HR Specialist

About the role

The HR Specialist role is a 6+ month contract position that serves as a key member of the Human Resources team, supporting approximately 200 employees, most of whom are hourly manufacturing staff. This position focuses on HRIS administration, employee onboarding, benefits support, payroll assistance, recruiting coordination, employee communications, and general HR operations. The role offers broad exposure across core HR functions and the opportunity to contribute to a global organization in the aerospace and defense industry.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee questions regarding benefits, policies, time off, and general HR matters.
• Maintain accurate employee records and process employee status changes within the HRIS system.
• Manage end-to-end onboarding activities, including new hire paperwork, orientation, and system setup.
• Support benefits administration, including enrollment activities and related employee communications.
• Assist with bi-weekly payroll processing and timekeeping administration for approximately 200 employees.
• Maintain and update employee data within HR systems and generate HR reports as needed.
• Support hourly recruiting efforts by coordinating and scheduling interviews and facilitating onboarding for new hires.
• Assist with employee engagement initiatives, wellness programs, and company-sponsored events.
• Maintain HR files and documentation, ensuring confidentiality, accuracy, and compliance with internal policies.
• Partner with site leadership and corporate HR teams to support HR programs and initiatives.
• Assist with internal communications related to company policies, benefits, safety initiatives, and general announcements.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable employment laws and regulations in all HR activities.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 2 years of Human Resources experience.
• Hands-on HRIS experience, with the ability to process employee transactions such as hires, terminations, status changes, benefits enrollment, and reporting within an HRIS.
• Experience supporting employees with HR-related questions and inquiries.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines.
• Human resources experience, including employee relations and onboarding.
• HRIS administration experience, with Workday preferred but other platforms considered.
• Payroll support experience, including timekeeping administration, preferred.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience with Workday HRIS is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting payroll processes and timekeeping systems.
• Knowledge of UKG, Kronos, ADP eTime, or similar time and attendance platforms.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, industrial, or hourly employee populations.
• Familiarity with employment laws including FMLA, ADA, ADEA, and FLSA.
• Experience working in a collaborative HR team and partnering with operations or manufacturing leadership.
• Interest in gaining broad HR exposure across HRIS, benefits, onboarding, payroll, recruiting, and employee relations.

Work Environment

This position is 100% on-site in Amesbury, MA, within a manufacturing environment that supports the aerospace and defense industry. The role operates on a flexible schedule within standard business hours, offering regular interaction with hourly manufacturing employees and a collaborative HR and leadership team. The assignment is expected to be long-term, with the potential to extend through April 2027 and strong potential for permanent conversion, providing stability and ongoing professional development in a dynamic, operations-focused setting.