Description
Summary
The Human Resources (HR) Specialist - supports a broad range of human resources functions, including employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, benefits administration, payroll processing, performance management, policy administration, compliance, and employee engagement initiatives. This position serves as a resource for managers and employees on various human resource services, policies, and programs. The HR Specialist works collaboratively across the Bank to support business objectives while delivering a positive employee experience. Provides essential functions in areas of payroll, benefits, HRIS management, recruiting, onboarding, offboarding, employee relations and communications.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Core HR
- Provide exceptional internal support by fielding, tracking and responding to employee and manager inquiries regarding policies, procedures, and HR programs.
- Responsible for the administration of programs, procedures, and guidelines to help align the workforce with the strategic goals of Northwest Bank.
- Promote employee engagement and support Bank culture initiatives, including employee milestone recognitions.
- Responsible for updates to HR intranet sites.
- Assist in HR policy development, updates, and communication.
- Oversee the maintenance of HR-related records required by law or local governing bodies.
- Enforce and maintain appropriate internal controls to ensure safe and sound practices.
- Responsible for participating in projects that facilitate greater efficiency and customer service.
Payroll Administration
- In partnership with Senior Generalist, act as primary for semi-monthly hourly and salary payroll processing, final pay, and special payrolls.
- Review payroll reports to ensure accuracy of earnings, deductions, taxes, paid leave, garnishments, and benefit elections.
- Research and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee payroll inquiries.
- Coordinate payroll changes related to status changes, compensation adjustments, promotions and terminations.
HRIS Administration
- Maintain accurate employee data in the HRIS, including but not limited to initiating and finalizing new employee profiles, entering job and or pay changes, supervisory / manager changes.
- Build and manage workflows, troubleshoot, run ad hoc reports and understand system integrations.
- Provide assistance to bank employees with HRIS self-service functions: access, timekeeping, paid time off, benefit / personal / payroll information.
- Generate HR metrics reports related to headcount, turnover, recruiting, payroll, benefits, audit requests.
- Recommend process improvements and support HR system enhancements.
Benefits
- Provide support for benefit-related administration, assist employees with any benefit questions or issues, life-event changes, new enrollments and terminations.
- Assist with 401k administration, including post-payroll uploads, reconciliation, new hire and term entries.
- Support leave administration, including state leave programs, and ADA accommodations.
Recruitment & Onboarding
- Collaborate with the human resources team to assist in recruitment activities, including job postings, applicant tracking, interviewing and candidate communications.
- Facilitate new hire onboarding process, including but not limited to initiating new-hire onboarding workflows, conducting background checks and pre-employment screenings, calendaring pre-hire onboarding meetings with multiple team members, preparing orientation schedules, maintaining appropriate documentation and timely entry for I-9 work authorizations.
Offboarding
- Facilitate offboarding process including preparing exit documentation, scheduling exit interviews, and updating internal systems.
- Other
- Prepare periodic reports for management as necessary or requested.
- Develop trust and partnership with leaders, managers and associates while maintaining highest level of confidentiality and professionalism.
Requirements
Required Qualifications
- 2 years of Human Resource administration support in two or more HR functional areas
- HRIS Experience
- 1 year payroll processing
- Highly proficient end-user technology skills with HR software and platforms, including HRIS
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and sensitivity
- Ability to interact professionally with all levels of staff
- Highly proficient utilizing Microsoft Office Suites, including Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, etc.
- Capacity to calculate, analyze and use data to work with important HR performance measures, such as employee headcount and retention rates
- Ability to analyze work processes and to make recommendations for process improvement
- Ability to analyze complex and sensitive issues and situations, identify alternative solutions, and implement effective course of actions
- Ability to adapt to changes in the work environment, manage multiple projects and perform efficiently in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to provide exceptional services in a high-volume work environment
Preferred Qualifications
- HR credentialing such as PHR, SHRM-CP
- Paylocity HRIS experience
- Banking experience
- Process documentation or SOP development
- Recruiting and Interviewing ATS
Skills Required
- Two years of human resources administration support in two or more HR functional areas
- HRIS experience
- One year of payroll processing experience
- Highly proficient end-user technology skills with HR software and HRIS platforms
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity
- Ability to interact professionally with all levels of staff
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and OneNote
- Ability to calculate, analyze, and use HR performance data, including headcount and retention rates
- Ability to analyze work processes and recommend improvements
- Ability to analyze complex and sensitive issues and implement effective solutions
- Ability to adapt to change, manage multiple projects, and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to provide exceptional service in a high-volume work environment
- PHR or SHRM-CP credential
- Paylocity HRIS experience
- Banking experience
- Process documentation or SOP development experience
- Recruiting and interviewing ATS experience
Northwest Bank Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northwest Bank and has not been reviewed or approved by Northwest Bank.
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Healthcare Strength — Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision options are available with a choice between a traditional plan and a high‑deductible plan, plus virtual‑care and wellness discounts. HSA/FSA options and employer HSA contributions for full‑time employees help manage out‑of‑pocket costs.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) program offers employer matching with immediate vesting to strengthen long‑term savings value. Eligibility begins shortly after hire, encouraging early participation.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO accrues by tenure and status, can be used in hourly increments, and the bank observes a broad set of federal holidays including Juneteenth. Limited carryover provides some flexibility for unused time.
Northwest Bank Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1896, Northwest Bank is a full-service financial institution offering a complete line of business and personal banking products, employee benefits, and wealth management services. It is committed to serving its customers and communities, embodying a philosophy where people make the difference.








