HR Specialist - Temporary
Description
Company Background
Headquartered in Chehalis, Washington, Alta Forest Products operates in multiple Northwest rural communities. Partnering with Itochu Building Products, Alta is the world's largest producer of wood fence boards, specializing in Western Red Cedar and other premium species from the Pacific and Inland Northwest forests. Additionally, Alta's sawmills produce by-products like wood chips, sawdust, mulch, and biofuel.
About the Role
Position Summary
Alta Forest Products is seeking a dependable, detail-oriented HR Specialist to support the Corporate Human Resources team in Chehalis during a leave of absence and while completing several HR-related projects. This full-time temporary position will assist with payroll, benefits administration, HR documentation, employee support, office coordination, and related administrative functions. The ideal candidate has prior experience supporting human resources functions and enjoys working in a fast-paced environment where accuracy, confidentiality, follow-through, and initiative matter. This is a good opportunity for someone who has a solid HR administrative foundation and wants to broaden their experience in payroll, benefits, employee support, and corporate HR support within a corporate HR environment. This assignment is anticipated to run for a minimum of 3-6 months.
Essential Job Functions
- Support payroll administration by assisting with employee records, payroll-related documentation, timekeeping follow-up, data entry, and routine payroll file maintenance.
- Assist with benefits administration, including employee enrollment support, benefit change documentation, eligibility tracking, invoice review, and follow-up with employees or vendors as directed.
- Maintain accurate and confidential employee records, files, forms, lists, and HR-related documentation.
- Aid with onboarding activities including new hire paperwork, collection of required documents, employee communications, and coordination with hiring managers.
- Respond to routine employee questions and route payroll, benefits, policy, or employee relations matters to the appropriate HR team member.
- Prepare, scan, file, and organize HR, payroll, and benefits records with a high level of accuracy.
- Aid with internal communications, employee announcements, reports, spreadsheets, forms, and process documentation.
- Track follow-up items, deadlines, document requests, and pending tasks to ensure work is completed timely.
- Support special projects, data cleanup efforts, audits, spreadsheet maintenance, and system transition activities.
- Greet employees, visitors, and vendors and provide professional support to the corporate office as needed.
- Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Support payroll administration by assisting with employee records, payroll-related documentation, timekeeping follow-up, data entry, and routine payroll file maintenance.
- Assist with benefits administration, including employee enrollment support, benefit change documentation, eligibility tracking, invoice review, and follow-up with employees or vendors as directed.
- Maintain accurate and confidential employee records, files, forms, lists, and HR-related documentation.
- Aid with onboarding activities including new hire paperwork, collection of required documents, employee communications, and coordination with hiring managers.
- Respond to routine employee questions and route payroll, benefits, policy, or employee relations matters to the appropriate HR team member.
- Prepare, scan, file, and organize HR, payroll, and benefits records with a high level of accuracy.
- Aid with internal communications, employee announcements, reports, spreadsheets, forms, and process documentation.
- Track follow-up items, deadlines, document requests, and pending tasks to ensure work is completed timely.
- Support special projects, data cleanup efforts, audits, spreadsheet maintenance, and system transition activities.
- Greet employees, visitors, and vendors and provide professional support to the corporate office as needed.
- Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.
Qualifications
- High School Diploma or GED required.
- Prior experience supporting payroll, benefits, HR, employee records, or similar administrative processes required.
- Experience using HRIS, payroll, benefits, or timekeeping systems preferred.
- Two or more years of administrative, office support, payroll, benefits, HR, or related experience preferred.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel, with the ability to use spreadsheets for data entry, sorting, filtering, tracking, and basic review.
- Strong attention to detail, data accuracy, filing, recordkeeping, and document management skills.
- Ability to manage confidential employee information with discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.
- Strong follow-through, initiative, and ownership of assigned tasks, with the ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and stay organized in a busy office environment.
- Positive, team-oriented attitude with a willingness to learn, ask questions, and jump in where needed.
- Professional verbal and written communication skills with employees, leaders, vendors, and visitors.
- Able to identify when issues need to be escalated to HR leadership.
- Regular, reliable attendance and punctuality are essential.
- Employment is contingent upon successful completion of applicable pre-employment screening, including a background check.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk throughout the workday.
- Frequent use of computers, keyboards, telephones, and office equipment.
- Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to bend, reach, and file documents as needed.