Human Resources Associate Job Description

A Human Resources Associate runs and manages all the administrative tasks of an HR department.

Primarily a support role, a Human Resources Associate reports to the HR Manager and is involved in all the functions of the department, including recruitment, HR record maintenance, payroll administration, and organization policies and procedures.

A Human Resources Associate can progress into a supervisory role or can specialize in one of the HR disciplines.

Similar Job Titles:

HR Generalist, HR Assistant, Human Resources Clerk, Benefits Assistant, Payroll Clerk, Payroll Assistant, Recruiting Assistant, HR Intern

What Does a Human Resources Associate Typically Do?

A Human Resources Associate works with departmental heads to understand their business plans and aligns HR activities to support, enhance, and improve them.

A Human Resources Associate’s role consists of:

1. Receiving and collating job applicant documentation
2. Setting up meetings, interviews, and appointments
3. Collecting work records and timesheets
4. Capturing employee data and maintaining employee records
5. Preparing payroll data
6. Administering training activities
7. Answering general HR queries

Receiving and Collating Job Applicant Documentation

A Human Resources Associate collates the documentation received from job applicants, runs the necessary checks for completeness, and performs background checks as required. The role is often the main point of contact between the organization and the candidate and must be careful to represent the organization well.

Setting Up Meetings, Interviews, and Appointments

Working with an HR Manager or Hiring Manager, a Human Resources Associate sets up interviews, assessments, and appointments with prospective hires. Having scheduled dates and times, a Human Resources Associate should then ensure that meeting spaces are booked, required documentation is prepared, and ancillaries, such as refreshments, are organized.

Collecting Work Records and Timesheets

While most record-keeping and time-logging is automated, a Human Resources Associate is responsible for the necessary data being captured in the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) in preparation for input into the payroll system. Accuracy and completeness are paramount, so a Human Resources Associate must devote adequate uninterrupted time to completing the task. Time management skills are required to ensure the task is completed satisfactorily.

Capturing Employee Data and Maintaining Employee Records

A Human Resources Associate ensures that all statutory employee data is complete and correct. All the records must remain organized and easily accessible, and a Human Resources Associate may be the first port of call for managers to access records.

Preparing Payroll Data

Assisting with the weekly and monthly payroll runs is one of the most important tasks for a Human Resources Associate, demanding accuracy, speed, and completeness, often under pressure from the payroll team. A successful Human Resources Associate will designate set times for this task well in advance of the deadline and will prioritize the task above all others.

Administering Training Activities

A Human Resources Associate is responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the logistics of internal and external training courses for the organization. This will involve:

• Liaising with internal and external facilitators
• Managing the organization’s published training calendar
• Organizing venues
• Handling all the logistics around the courses

 After each training course, a Human Resources Associate collects feedback and prepares post-training reports for management, the facilitator, and the trainees.

Answering General HR Queries

A Human Resources Associate should be a source of knowledge about every aspect of the HR function and answer general inquiries from employees. A good HR Administrative Assistant will log queries and ensure the most common ones can be answered without transferring them to other team members.

Roles a Human Resources Associate Typically Collaborates With

The following people collaborate with a Human Resources Associate:

Collaborative Roles
HR Manager	HR Coordinator	Payroll Manager
Payroll Coordinator	HR Director	Human Resources Project Manager
Senior HR Specialist	HR Analyst	Human Resources Executive

Human Resources Associate Salary

Average U.S. earnings for a Human Resources Associate will be between $46,000 and $64,000 annually. The median is around $52,214.

What Is the Human Resources Associate Pay Difference by Location?

A Human Resources Associate’s salary will be affected by location as follows:

City	Average Salary
San Francisco, CA	$65,267
Seattle, WA	$57,091
Denver, CO	$52,804
Austin, TX	$51,352
Washington, D.C.	$58,124
Milwaukee, WI	$51,676
Boston, MA	$58,829
New York, NY	$62,813

What Is the Human Resources Associate Pay Difference by Experience Level?

A Human Resources Associate’s salary will increase with experience as follows:

Experience Level	Average Salary
< 1 year	$50,228
1–4 years	$53,078
5–9 years	$56,535
10–19 years	$56,535
20+ years	$56,535

Human Resources Associate Job Description Template

[Company Name] boasts incredible employee satisfaction, and we would like to keep it that way. To assist us in our HR function, we are looking for a hard-working and dedicated Human Resources Associate.

You will be involved in every aspect of our HR work and will support our HR Manager, our HR Specialists, and our employees in all HR-related matters.

You will join a seasoned team of professionals who are committed to helping our company grow and succeed.

HR Associate Job Responsibilities

• Assisting with recruitment processes
• Capturing employee data, work records, and payroll information
• Preparing payroll reports for management
• Organizing training activities, meetings, and in-house events
• Answering general HR queries

Required Skill Set

• Bachelor’s degree in HR
• At least two years’ experience in an administrative position
• Extensive experience with common HR Information Systems (SAP, Oracle, and similar)
• Expert computer skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Proven ability to multitask
• Total attention to detail
• Strong enthusiasm and a desire to learn

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