resources.
• Manage assigned project activities, deadlines, and follow-up.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, tools, templates, and the overall client experience.
• Partner closely with Consultants and Senior HR Consultants to deliver seamless client support.
• Seek guidance appropriately while progressively building confidence and independence.
• Share relevant client information, risks, and emerging needs with the broader consulting team.
• Contribute templates, resources, research, and lessons learned that strengthen the team's collective expertise.
• Continuously build knowledge across HR disciplines, employment practices, and consulting skills.
• Demonstrate openness to feedback and actively apply coaching to ongoing work.

Benefits

• A part-time opportunity to grow HR consulting experience while supporting a variety of client environments.
• Collaboration with experienced HR Consultants and Senior HR Consultants.
• Exposure to a broad range of HR disciplines, projects, employment practices, and client needs.
• Opportunity to build consulting confidence, independence, and client ownership over time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level