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HR Specialist Job Description

Publish: April 2, 2021

Author: StrongerTeams Editorial

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HR Specialist Job Description

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An HR Specialist helps with recruitment, training, and policies in an organization. Often working as a member of the HR department and reporting to the HR Manager, an HR Specialist will possess expertise in one or two specific areas of the HR function.

An HR Specialist will have experience in all areas of HR but will be tasked with more complicated issues in specific areas—such as recruitment, benefits, or organization policy. The role often requires intense collaboration with departmental managers across the organization and supporting the organization in reaching its business objectives.

The HR Specialist job is a mid-level position and may lead to a Senior Specialist or a management role.

Similar Job Titles:

Human Resources Associate, Benefits Administrator, Benefits Coordinator, Benefits Adviser, Benefits Consultant, Payroll and Benefits Specialist, Benefits Specialist, Benefits Representative, Benefits Assistant

What Does an HR Specialist Typically Do?

An HR Specialist ensures that recruitment, training, support, policy compliance, and benefits administration function optimally in an organization. The HR Specialist must be an expert in all these fields and have some strategic input in addition to being responsible for implementation.

An HR Specialist’s assigned tasks will vary depending on the organization but may include:

Carrying out recruitment needs and analysis activities
Managing recruitment processes
Developing and implementing company policies and procedures
Creating learning and development plans
Planning quarterly, semi-annual, and annual performance reviews
Managing benefit scheme uptake and use
Ensuring all employee records are up to date, complete, and correct

Carrying Out Recruitment Needs and Analysis Activities

The HR Specialist must liaise with department heads and HR management to understand current and future staffing requirements for each department. This will involve understanding business growth plans and current productivity levels to determine whether more staff is needed. The HR Specialist should also forecast for mid- to long-term requirements and plan accordingly.

Managing Recruitment Processes

The HR Specialist must oversee recruitment according to the above plan, ensuring that all stakeholders are in the loop. The HR Specialist may be tasked with actual involvement in the recruiting of employees, but the focus is primarily on ensuring the process runs to schedule.

Developing and Implementing Company Policies and Procedures

The HR Specialist should have a clear understanding of both required policies and organization-specific procedures. These should be checked regularly and updated as required, and new policies developed in line with legislative changes. The HR Specialist must implement the policies by ensuring that they are disseminated, understood, and adhered to.

Creating Learning and Development Plans

The HR Specialist liaises with department heads and supervisors to ascertain training needs across the whole organization and develops an organization-wide training plan. The training plan should cover hard- and soft-skills training, coaching roles, and mentorship responsibilities. The HR Specialist should also be able to link the learning and development plan to specific empirical business targets.

Planning Quarterly, Semi-Annual, and Annual Performance Reviews

The HR Specialist must plan the entire review process in collaboration with department heads. The planning will include scheduling, creating documentation or automated processes, training managers on review protocol, and developing systems to collate the results. The HR Specialist must then generate reports on the results of each review process and should be prepared to give feedback to managers.

Managing Benefit Scheme Uptake and Use

The HR Specialist must ensure that all organizational benefit schemes are known, understood, and being used by employees. The HR Specialist should be able to analyze uptake and use on a micro level and should collaborate with HR management and departmental heads to address any issues.

Ensuring All Employee Record Are Up To Date, Complete, and Correct

The HR Specialist must ensure that all statutory and organization-specific records are maintained and accessible. This task may also include analyzing employee trends and generating ad hoc reports for management.

Roles an HR Specialist Typically Collaborates With

An HR Specialist will work closely with the following posts:

Collaborative Roles
HR Manager	Human Resources Executive	Senior HR Specialist
Compensation and Benefits Manager	Payroll Coordinator	HR Coordinator
Benefits Analyst	Benefits Administrator	Benefits Manager

HR Specialist Salary

The national average salary for an HR Specialist will typically be between $51,000 and $65,000 annually in the U.S. The median is around $58,786.

What Is the HR Specialist Pay Difference by Location?

Average salaries for an HR Specialist differ by location as follows:

City	Average Salary
San Francisco, CA	$73,483
Seattle, WA	$64,277
Denver, CO	$59,450
Austin, TX	$57,816
Washington, DC	$65,441
Milwaukee, WI	$58,180
Boston, MA	$66,234
New York, NY	$70,720

What Is the HR Specialist Pay Difference by Experience Level?

Depending on experience, pay will vary as follows:

Experience Level	Average Salary
< 1 year	$57,309
1–4 years	$59,244
5–9 years	$59,703
10–19 years	$59,703
20+ years	$59,703