Specialist - People Operations in New Orleans, Louisiana at Louisiana SCPA

ABOUT THE ROLE

The People Operations Specialist is a mission-critical role responsible for stewarding the full employee lifecycle at Louisiana SPCA from recruitment and onboarding through payroll, benefits, compliance, and workforce well-being. This role serves as the operational backbone of our People Services function, ensuring that LASPCA staff are supported, systems are accurate, and the organization remains compliant with applicable laws and regulations.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, process-driven, and able to independently manage operational HR responsibilities with minimal supervision. This role plays a critical part in ensuring HR processes are executed efficiently, accurately, and consistently across the organization.

This position does not oversee employee relations, investigations, disciplinary actions, or performance management. Those responsibilities remain under the oversight of the Chief People Officer.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Recruiting & Talent Acquisition

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for open positions across all departments, including sourcing, screening, interviewing coordination, and offer processes.

• Partner with hiring managers to develop accurate job descriptions, define selection criteria, and align on candidate profiles.

• Maintain and optimize job postings across platforms (Indeed, LinkedIn, mission-aligned boards, etc.) to attract diverse, mission-aligned candidates.

• Track recruitment metrics and report on time-to-fill, offer acceptance rates, and pipeline health.

• Ensure a positive, consistent candidate experience reflective of LASPCA’s core values.

HRIS & Payroll Processing Management

• Serve as the primary system administrator for Paylocity, ensuring data integrity, timely updates, and proper configuration of employee records, pay rates, and org structure.

• Process bi-weekly payroll accurately and on schedule, including review of timesheets, exception handling, garnishments, and final pay calculations.

• Coordinate payroll changes including new hires, terminations, pay adjustments, direct deposit updates, and tax withholding changes.

• Generate reports from Paylocity to support finance reconciliation, audits, and leadership decision-making.

• Maintain HRIS documentation and standard operating procedures for payroll and system processes.

Onboarding

• Design and facilitate a structured, welcoming onboarding experience that reflects LASPCA’s culture and prepares new team members for success.

• Coordinate pre-employment requirements including background checks, reference verification, I-9 completion, and new hire documentation.

• Ensure timely system setup across Paylocity, benefits platforms, and internal tools in advance of each start date.

• Conduct new hire orientation and serve as a primary point of contact during the first 90 days of employment.

• Continuously improve the onboarding process based on new hire feedback and departmental needs.

Compliance

Administer LASPCA’s work compensation program, including timely filing of injury reports, communication with the WC carrier, and coordination of return-to-work processes.

• Maintain accurate records of workplace incidents and ensure all required OSHA and state reporting obligations are met.

• Track open WC claims and partner with department managers to support affected employees while managing organizational liability.

• Conduct or coordinate annual workplace safety reviews and ensure staff are trained on injury reporting protocols.

• Support broader HR compliance requirements including EEO, FLSA, FMLA/leave management, and Louisiana state employment law.

Benefits Management

• Administer LASPCA’s employee benefits programs including health, dental, vision, life insurance, and any supplemental offerings.

• Manage open enrollment processes, including employee communications, system updates, and carrier coordination.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits inquiries, resolving issues with carriers and vendors in a timely manner.

• Maintain benefits eligibility records and ensure accurate deductions are reflected in payroll.

• Evaluate benefit offerings annually and provide recommendations to leadership that balance employee needs with organizational budget.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

Bachelor’s degree preferred in Human Resources, Business Administration, Legal or related field

• 3–6 years of HR operations, HR administration, benefits, payroll, or related operational experience
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Experience working within HRIS systems and electronic personnel records
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel
• Nonprofit experience preferred but not required

The ideal candidate:

• Loves process, organization, and operational consistency
• Is highly detail-oriented and deadline-driven
• Enjoys administrative and systems-focused work
• Thrives in a structured, process-oriented environment
• Is proactive, dependable, and solutions-oriented
• Can work independently while supporting a collaborative team environment

Preferred

• PHR, SHRM-CP, or equivalent HR certification.

• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, or animal welfare organizations.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.

• Familiarity with EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) or similar operational frameworks.

• Proficient in Paylocity

• Must be able to work in-person at the New Orleans location
• Must be able to work around animals
• Potential exposure to high noise levels, animal dander, bites, and scratches
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, and use standard office equipment for extended periods

· Salary Range: $52,000 – $58,000 annually (commensurate with experience)

· Full-time employment includes a menu of benefits including but not limited to:

· PTO and paid holidays

· Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance

· 401(k) with employer match

· Long-Term and Short-Term Disability

· Qualification and assistance for Public Service Loan Forgiveness