HR Coordinator / Generalist in Wilmington, North Carolina at Johnson Nursery Corporation

ABOUT JOHNSON NURSERY

Johnson Nursery is a family-owned wholesale and retail plant nursery in Willard, NC, serving the horticultural industry for over 40 years. We grow and ship 2,000+ plant varieties — annuals, perennials, shrubs, tropicals, grasses, and trees — to garden centers, nurseries, landscapers, and botanical gardens across the eastern United States. We also operate a local garden center and The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina, a community destination for events, workshops, and venue rentals.

We are a people-first, family-owned business where every role has real impact. This position is central to the health and culture of our entire organization.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a high-energy, bilingual (English/Spanish) HR Coordinator / Administrator who loves working in an agricultural environment and is passionate about building a strong workplace culture. This is a hands-on, on-the-ground role with daily interaction across all departments, including our seasonal H-2A workforce. The right candidate is organized, approachable, bilingual, and comfortable moving between an office and the production floor.

This role owns day-to-day HR operations, including payroll coordination, recruiting, onboarding, safety leadership, compliance, and employee relations. Over time, the candidate will also serve as a backup payroll processor, with full training provided.

WHO THRIVES IN THIS ROLE

The ideal candidate is a high-energy self-starter who brings genuine enthusiasm to their work and to the people around them. They love the outdoors, feel at home in an agricultural environment, and see HR as a way to make a real difference in people’s lives — not just a compliance function. They are bilingual bridge-builders who take pride in being the person that employees of all backgrounds can trust and turn to. They don’t wait to be told what needs fixing — they see it, own it, and act.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll & Benefits Administration

• Coordinate and submit bi-weekly payroll through Paylocity
• Train toward and serve as backup payroll processor
• Respond to employee questions on pay, PTO, and deductions
• Manage benefits enrollment, corrections, and open enrollment
• Support W-2 distribution and year-end paperwork (e.g., 5500 forms)
• Troubleshoot timekeeping and time clock issues

Recruiting, Onboarding & Community Partnerships

• Manage job postings, applicant communication, and interview scheduling
• Coordinate pre-employment background checks and physicals
• Lead new hire orientation and onboarding for a consistent, welcoming experience
• Administer new hire surveys and use feedback to improve onboarding
• Work with managers to facilitate on-the-job (OTJ) training programs
• Coordinate placement and management of temporary workers
• Build relationships with local community colleges and workforce development programs
• Represent Johnson Nursery at job fairs, community hiring events, and workforce partnerships

Safety Program & Committee Leadership

• Lead and facilitate the company safety committee — meetings, action items, and reporting
• Champion a culture of safety across greenhouse, nursery, and retail environments
• Coordinate OSHA and compliance safety training
• Maintain safety records, incident logs, and workers’ compensation documentation
• Partner with managers on workplace incident investigation and corrective actions
• Ensure safety signage, labor postings, and AED program remain current and compliant

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Serve as the first point of contact for employee HR questions and concerns
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and team-oriented workplace culture
• Drive employee recognition programs and engagement initiatives
• Support conflict resolution and escalate to leadership as appropriate
• Conduct offboarding including exit interviews, final pay, and COBRA notification

Compliance & Legal

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws
• Maintain and update employee handbooks and HR policies
• Keep labor law postings current at all locations
• Support data privacy, anti-discrimination, and harassment prevention policies
• Assist with HR-related audits, investigations, and legal matters as directed
• Maintain Insurance and 401k-related company needs, employee requests for information, and the Broker relationship

H-2A Seasonal Workforce Coordination

• Serve as the primary HR point of contact for all H-2A seasonal workers
• Communicate policy changes, pay updates, and program requirements to workers in Spanish
• Coordinate with the program agency (Del-Al) on documentation and worker lists
• Oversee inspection readiness for H-2A housing (local, state, and county compliance)
• Calculate and process H-2A reimbursements accurately and on schedule

HR Administration & Systems

• Maintain accurate employee records in Paylocity and ensure data integrity
• Manage HR email and respond to time-sensitive communications promptly
• Support transition to digital/paperless HR files
• Coordinate with insurance vendors on workers’ compensation, general liability, and benefits
• Generate HR reports and metrics for leadership as requested

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Fluent in English and Spanish — written and spoken (non-negotiable)
• 2+ years of HR, HR administration, or related experience
• Working knowledge of payroll processing and timekeeping systems
• Familiarity with federal and North Carolina labor law compliance
• Proficiency in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Drive, Gmail, Calendar)
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office products
• Strong Excel aptitude — data management, tracking, and reporting
• Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse, multilingual workforces
• Comfortable working in a hands-on agricultural or production environment

Preferred

• Experience managing or supporting H-2A or agricultural visa programs
• Prior experience with Paylocity or similar HRIS platforms
• PHR, SHRM-CP, or other HR certification
• Safety committee leadership or OSHA compliance background
• Community college or workforce development partnership experience
• Bilingual HR experience in an agricultural, nursery, or seasonal workforce setting

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary of $48,000 – $52,000 based on experience
• Benefits package including health insurance and retirement options
• Stable, family-owned company with 40+ years in business
• Hands-on role with real ownership and direct impact from day one
• Opportunity to lead safety, culture, and community partnership initiatives
• Supportive team environment rooted in integrity, community, and care