People (HR) Specialist

Kinter • Waukegan, IL

1d • $65,000 - $75,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The People Specialist supports the People (HR) Department by managing essential functions such as recruitment, onboarding, payroll and employee relations. This role involves maintaining employee records, administering benefits, and ensuring compliance with company policies and legal regulations. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic, detail-oriented, and passionate about fostering a positive workplace culture. The pay range for this role is fixed at $65,000 to $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience. This role is also eligible for a year-end performance bonus.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, communications, or related field required.
• 2-3 years of progressive human resources experience.
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

• Payroll processing experience preferred.
• Experience supporting the full employee life cycle.
• Experience using an HRIS for employee data management, payroll processing, audits, and reporting.
• SHRM-CP or PHR a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a backup to the People Manager, provided day-to-day operational support as needed.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential employee records, personnel files, and HRIS database; manage all HR-related filing and documentation.
• Administer and process weekly and bi-weekly payroll, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of payroll records and reporting.
• Maintain knowledge of regulatory updates, HR technologies, employment law, and best practices.
• Act as a point of contact for employee relations questions and concerns, escalating matters to the People Manager as appropriate.
• Support and participate in employee disciplinary actions, investigations, and termination processes.
• Serve as the primary recruiter, managing full-cycle hiring including drafting and posting job advertisements, coordinating with hiring managers, screening candidates, scheduling interviews, and supporting selection decisions.
• Communicate and coordinate with third-party staffing and temporary agencies regarding hiring needs.
• Coordinate and manage onboarding and offboarding processes, ensuring completion of all required documentation and system updates.
• Administer and track leave programs, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
• Maintain OSHA recordkeeping, including injury and illness logs, incident documentation, and required postings.
• Assist with reviewing, updating, and maintaining the employee handbook and HR policies to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Assist in the development and implementation of HR initiatives aligned with Business objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Enjoy generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Benefit from comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance—100% covered for the employee by Kinter, with no payroll deductions.
• Secure your future with our fully employer-funded pension plan (contributions start after 1 year, fully vested after 5 years, with no deductions from your paycheck).
• Unlock long-term growth potential and opportunities to advance within the company.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees