Human Resource Specialist

Position Announcement

Meridian Institute is seeking an HR Specialist to help take our Human Resource team to the next level. We are looking for a self-starter with at least five years of human resources experience who is accurate and organized, has a proven track record of managing confidential information, and displays a strong employee service orientation.

This is a full-time, hourly position that is non-exempt for overtime. Given COVID-19, Meridian staff have been balancing time between working in the office and working from home. This position can work remotely, or from our Dillon, CO or Washington, DC offices. The HR Specialist selected will ideally begin work by December 1, if not sooner.

About the Position

The Human Resources Specialist (HR Specialist) is responsible for overall HR administration and communications including responding to employee inquiries on a variety of HR topics. The HR Specialist supports the day-to-day operations of the department and is responsible for supporting processes and systems across the employment life cycle. This includes benefits administration, hiring and onboarding, recordkeeping, and special HR projects. The HR Specialist will also need the ability to take on projects and manage them independently. This is a high volume/high demand position managing multiple projects with time-sensitive deadlines.

• Administers HR recordkeeping and compliance across all HR functions and systems. Ensures proper documentation according to organizational policies and regulatory compliance.
• Provides professional communication and service-oriented support as the first point of contact for the HR team. Prepares staff-wide communications and helps draft updated policies.
• Tracks and administers a variety of HR processes, including performance management and reviews, staff trainings and professional development, and compensation and payroll.
• Researches and collects information to support decision-making for HR projects through online research, note-taking on external calls, and development of staff surveys. Summarizes results in both written and verbal formats.
• Continually refreshes knowledge of local and federal HR laws the organization is required to adhere to; maintains a commitment to professional development.
• Administers employee benefits and serves as the connection point to payroll. Works between employees and benefit providers or third-party administrators to address inquiries and resolve problems. Responsible for Open Enrollment and completing benefit-related audits and reporting.
• Supports hiring activities at all stages, including announcements and postings, technology setup and support, compiling data for candidate selection, communications and scheduling, employment offers, and new employee onboarding.

Click here to view the full position description.

At Meridian Institute, we believe that we must do all that we can to protect the safety, health, and wellbeing of employees, clients, guests, our communities, and others with whom we interact. This is why all offers of employment in the U.S. where legally permitted are contingent on the candidate showing proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to pass the pre-employment requirements. In circumstances where an applicant communicates that they are not able to be vaccinated for COVID‑19 because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance or because of a disability, then Meridian, in accordance with applicable law, will engage in the interactive process to determine if a reasonable accommodation is feasible that will not pose an undue hardship or create a direct threat to safety.

Eligibility Requirements

An Associate’s degree in Business or related field is desired, but not a requirement. Eligibility criteria include:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the field of Human Resources, with 3 years of experience administering employee benefits, including healthcare, life insurance, retirement, disability, workers compensation, and employee leave.
• Full professional proficiency or higher in English.
• Thorough technical knowledge and proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, with special emphasis on Outlook, Excel, MS Teams and SharePoint.
• Legally able to work in the United States without visa support/sponsorship.

Characteristics

Required Characteristics—Successful applicants must have:

• Strong working knowledge of HR principles and practices (e.g., recruitment, onboarding, recordkeeping, and development).
• Familiarity with ACA, COBRA, ERISA, FMLA, state and federal employment laws and regulations.
• Acute attention to detail and a compliance mindset.
• Aptitude for critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision making.
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills with the ability to juggle a high volume of transactions and multiple projects at a time.
• Possesses a positive, service-oriented attitude with excellent follow-through.
• High level of interpersonal skills and maturity in handling confidential and sensitive situations and documentation.
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to present, review, and explain detailed information with employees at all levels.
• Strength of character, reliability, and commitment to HR ethics. Exercises sound judgment when dealing with employee issues.

Desired Characteristics- Preference will be given to candidates with the following characteristics:

• PHR or SHRM-CP HR certification preferred.
• Experience with Payroll systems and HRIS/ATS, especially for administering benefits and hiring.
• Detailed knowledge of employment laws in a variety of states, with special emphasis on Colorado and/or Washington, DC.

Compensation and Benefits

The pay range for the HR Specialist is $25.23 – $37.84 per hour ($52,470 – $78,710 per year). The position is an hourly, non-exempt position and eligible for overtime compensation. Most candidates will start in the bottom half of the range. Considerations will be made based on years of education and/or experience and comparison to other employees already in this role.

The selected candidate will receive a performance evaluation at 6 months and a performance and salary evaluation again after one year. Meridian offers an excellent benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance; employer contributions to a 401(k) plan; and vacation, sick, and holidays (alternative holidays available). In addition, this position is provided a laptop and mobile phone in conjunction with employment. Washington, DC based staff are provided reimbursement of costs incurred by using public transit to commute to work.

How to Apply

Completed applications will be evaluated as received.

Required materials include:

1. Cover Letter – 1 page
   Drawing from your personal and professional experiences, please explain how you hope to contribute to Meridian as the HR Specialist.
2. Resume – 1 page
   Detail relevant education, training, experiences, and accomplishments.

Submit the cover letter and resume here. Please direct any additional questions about the position to Jennifer Brassanini (jbrassanini@merid.org).

About Meridian Institute

Meridian Institute is a mission-driven, non-profit organization that has helped our clients and partners develop and implement solutions to complicated, often controversial problems—big and small, global and local—for over two decades.

Effective collaborative decision-making requires inclusion of different perspectives and involves bringing together participants with diverse backgrounds. As an organization, we seek staff that reflects and values that same diversity and has experience working in multicultural settings.

For more information about Meridian and specific projects, please visit https://merid.org/

Equal Opportunity Employment

Meridian recognizes that our work is made stronger and more impactful by the contributions of diverse groups from around the world. At Meridian, we welcome people from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, creed, class, ancestry, or other grounds.

Meridian Institute is a participating employer in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security program, E-Verify.