About our family of companies:
We are on a mission to bring learning to life! At our family of companies, Learning Resources®, Educational Insights, and hand2mind, we create a unique range of toys, educational products and supplemental curriculum trusted by teachers and loved by families alike. Voted among the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces for the last five consecutive years, we are a 350-person strong, family-owned organization dedicated to helping kids succeed in school and develop a love of learning. In addition to high-quality, hands-on products like VersaTiles® and Cuisenaire® Rods, we make award-winning toys, including top sellers such as the Pretend & Play® Cash Register, the Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set and Toy of the Year winner Botley® the Coding Robot as well as Educational Insights top sellers Kanoodle®, GeoSafari® Jr. series, and Playfoam™. We pride ourselves on being committed to our employee’s personal and professional development, a thriving culture and a diverse, creative atmosphere. Along with our culture and competitive benefits package, we offer opportunities for training and development by Harvard and UCLA professors as well as in-demand, motivating external speakers. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! We hope you’ll come join our award-winning team today!
Team & Position Description:
We are currently seeking a Human Resources Coordinator to join our Human Resources Team! This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the employee experience and contribute directly to the organization’s cultural and operational success. As a recipient of the Chicago Tribune's Top Workplace Award for five consecutive years, our company and team is dedicated to fostering a supportive and dynamic environment where employees thrive. The HR Coordinator will gain hands-on experience in employee relations, HRIS system management, and the execution of high-impact HR programs. This position is ideal for professionals eager to build expertise in HR operations while contributing to a workplace recognized for its excellence in culture and employee engagement.
What you’ll do day to day:
- Manage new hire communications and onboarding, including sending offer confirmations, verifying paperwork (I-9s, tax forms), and entering data into the ADP HRIS.
- Maintain accurate employee records in the HRIS, ensuring compliance through routine audits and timely updates for terminations or changes.
- Process HR invoices with accurate budget coding and ensure timely payments.
- Coordinate HR meeting schedules, including New Hire Check-ins, Talent Reviews, and Exit Interviews.
- Serve as the first point of contact for employee inquiries via the HR Help Desk, providing timely and accurate resolutions.
- Plan and execute logistics for HR cultural events, training programs, and large-scale initiatives like Leadership Summits.
- Track training attendance and feedback, analyze survey responses, and prepare reports with actionable insights for leadership.
- Handle benefits enrollment tasks and coordinate special HR programs like Summer Intern initiatives or Volunteer Days.
- Troubleshoot HR software issues and support employees using platforms like ADP and Nectar.
- Other tasks as assigned by Director of HR and/or VP of HR
What we’re looking for (Key Performance Objectives):
- Within the first 30 days, begin coordinating HR Culture Events (Ongoing)
- Assist in brainstorming and executing engaging HR-led cultural events, ensuring alignment with company values. Track participation and satisfaction rates to establish benchmarks for future event planning.
- Within the first 60 days, serve as HR Systems Liaison (Ongoing)
- Act as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting employee issues with HR software tools, such as Nectar and performance management platforms. Ensure resolution of 95% of tickets within 48 hours.
- Within the first 90 days, facilitate employee check-ins and reviews (Monthly)
- Schedule and support execution of New Hire Check-ins, Talent Reviews, and Exit Interviews. Maintain a tracking dashboard to monitor completion rates and generate insights for management action.
- Enhance Training Logistics for Development Programs (By Q2)
- Take full ownership of coordinating logistics for all training and development programs, including managing communications, sign-ups, venue arrangements, and materials preparation. Implement a tracking system to measure participant satisfaction and post-training application of skills, achieving a minimum 85% positive feedback rating on surveys.
- Develop a Centralized HR Resource Hub (By Q3)
- Collaborate with the HR team to create and launch an online resource hub for employees by the end of Q3. This hub should consolidate policies, FAQs, forms, and key HR processes, reducing employee inquiries to the HR Help Desk by 20% within three months of implementation.
Requirements/Ideal Attributes:
- Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
- 2-4 years of HR support experience, with exposure to HRIS systems and onboarding preferred.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage tasks, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a focus on employee support.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with HR software (e.g., ADP).
- Collaborative, adaptable, and eager to learn in a dynamic environment.
- Exceptional attention to detail in data entry, record-keeping, and compliance.
We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.
Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.
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