Onboarding Specialist

The Onboarding Specialist is responsible for delivering a consistent welcoming and compliant onboarding experience for new team members across Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia & the CSRA (GIMG) Helms College and Edgars Hospitality Group. This role manages the employee journey from accepted offer through successful transition into active employment ensuring new hires are prepared connected to the organizations mission and equipped to succeed in their roles. As a member of the Talent Development team the Onboarding Specialist serves as a key liaison among candidates hiring managers Human Resources Payroll Information Technology and operational leaders. The position coordinates pre-employment requirements orientation logistics new-hire communications employment documentation and initial system access while maintaining a high standard of service accuracy confidentiality and regulatory compliance. The Onboarding Specialist also owns core HRIS administration and data-management responsibilities. This includes entering maintaining auditing and updating employee records; processing personnel transactions; supporting employee-status changes; generating workforce and compliance reports; and ensuring data integrity across GIMGs human-resources systems. The role identifies opportunities to improve onboarding workflows strengthen the employee experience reduce time-to-productivity and provide leaders with reliable workforce data for decision-making.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & CORE COMPETENCIES

• Coordinate the end-to-end onboarding process for new hires across GIMG Helms College and Edgars Hospitality Group from accepted offer through completion of the introductory employment period.

• Serve as the primary onboarding contact for candidates and new hires providing clear timely professional communication regarding next steps required documentation orientation work schedules benefits policies and first-day expectations.

• Prepare and distribute offer-related pre-employment and onboarding materials in partnership with Talent Acquisition and Human Resources.

• Monitor completion of required pre-employment activities including background checks drug screens when applicable employment eligibility verification references credentialing licensing and other position-specific requirements.

• Coordinate new-hire orientation schedules materials presenters facilities technology and attendance records.

• Deliver or support orientation content that introduces employees to GIMGs mission values culture safety expectations policies benefits and resources.

• Partner with hiring managers to ensure new employees have confirmed start dates work locations schedules job expectations technology access uniforms or equipment and appropriate first-day support.

• Create and maintain accurate employee records in the HRIS applicant-tracking system learning-management system payroll system and other assigned HR technology platforms.

• Process personnel actions and HRIS transactions including new hires rehires transfers promotions manager changes department changes pay changes leaves status changes and separations.

• Conduct routine HRIS and employee-record audits to identify missing inaccurate outdated or inconsistent information and resolve discrepancies promptly.

• Maintain electronic personnel files and onboarding records in accordance with organizational policy record-retention requirements and applicable federal and state regulations.

• Prepare recurring and ad hoc reports related to headcount new-hire activity turnover onboarding completion employee demographics employment status compliance documentation and other workforce metrics.

• Support payroll benefits compliance and finance teams by providing accurate employee data and timely updates that affect pay eligibility deductions reporting or employment status.

• Track onboarding metrics including time from offer acceptance to start date pre-employment completion rates orientation attendance new-hire retention and early-tenure engagement.

• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows improve data accuracy enhance new-hire communication and strengthen the overall onboarding experience.

• Assist with HR compliance activities including I-9 documentation personnel-file audits reporting requirements and preparation for internal or external audits.

• Protect confidential employee candidate compensation medical and organizational information in accordance with policy and applicable law.

• Provide administrative and project support to the Talent Development and Human Resources teams as assigned.

• Demonstrate core values of Goodwill Industries by modeling service ownership accountability and respect.

• 3 years of administration and data management experience.

• 3 years of experience with software systems (preferably related to human resources or finance).

• Microsoft Office experience.

• Understanding federal and state employment laws.

• Analytical skills accurate and detail oriented. Able to independently read comprehend analyze information and data.

• Collaborative with strong communication skills. Ability to convey messages in an organized and effective manner.

• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively build relationships and demonstrated ability to work well in a team environment.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to be flexible and complete multiple tasks.

• Internal code of ethics is governed by a high level of integrity.

• Strong work ethics with a sense of urgency and accountability.

• Ability to work independently with strong self-management and self-motivation meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks at once.

• Ability to develop and implement policies procedures and/or guidelines.