Human Resources Admin / Coordinator

Johnson Nursery Corporation•Willard, NC

2d•$48,000 - $52,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Johnson Nursery is a family-owned wholesale and retail plant nursery in Willard, NC, serving the horticultural industry for over 40 years. We grow and ship 2,000+ plant varieties — annuals, perennials, shrubs, tropicals, grasses, and trees — to garden centers, nurseries, landscapers, and botanical gardens across the eastern United States. We also operate a local garden center and The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina, a community destination for events, workshops, and venue rentals. We are a people-first, family-owned business where every role has real impact. This position is central to the health and culture of our entire organization. We are seeking a high-energy, bilingual (English/Spanish) HR Coordinator / Administrator who loves working in an agricultural environment and is passionate about building a strong workplace culture. This is a hands-on, on-the-ground role with daily interaction across all departments, including our seasonal H-2A workforce. The right candidate is organized, approachable, bilingual, and comfortable moving between an office and the production floor. This role owns day-to-day HR operations, including payroll coordination, recruiting, onboarding, safety leadership, compliance, and employee relations. Over time, the candidate will also serve as a backup payroll processor, with full training provided.

Requirements

Fluent in English and Spanish — written and spoken (preferred)
1-2+ 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
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
Safety committee leadership or OSHA compliance background

Responsibilities

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 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
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
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
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
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 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