HR Coordinator / Generalist

Johnson Nursery Corporation•Willard, NC

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

Johnson Nursery is a family-owned wholesale and retail plant nursery in Willard, NC, with over 40 years of experience serving the horticultural industry. We grow and ship a wide variety of plants across the eastern United States and also operate a local garden center and event venue. We are a people-first organization where every role has a significant impact. This position is crucial for maintaining the health and culture of our company. We are looking for a high-energy, bilingual (English/Spanish) HR Coordinator/Administrator who is passionate about building a strong workplace culture and enjoys working in an agricultural setting. This is a hands-on role involving daily interaction with all departments, including our seasonal H-2A workforce. The ideal candidate is organized, approachable, bilingual, and comfortable working in both office and production environments. This role will manage daily HR operations such as payroll coordination, recruiting, onboarding, safety leadership, compliance, and employee relations. Comprehensive training will be provided for backup payroll processing.

Requirements

Fluent in English and Spanish — written and spoken (non-negotiable)
2+ years of HR, HR administration, or related experience
Working knowledge of payroll processing and timekeeping systems
Familiarity with federal and North Carolina labor law compliance
Proficiency in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Drive, Gmail, Calendar)
Proficiency in all Microsoft Office products
Strong Excel aptitude — data management, tracking, and reporting
Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail
Ability to communicate effectively with diverse, multilingual workforces
Comfortable working in a hands-on agricultural or production environment

Nice To Haves

Experience managing or supporting H-2A or agricultural visa programs
Prior experience with Paylocity or similar HRIS platforms
PHR, SHRM-CP, or other HR certification
Safety committee leadership or OSHA compliance background
Community college or workforce development partnership experience
Bilingual HR experience in an agricultural, nursery, or seasonal workforce setting

Responsibilities

Coordinate and submit bi-weekly payroll through Paylocity.
Train toward and serve as backup payroll processor.
Respond to employee questions on pay, PTO, and deductions.
Manage benefits enrollment, corrections, and open enrollment.
Support W-2 distribution and year-end paperwork (e.g., 5500 forms).
Troubleshoot timekeeping and time clock issues.
Manage job postings, applicant communication, and interview scheduling.
Coordinate pre-employment background checks and physicals.
Lead new hire orientation and onboarding for a consistent, welcoming experience.
Administer new hire surveys and use feedback to improve onboarding.
Work with managers to facilitate on-the-job (OTJ) training programs.
Coordinate placement and management of temporary workers.
Build relationships with local community colleges and workforce development programs.
Represent Johnson Nursery at job fairs, community hiring events, and workforce partnerships.
Lead and facilitate the company safety committee — meetings, action items, and reporting.
Champion a culture of safety across greenhouse, nursery, and retail environments.
Coordinate OSHA and compliance safety training.
Maintain safety records, incident logs, and workers’ compensation documentation.
Partner with managers on workplace incident investigation and corrective actions.
Ensure safety signage, labor postings, and AED program remain current and compliant.
Serve as the first point of contact for employee HR questions and concerns.
Foster a positive, inclusive, and team-oriented workplace culture.
Drive employee recognition programs and engagement initiatives.
Support conflict resolution and escalate to leadership as appropriate.
Conduct offboarding including exit interviews, final pay, and COBRA notification.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws.
Maintain and update employee handbooks and HR policies.
Keep labor law postings current at all locations.
Support data privacy, anti-discrimination, and harassment prevention policies.
Assist with HR-related audits, investigations, and legal matters as directed.
Maintain Insurance and 401k-related company needs, employee requests for information, and the Broker relationship.
Serve as the primary HR point of contact for all H-2A seasonal workers.
Communicate policy changes, pay updates, and program requirements to workers in Spanish.
Coordinate with the program agency (Del-Al) on documentation and worker lists.
Oversee inspection readiness for H-2A housing (local, state, and county compliance).
Calculate and process H-2A reimbursements accurately and on schedule.
Maintain accurate employee records in Paylocity and ensure data integrity.
Manage HR email and respond to time-sensitive communications promptly.
Support transition to digital/paperless HR files.
Coordinate with insurance vendors on workers’ compensation, general liability, and benefits.
Generate HR reports and metrics for leadership as requested.