Human Resources Manager - Harborview Aquarium

About the role

This position is responsible for the day-to-day human resources operations of the Aquarium. Primary responsibilities include recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, payroll processing, benefits administration, compliance support, employee records, and maintaining a positive team approach across all departments.

Responsibilities

• Aid in the development and implementation of human resources policies, procedures, forms, training programs, and employee documentation.
• Support the hiring and onboarding process for all preopening positions, including job postings, applicant tracking, interview scheduling, offer letters, background checks, and new hire paperwork.
• Care for the onboarding and orientation of employees prior to opening, including required trainings, policy acknowledgments, payroll setup, benefits enrollment, and employee file creation.
• Coordinate with department leaders for recruitment planning, staffing timelines, and position tracking to ensure departments are appropriately staffed for opening.
• Collaborate with payroll, benefits, insurance, and HR service providers to establish effective systems prior to opening.
• Maintain accurate employee records, personnel files, training documentation, and compliance-related documentation.
• Support the development of employee handbook materials, workplace expectations, attendance policies, disciplinary processes, and other HR-related documents.
• Manage day-to-day human resources functions to ensure the highest level of professionalism, responsiveness, confidentiality, and operational readiness.
• Serve as a resource to employees and department leaders regarding workplace policies, employee relations, attendance, performance documentation, coaching, corrective action, and general HR matters.
• Administer employee benefits, leave programs, workers’ compensation claims, disability, paid family leave, and related employee documentation.
• Maintain compliance with applicable local, state, and federal employment laws, regulations, reporting requirements, and company policies.
• Partner with department leaders to support performance management, employee development, documentation, and consistent application of policies.
• Support the development of a positive workplace culture during startup and Year 1 operations through consistent communication, employee engagement initiatives, recognition programs, and team member feedback opportunities.
• Partner with department leaders to promote employee retention, morale, accountability, and consistent application of workplace expectations across all departments.
• Aid in the setup and administration of payroll, timekeeping, benefits, workers’ compensation, disability, paid family leave, and other employee-related programs.
• Support recruitment efforts for ongoing hiring needs, including job postings, applicant screening, interview coordination, offer letters, pre-employment requirements, and onboarding.
• Coordinate and/or lead required employee training, including safety, harassment prevention, emergency procedures, guest service standards, and other facility-specific training needs.
• Monitor employee attendance, timekeeping trends, turnover, staffing needs, and other HR-related metrics.
• Coordinate offboarding, exit interviews, final pay information, return of company property, and employee file updates.
• Work closely with Finance to ensure payroll, benefit deductions, workers’ compensation, and employee-related expenses are properly supported and communicated.
• Maintain positive working relationships with outside vendors, payroll providers, benefits providers, insurance carriers, and other HR-related partners.
• Provide leadership with periodic updates and reports related to staffing, recruitment, payroll, benefits, turnover, employee relations, and compliance matters.
• Motivate and support team members through role modeling, professionalism, timely communication, respect, and a positive approach to problem solving.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in human resources, payroll, benefits administration, or a closely related field required.
• Experience in hospitality, attractions, museums, zoos, aquariums, retail, food service, or another high-volume public-facing environment preferred.
• Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, payroll coordination, and benefits administration required.
• Working knowledge of employment practices, employee documentation, confidentiality requirements, payroll processes, benefits, workers’ compensation, disability, paid leave, and general HR compliance.
• Working knowledge of New York State employment requirements and policy compliance, including wage and hour practices, paid sick leave, disability benefits, paid family leave, workers’ compensation, required notices, and employee recordkeeping.
• Experience working with payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, or applicant tracking systems required.
• Competency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong teamwork, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills conducive to a positive work environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong listening, discretion, judgment, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with professionalism.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing operational needs.
• Creative problem-solver who thrives when presented with a challenge.
• Energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas.