People Operations Specialist

Location

This position will be based in Charlotte, NC. 

Summary of Role 

Palmetto is seeking a People Operations Specialist to join our in-office team in Charlotte, North Carolina. This role primarily supports teammates across various stages of the employee lifecycle – including onboarding, day-to-day HR support, engagement, and offboarding – in close partnership with the People & Culture team. Serving as a trusted resource for teammates, this role also plays a key part in enhancing teammate satisfaction and productivity through program development and coordination of events that engage teammates, including executive meetings and training sessions. As our People Operations Specialist, you will use your excellent communication, strong attention to detail, good judgment, and top-notch organizational skills to optimize on-site operations and foster a culture that promotes teammate growth and engagement. 

Strategic & Tactical

People & Culture (80%)

• Manage and respond to employee inquiries received through the People & Culture inbox, ensuring thoughtful, timely, and accurate communication while maintaining a high standard of service and support
• Facilitate onboarding activities, including new hire orientation, I-9 & E-Verify verification, tracking new hire compliance training completion, preparing workspaces, and conducting office tours; ensure new hires feel welcomed and integrated into the company culture
• Process employee changes in HRIS, including status changes, promotions, transfers, salary changes, and terminations
• Maintain personnel files and ensure Palmetto remains compliant with file maintenance
• Administer benefit enrollments, including reviewing new hire elections, processing qualifying life events, reconciling monthly benefit invoices, responding to employee benefit inquiries, and supporting Annual Open Enrollment activities
• Assist with Leave tracking and return-to-work planning
• Coordinate offboarding of team members, including collecting equipment (laptop, badge, p-cards) for office-based teammates, deactivation of accounts, preparing separation agreements, and conducting exit interviews as needed
• Escalate sensitive employee matters to HRBP and support internal personnel investigations
• Support on-site hiring activities, greeting candidates, escorting candidates to interview rooms, reserving rooms
• Support alignment and education around office and People & Culture policies and procedures
• Identify areas requiring process improvement and escalate to internal leadership, assist with HRIS improvements, including implementation and changes
• Handle mail correspondences including, but not limited to employment verifications, garnishment orders, unemployment claims, etc. 
• Manage Labor Law Posters and online account to ensure compliance
• Help to maintain knowledge management system with up-to-date P&C information such as benefit documents, guides, policies, etc. 
• Other P&C projects or initiatives as requested

Teammate Experience (20%)

• Drive strategies to build engagement in the Charlotte office through activities and programs aimed at enhancing teammate satisfaction and productivity
• Organize and coordinate culture and engagement activities including office events, celebrations, recognition programs etc. to build a sense of community and teamwork

• Plan and execute office events and meetings, such as executive meetings, trainings, and company off-sites, in partnership with Executive Assistants and other cross-functional partners 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 2+ years of proven experience in human resources, preferably in small companies (100-200 employees)
• High level of professionalism and discretion, especially when handling sensitive information
• Experience with office equipment and facilities management
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to effectively multitask and prioritize
• Strong judgment; ability to act autonomously, take initiative, and know when to escalate
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated experience in planning and executing events, activities, and programs that enhance office community and engagement
• Proven ability to build positive relationships with employees, and championing a culture of trust and transparency
• Highly collaborative and able to work effectively with leadership, Executive Assistants, People & Culture, and other stakeholders