Senior HR Operations Specialist (Shelton, CT)

Key Responsibilities

Employee Support & HR Operations

• Serve as a first point of contact for employee inquiries related to pay and payroll processes, benefits programs and enrollment, HR policies and procedures, time-off programs, employee records and employment verification.
• Provide timely, accurate, and customer-focused responses to employee questions and concerns.
• Support onboarding activities, including preparing new hire documentation, coordinating pre-employment requirements, facilitating onboarding and orientation processes, and ensuring completion of required paperwork and system setup.
• Maintain employee data within HRIS, ensuring accuracy and data integrity.
• Partner with Payroll and Benefits teams to resolve employee issues and ensure smooth administration of HR programs.
• Develop and maintain HR process documentation, knowledge articles, and employee resources.
• Assist with audits, reporting, compliance activities, and special HR projects as needed.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Contribute to a culture of operational excellence by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance service delivery, and streamline employee and manager experiences.

Immigration & Vendor Management

• Coordinate immigration-related processes with the Company's external immigration counsel and vendors to support employee visa, work authorization, and sponsorship activities.
• Prepare, collect, and submit required documentation for immigration cases while ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Serve as an HR liaison for employees, managers, and immigration partners regarding case status, documentation needs, and process requirements.
• Track immigration case milestones, deadlines, and required employee actions to support a positive employee experience and maintain compliance.
• Maintain confidential immigration records and documentation in accordance with company policies and legal requirements.

Billing & Administrative Support

• Review, process, and monitor invoices from immigration and other HR-related vendors for accuracy and adherence to established budgets and approval processes.
• Submit purchase requisitions and billing requests, track payment status, and partner with Finance to resolve invoice discrepancies when needed.
• Maintain vendor expense records and provide reporting on immigration and HR operational expenditures as requested.
• Support vendor relationship management by ensuring timely communication, documentation, and issue resolution.

Leave of Absence Administration

• Serve as the internal administrator and primary HR contact for all employee leave programs.
• Manage the administration and coordination of FMLA, Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Workers' Compensation, Paid Family and Medical Leave programs, state and local leave requirements, military, personal, and other company-sponsored leaves.
• Partner with the organization's third-party leave administrator to ensure timely and accurate case management.
• Guide employees and managers through the leave process, explaining eligibility, documentation requirements, timelines, and return-to-work expectations.
• Monitor leave cases and proactively follow up to ensure appropriate documentation and compliance requirements are met.
• Coordinate accommodations, return-to-work activities, and fitness-for-duty requirements as appropriate.
• Collaborate with Payroll, Benefits, managers, and HR Business Partners regarding leave impacts and employee status changes.
• Maintain confidential leave records and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Analyze leave trends and provide reporting and recommendations to improve employee experience and operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

Required: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Approximately 5 years of experience in Human Resources, HR Operations, Employee Services, Benefits Administration, or a related HR function. At least 1 year of experience supporting leave administration, including FMLA, disability programs, workers' compensation, and state leave laws.

Preferred: Experience supporting employee inquiries and HR transactions in a fast-paced environment. Experience working with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office applications. Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through. Excellent customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills. Ability to manage sensitive and confidential employee information. Experience working with a third-party leave administration vendor. Knowledge of multi-state leave laws and compliance requirements. Experience with Workday or other HRIS platforms. HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP) or progress toward certification.

Key Competencies

• Demonstrates a customer-first mindset and delivers responsive, accurate, and professional HR support.
• Builds strong collaborative relationships across functions to foster a "One Team" approach to service delivery.
• Takes ownership of issues and follows through to resolution while balancing compliance, business needs, and employee experience.
• Continuously seeks process improvements and leverages technology to drive efficiency and scalability.
• Maintains the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and trust.