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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for HR Administrator

💰 $45,000 - $65,000

Human ResourcesAdministrationOperations

🎯 Role Definition

As the HR Administrator, you are the organizational backbone of the Human Resources department, serving as the central point for all administrative and operational HR functions. You will be the first friendly face and point of contact for our employees, providing critical support across the entire employee lifecycle, from onboarding and integration to offboarding and beyond. This role is pivotal in maintaining impeccable employee records, supporting our talent acquisition and retention efforts, assisting with benefits administration, and ensuring our operations are compliant with all relevant regulations. This role requires a meticulously detail-oriented, empathetic, and proactive individual who excels at multitasking in a dynamic environment and is passionate about fostering a positive and efficient workplace culture.


📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • HR Assistant
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Recruitment Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • HR Generalist
  • HR Coordinator (Senior Level)
  • HR Specialist (e.g., Benefits, Payroll, or Talent Acquisition)
  • HR Business Partner (Long-term)

Lateral Moves:

  • Payroll Administrator
  • Office Manager
  • Executive Assistant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Manage the end-to-end new hire onboarding process, including drafting and sending offer letters, initiating background checks, and ensuring all pre-employment paperwork is completed accurately and on time.
  • Conduct new employee orientation sessions, presenting company policies, culture, and benefits information to ensure a welcoming and informative start for all team members.
  • Serve as the primary administrator for our Human Resources Information System (HRIS), ensuring 100% data integrity by processing new hires, terminations, status changes, and personal information updates.
  • Maintain and audit all physical and digital employee files, ensuring they are complete, confidential, and compliant with company policies and legal requirements.
  • Act as the first point of contact for all employee inquiries regarding HR policies, procedures, and benefits, providing timely and accurate information or escalating complex issues to the appropriate HR team member.
  • Support the recruitment team by posting job openings on various career boards, screening initial applications, and scheduling interviews between candidates and hiring managers.
  • Facilitate the offboarding process for departing employees, including preparing termination paperwork, coordinating final paychecks, and conducting exit interviews to gather valuable feedback.
  • Assist in the administration of employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans, by supporting open enrollment and answering employee questions.
  • Liaise with benefits brokers and third-party vendors to resolve employee benefit-related issues and ensure seamless service delivery.
  • Process and verify employee changes that impact payroll, such as new hires, terminations, salary adjustments, and promotions, ensuring accurate data is provided to the payroll department.
  • Prepare and generate standard and ad-hoc HR reports on key metrics such as headcount, turnover, new hires, and recruitment activity for management review.
  • Ensure strict compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws by maintaining I-9 forms, EEO data, and other required documentation.
  • Assist with the planning and execution of HR-related events, such as wellness initiatives, company-wide meetings, and employee engagement activities.
  • Manage employee leave of absence requests (FMLA, short-term disability), providing employees with the necessary paperwork and tracking leave durations.
  • Respond to verification of employment requests from external agencies in a timely and confidential manner.
  • Support the performance review cycle by tracking completion, sending reminders, and ensuring documentation is filed correctly in employee records.
  • Handle the ordering and inventory management of HR department supplies and new hire welcome kits.
  • Assist with updating the company intranet and internal communication channels with the latest HR news, policy updates, and announcements.
  • Provide comprehensive administrative support to the HR department, including managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and handling correspondence.
  • Participate in HR process improvement projects aimed at enhancing efficiency, employee experience, and scalability of HR operations.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the coordination and logistics of employee training and development programs.
  • Assist with employee engagement surveys and the analysis of feedback to identify trends and areas for improvement.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy by helping to clean and validate HR data sets.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if the HR team operates within an agile framework.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • HRIS Proficiency: Hands-on experience with Human Resources Information Systems such as Workday, ADP Workforce Now, SAP SuccessFactors, or BambooHR.
  • MS Office Suite: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (for reporting and data analysis), Word (for documentation), and PowerPoint (for presentations).
  • Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Familiarity with ATS platforms like Greenhouse, Lever, or iCIMS for managing recruitment pipelines.
  • Knowledge of Employment Law: A strong foundational understanding of federal and state employment regulations, including FMLA, ADA, FLSA, and EEO.
  • Payroll Systems Knowledge: Basic understanding of how payroll systems function and the ability to prepare data for processing.
  • Reporting & Data Analysis: Ability to compile, analyze, and present HR data in a clear and concise manner.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional Attention to Detail: A meticulous approach to data entry, record-keeping, and documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance.
  • Discretion and Confidentiality: The ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost integrity and professionalism.
  • Strong Organizational & Time Management Skills: Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, tasks, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent Communication Skills: Clear, professional, and empathetic communication abilities, both written and verbal, for interacting with employees at all levels.
  • Interpersonal Skills: A collaborative, approachable, and customer-service-oriented mindset to build trust and positive relationships.
  • Problem-Solving Ability: Proactive in identifying issues, resourceful in finding solutions, and knowing when to escalate.
  • Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, new technologies, and evolving business needs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED, supplemented with 2-3 years of direct experience in an HR or administrative role.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
  • HR certification (e.g., aPHR, SHRM-CP) is a significant plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Human Resources Management
  • Business Administration
  • Psychology or Sociology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2-4 years of experience in an HR administrative or coordinator role.

Preferred: Experience in a fast-growing company, demonstrating the ability to handle increasing complexity and volume.