HR Associate

Core Power•Washington, DC

11d•$65,000 - $80,000

About The Position

The HR Associate supports the HR Manager in delivering responsive, accurate and practical HR services for the US office across the full employee lifecycle. The role is suited to an HR professional with 3–5 years of experience who can independently manage routine HR activities, coordinate recruitment and onboarding, maintain reliable employee data, and support payroll, benefits, learning, performance and employee engagement. The HR Associate is a first point of contact for employees, providing guidance on established policies and processes within agreed authority. The position calls for sound judgement, discretion and accountability. Complex employee relations matters, policy exceptions and decisions requiring approval are escalated to the HR Manager. The role also contributes to HR process improvements and office coordination. Candidates with 4–5 years of relevant experience may take on broader generalist responsibilities and greater ownership of HR processes and projects, based on demonstrated capability and business needs, under the HR Manager’s guidance.

Requirements

3–5 years of progressive Human Resources experience, ideally in an HR Associate or related HR role, with hands-on responsibility across multiple stages of the employee lifecycle.
Demonstrated experience in HR operations, recruitment and onboarding, employee support, payroll and benefits coordination, and performance or learning administration.
Working knowledge of US employment practices, work authorization processes, confidentiality and employee-record requirements, with judgement to seek guidance when needed.
Experience using an HRIS such as BambooHR, maintaining accurate records, managing workflows and preparing reports.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize competing deadlines and manage recurring HR activities independently.
Confidence working with spreadsheets, trackers and people data to produce clear, accurate reports and summaries.
Professional written and verbal communication skills and a responsive, service-oriented approach with employees, candidates, managers and suppliers.
High discretion and integrity when handling confidential employee, compensation, talent and organizational information.
A proactive, collaborative approach and sound judgement about when to act independently and when to escalate to the HR Manager.
Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and adapt to changing priorities and work under pressure.
Accountability, adaptability, motivation, organization, resilience and a positive, results-oriented approach.

Nice To Haves

Candidates with 4–5 years of experience across a broader range of HR activities are encouraged to apply and may take on broader generalist responsibilities and greater ownership of HR processes and projects.
Experience in an HR Associate or related HR role.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day HR activities and recurring deadlines, following actions through to completion with appropriate independence.
Prepare standard offer documentation, employment change letters, probation reminders and leaver documentation, obtaining review and approval where required.
Maintain accurate, complete and confidential employee records in BambooHR and HR files, including employment changes, leave, absence and work authorization documentation.
Respond to routine employee questions and explain established HR policies and procedures; escalate sensitive matters, exceptions and complex employee relations issues to the HR Manager.
Manage the HR inbox, calendars, meeting arrangements and action trackers.
Coordinate recruitment from vacancy posting through interview scheduling, candidate communications and hiring documentation, working closely with hiring managers.
Maintain recruitment trackers, interview records and talent-pipeline data to support hiring and workforce reporting.
Coordinate pre-employment checks, references, new-starter documentation and induction schedules.
Arrange welcome materials, access and equipment with relevant teams, conduct HR inductions and track onboarding actions.
Coordinate offboarding, including leaver documentation, exit interviews, equipment returns and timely HR system updates.
Coordinate performance and probation review cycles, issue communications, maintain timelines and follow up on outstanding actions.
Support talent reviews and succession planning through meeting coordination, approved templates, confidential records and follow-up tracking.
Maintain development plans, learning records, qualification information and approved talent and succession data in BambooHR or agreed trackers.
Coordinate training, mentoring, coaching, workshops and learning events, including providers, invitations, attendance and feedback.
Prepare accurate payroll inputs for starters, leavers, leave and approved employee changes, check information and submit it to the HR Manager for review by required deadlines.
Support benefits administration, including enrolments, changes, employee communications and provider liaison.
Maintain headcount, vacancy, absence, turnover, training and talent data; prepare routine reports and flag trends or discrepancies to the HR Manager.
Conduct data-quality checks, resolve missing information and handle employee and compensation information in line with applicable privacy, confidentiality and records-retention requirements.
Coordinate employee communications, recognition, wellbeing initiatives, surveys, monthly socials and team activities.
Maintain current HR resources, distribution lists and calendars, and track agreed actions from employee feedback.
Promote inclusive, respectful and consistent working practices and provide approachable, responsive employee support.
Maintain compliance checklists, policy acknowledgements, required training and work authorization records, promptly flagging missing, expired or incomplete items.
Support HR audits and policy reviews by preparing records, evidence and documentation under the HR Manager’s direction.
Administer BambooHR within assigned permissions, maintaining workflows, documents, performance information and reports.
Identify recurring issues, recommend practical process improvements and maintain clear audit trails and approval records.
Assist with office coordination to maintain a safe, organized, well-supplied workplace.
Support health, safety and security administration, including training records, emergency preparedness, fire drills and first-aid arrangements.
Coordinate allocated supplier, meeting-room and visitor requirements, escalating service, safety or cost concerns.
Contribute to HR, talent and office projects reasonably required within the scope of the role.