People & Culture Specialist

Albert Uster Imports•Gaithersburg, MD

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

The People & Culture Specialist is responsible for supporting core operations such as employee relations and performance management processes, leave and accommodation management, and day-to-day people processes for all employees. This role will also serve as a trusted advisor to the Distribution Center network, providing guidance on policies, performance, and compliance requirements, including our safety programs. This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative, food-focused organization passionate about the diversity of cuisines and the power of food to bring people together. The ideal candidate is thoughtful, detail-and-solutions-oriented, and reliable. As a response to the pandemic, Albert Uster Imports Inc. office employees have transitioned to a hybrid working schedule, requiring employees to report in-person Monday through Wednesday, with the option to telework on Thursday and Friday each week. Due to the collaborative, cross-functional nature of the organization, employees at the Gaithersburg office are required to work in-person for the abovementioned days, outside of any People & Culture-approved disability accommodation request.

Requirements

3-5 years of experience in HR, compliance, or employee relations support
Strong communication, interpersonal, and project management skills, with the ability to organize multiple priorities and maintain a high level of attention to detail
Ability to partner effectively with cross-functional leaders, providing practical guidance and sound judgement in a fast-paced, fluid environment
A self-starter who is willing to “roll up their sleeves” and perform multiple tasks independently as a resource for employees and the business
Strong sense of follow-through and commitment to timely and accurate completion of tasks
A passion for food and people!

Nice To Haves

Strong preference for bi-lingual with English and Spanish
Experience handling confidential and sensitive information
Experience supporting distribution, warehouse, logistics or manufacturing environments
Working knowledge of employee relations, leave management, and performance management best practices, knowledge of federal and state compliance standards
Bachelor’s degree in human resource management or business is a plus

Responsibilities

Work with the P&C team to provide administrative and functional support to all areas including employee relations, performance management, leave and accommodation management, offboarding, compliance, training, etc. for employees in all locations
Own onboarding experience for employees, independent contractors, and temporary staff by completing all administrative tasks, conducting all P&C training and check-ins, and partnering with managers to develop their role-specific onboarding process
Maintain and update all data in our HR Platform. This includes entering new hire information, pulling employee reports, and resolving issues and discrepancies
Champion various P&C projects over the course of the year including the implementation of safety programs, training, compliance programs, and employee policies. Think critically of ways to improve processes and creatively brainstorm initiatives to continue to enhance the AUI culture
Serve as a trusted business partner to the Distribution Center network, advising leaders on employee relations matters, performance management processes, policy interpretation, compliance requirements, and safety programs
Administer leave of absence, accommodation, and return-to-work processes for all employees ensuring a consistent and well-documented approach
Generate and analyze standard HR reports (headcount, turnover, compliance tracking) to support business and P&C decision‑making
Serve as a contact for employee questions, address requests, and escalate concerns to Senior Manager as appropriate
Additional ad-hoc requests and projects as needed