Human Resources Specialist

Overview

Essex Brownell is a global distributor of magnet wire, connectivity cable, lead wire, motors, drives, electrical and electronic insulation, tapes, repair parts, as well as shop and test equipment. Over the course of our 90-year history we have built key supplier relationships across many industries to ensure the highest level of quality to help businesses through innovation, supply management, and services.

Essex Brownell is seeking a highly motivated Human Resources Specialist to join our HR Team. In this role, you will provide administrative support to the HR Manager, assist with interviewing and recruiting candidates to fill open roles, and provide assistance to managers and employees regularly.

The HR Specialist is responsible for providing comprehensive administrative support to the HR Manager, assisting with candidate recruitment and interviews, and offering ongoing guidance to managers and employees. In addition, this role may involve benefits administration, payroll processing, and resolving employee inquiries. The HR Specialist plays a key role in ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as a trusted advisor & point of contact for employee and manager HR questions, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
• Source, screen, and interview candidates; communicate job details; coordinate and conduct new‑hire orientations; and support hiring managers throughout the recruitment process.
• Assist with attendance tracking and accuracy, communication of expectations, and monitoring of attendance‑related trends.
• Maintain accurate and compliant employment records, policy acknowledgements, and process documentation.
• Support disciplinary processes, including documentation preparation, coaching guidance, and ensuring consistency across departments.
• Process HRIS updates, employee data changes, run monthly reports and compile data as required.
• Respond to employee calls and inquiries, employment verifications, and information requests.
• Facilitate & administer employee engagement initiatives, training, surveys, and cultural programs.
• Participate in or conduct preliminary workplace investigations (conduct, attendance, harassment, policy violations) and provide summaries for HR Manager review.
• Support performance‑improvement plans by helping draft action plans, tracking progress, and ensuring procedural compliance.
• Exercise decision‑making authority for routine or delegated HR matters, escalating high‑risk issues to the HR Manager.
• Assist with benefits administration and responding to employee benefit questions.
• Monitor and track Leaves of Absence (FMLA, personal leave, etc.).
• Coordinate Workers’ Compensation reporting, follow‑up, and communication with carriers.
• Ensure HR practices comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Provide support for payroll‑related HR functions and facilitate communication between employees and payroll when resolving pay concerns.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the Human Resources and Executive team including but not limited to: booking travel arrangements, event coordination, expense processing, vendor coordination and replenishment orders for office.

• Demonstrate adaptability, initiative, and the ability to manage shifting priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organization, follow‑through, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work independently with little guidance.
• Ability to remain professional and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and a process‑improvement mindset.

• Experience with utilizing Microsoft Teams and best practices for collaboration
• Proficient in excel and data analysis tools.
• ADP and ATS familiarity preferred.

• Undergraduate Degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Communications, or related program preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered absent degree.
• Minimum of 2-4 years in Human Resources related field required. Experience in Talent & Acquisition and/or Training & Development

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by supervisors or management.

All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the required skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently.