Junior Human Resources Business Partner

McAdams is a full-service land planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, transportation, and geomatics firm located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. We seek to partner with our clients to create meaningful experiences through inspired design. Our employees are what make McAdams different. We bring experiences to the forefront of everything we do, and to do that takes special people.

Position Overview 

The Junior HR Business Partner provides day-to-day support across core HR functions, including onboarding, employee changes, leaves, performance and employee relations, and offboarding. The role involves maintaining accurate data, supporting compliance, and assisting with engagement efforts, while serving as a point of contact for basic HR inquiries. There is a strong emphasis on relationship-building, developing HR knowledge, and gaining exposure to business needs with the long-term goal of growing into a more strategic partner. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Support core HR functions across the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee status changes, leaves, performance and employee relations, engagement, and offboarding; partner with teams through regular touchpoints and service-line meetings to deliver timely HR guidance and updates. 
• Serve as a resource for employees and managers to address basic HR inquiries and escalate complex issues as needed. 
• Build relationships with managers and gain exposure to their goals, with the long-term aim of becoming a trusted advisor who aligns their objectives with HR best practices and company policies. 
• Maintain accurate HR data and documentation in systems like ADP Workforce Now, ensuring compliance and data integrity. 
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive culture by assisting with engagement and recognition efforts. 
• Participate in process improvement by sharing observations and suggestions that enhance team and employee experiences. 
• Develop working knowledge of employment laws and support compliance-related activities. 
• Maintain knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law. 
• Participate in staff meetings and attend other meetings and seminars as necessary. 
• Assist HR team with various research projects and special projects. 
• Perform additional duties as needed to support team and business priorities. 

Skills + Experience  

• 1– 3 years of progressive professional experience, ideally in a small to mid-sized, high-growth organization; prior HR exposure is a plus but not required. 
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field, or equivalent combination of education/training and experience that will allow employee to adequately perform the functions of the job. 
• Eagerness to develop partnership skills and contribute to collaborative work with managers and cross-functional teams. 
• Exposure to using data or reporting tools to inform decisions or provide insights, with a desire to grow analytical capabilities. 
• Familiarity with HR disciplines such as employee relations, performance management, compensation, and benefits. 
• Basic understanding of employment laws and a willingness to deepen compliance knowledge. 
• Experience with or exposure to HRIS systems; prior use of ADP Workforce Now is a plus. 
• Strong communication skills – both written and verbal – with the ability to listen actively and handle sensitive information with care. 
• Detail-oriented with good organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks or priorities. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Excel, Word, etc.).