Sr. HR Ops Specialist, 3 Month… at Smith Teamaker · Portland

If you drink tea, you know Smith produces incredible products. If you live in the Portland area you know Smith has an incredible brand and reputation.

Did you know we’re also growing?

Have you seen that we were recognized as a TopWorkplace by the Oregonian in 2025?

Were you aware that we have a central location right behind our Tea Room on SE Washington with easy access to parking, buses and amazing restaurants like Olympia Provisions, Wayfinder and Produce Row?

That’s a little bit about our company...let’s talk about the role!

Our HR Generalist is going on Parental Leave! We are seeking somebody strong in Ops to cover this leave from mid/late November through the end of February.

This is an on-site role in our SE Washington headquarters. It is fast paced AND we have a lot of fun.

Essential Duties

· Manages all benefit programs (medical, 401K, wellness, etc) through working with brokers, providers and ensuring seamless processes through our HRIS. Collaborates with the VP, Talent & Culture, head of Finance and CEO on benefit strategies.

· Administers payroll by ensuring system data is accurate, managers approve time off and adjustments, tips, leave, and other exceptions are accounted for and final checks are cut according to state law.

· Communicates with managers and VP, Talent & Culture to ensure accurate information about employee changes, promotions, terminations, etc, Records the information accurately in HRIS, manages any corresponding documentation and works with Finance to process checks accordingly.

· Continually seeks opportunities to improve and optimize our HRIS and corresponding processes with which our employees and managers interact. Aligns HRIS with company policies as they continue to evolve.

· Provides a seamless, positive and thorough onboarding experience to new hires. Communicates throughout the onboarding process to new hire and internal stakeholders (Finance, IT, Leadership, etc). Ensures new hire paperwork is completed and conducts I-9 document verification.

· Works with VP, Talent & Culture to assist employees taking leave and to manage data in systems accordingly.

· Triages employee relations issues to VP, Talent & Culture. Often works as initial contact to resolve and document issues and escalates as appropriate.

· Works with VP, Talent & Culture to offboard employees—ensuring systems, paperwork and final paychecks are updated. May conduct involuntary terminations in the absence of the VP, Talent & Culture if needed.

· Conducts audits of employee data, benefits data, 401K compliance, etc.

· Responds to employee inquiries regarding policies, procedures, programs and benefits.

· Manages all internal reporting and external compliance/government reporting.

· Other duties as assigned

Key Competencies

· Strong knowledge of human resource management practices, procedures and law.

· Strong problem solving skills to identify, resolve and implement solutions to challenges in the company.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills to communicate effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.

· Superb organizational skills and impeccable attention to detail with demonstrated success managing multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

· Ability to adapt to change, and to be an agent of change within the organization.

· Possesses a team player orientation—helps and works effectively with others to achieve organizational goals.

· Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Suite; especially Word and Excel.

Required & Desired Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience required

· 3+ years in an HR role

· 2+ years HR ops experience (benefits, HRIS, payroll, compliance reporting)

· Experience in an industrial/manufacturing or retain environment preferred

Physical, Driving & Travel Requirements

· This position is full time in the office at 110 SE Washington St with some flexibility around hours, catch-up days, etc.

· While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard.

· Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.

· Light to moderate lifting may be required.