Human Resource Specialist

Company Description

KIPP TEAM & Family is our network office that includes support teams - such as Leadership Development, Recruitment, Advocacy, Facilities, Finance, HR and more - dedicated to empowering our schools and ensuring the success of KIPP students throughout New Jersey and Miami. Our schools are part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. The first KIPP New Jersey school opened in Newark in 2002 and since then our school network has expanded to educate 8,684 students in grades K-12. By 2027, KIPP New Jersey will provide a world-class education to over 10,300 students across Newark and Camden. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

In 2018, we grew our KIPP community in response to a need for high-quality school options for students in Greater Miami’s Urban Core communities. That led to the creation of KIPP Miami, which currently educates more than 1,200 students in 2 schools, with plans to reach 5,800 students by 2026. By offering highly effective educators with strong bonds to families, more time in school learning, services that support a variety of student needs, and a culture focused on achievement, our students in New Jersey and Miami are on the path to and through college, career, and choice-filled lives.

Job Description

Here’s what you need to know:
The KIPP TEAM and Family Human Resources Specialist will deliver high-touch customer service providing day-to-day administrative and operational support to the KIPP New Jersey and KIPP Miami network. The HR Specialist will play a key role in supporting the employee lifecycle, ensuring a seamless experience for new hires, departing employees, and ongoing HR and HRIS operations. This role will be responsible for administrative tasks, zen desk support, pre-boarding, off-boarding, managing new hire orientations, maintaining employee records, supporting audits, and contributing to special projects. The HR Specialist will also oversee the hiring process in the HRIS and support HR compliance initiatives. This role will work closely with all members of the Human Resources and Payroll team.

This a hybrid role: in-person requirement to be in the office at a minimum twice a week, and additional in-person time is necessary based on organizational needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• HR Operations Support
  • Maintain and update employee records in the HRIS with a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality.
  • Respond to verification requests, “Pass the Trash” forms, and other documentation needs.
  • Ensure compliance with data retention policies and support internal/external audits as needed.
  • Distribute and manage HR mail, policy announcements, and org-wide communications.
  • Hold office hours at assigned schools to support staff and build strong in-person relationships.
• Zendesk Support
  • Serve as the first point of contact for employee HR questions, resolving issues with clarity and care.
  • Manage the HR helpdesk (Zendesk), assign tickets, and ensure timely responses across the team.
  • Create self-service resources (macros, help center articles, HR wiki content) to drive efficiency.
  • Analyze Zendesk trends to identify opportunities for improving systems and processes.
• Pre-boarding, Onboarding & Offboarding Support
  • Lead onboarding logistics, from pre-employment forms and system setup to orientation support.
  • Offer weekly onboarding office hours to assist new hires with navigating systems and questions.
  • Troubleshoot technical issues with ATS/HRIS integrations and recommend timely workarounds.
  • Track and report on new hire compliance completions (e.g., handbook acknowledgment, KnowBe4).
  • Manage offboarding processes in HRIS and ensure smooth transitions for exiting employees.
  • Keep internal stakeholders informed throughout the hire and separation processes.
• Special Projects
  • Develop and maintain onboarding/offboarding guides for both staff and internal teams.
  • Support HR initiatives and special projects focused on process improvement and data analysis.
  • Assist in compliance reviews, policy rollouts, and employee training efforts.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally to streamline HR workflows and strengthen internal systems.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of HR experience, preferably in onboarding, HRIS support, or operations.
• Knowledge of HR compliance, onboarding best practices, and employee data management.
• Comfort with HRIS platforms and the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Strong communication skills and a commitment to exceptional cu