HR Specialist II

Job Title: HR Specialist II

Location: Gainesville, GA

Department: Human Resources

Reports To: Assistant Human Resources Manager

Normal Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a 1-hr lunch break.

Overview of Company

Soules Foods is a thriving family-owned food company that has made a positive difference for its customers and consumers for nearly 50 years. Our purpose and promise of Great Food, Made Simple® drives us. Based in Tyler, Texas, the company is a leading national producer of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook chicken and beef products and is the number one producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the USA. We proudly serve a broad portfolio of great-tasting, high-quality products sold throughout the US via retail, food service distributors, and restaurants. Our wide array of national customers includes prominent organizations such as Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sysco, and HEB. The company was established in 1975 by John Soules Sr., and the business is now in the second generation of family leadership. The organization has expanded dramatically over the past decade, and with its continued growth, it now has annual sales of approximately $1 billion. The company employs over 2,000 individuals and has three manufacturing facilities in Gainesville, Georgia; Valley, Alabama; and its headquarters in Tyler, Texas.

Job Summary

The HR Specialist II provides comprehensive support to the Human Resources department, with primary responsibility in recruitment support, onboarding operations, benefits administration, and employee engagement initiatives. This role requires a working knowledge of common hiring processes, orientation procedures, and benefit programs.

The HR Assistant II serves as a backup to other members of the department and acts as a dependable resource to the HR leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment Support (Backup Role)

• • Manage job application intake through both online and in-person channels
  • Evaluate applicants using the candidate scoring system
  • Coordinate and schedule interviews with hiring managers
  • Assist with plant tours for prospective candidates
  • Prepare and complete all required hiring documentation
  • Schedule drug screenings and post-offer medical clearance exams, as applicable
  • Initiate and monitor background checks for designated roles
  • Complete I-9 employment verifications through Equifax
  • Coordinate with Security, Medical, and HR teams regarding candidate scheduling
  • Respond to applicant inquiries and maintain timely communication throughout the hiring process
  • Maintain working knowledge of all production roles to effectively explain job duties to candidates
  • Represent the company at job fairs and community hiring events
  • Coordinate and participate in staffing meetings with management to review open positions

• Onboarding Support (Backup Role)

• • Serve as backup with full knowledge of the Day 1–4 orientation process
  • Manage new hire paperwork and documentation
  • Capture and upload new hire photos for badge creation and activation
  • Register new hires in Alchemy for remote training
  • Deliver presentations covering HR policies, safety guidelines, and quality assurance standards
  • Facilitate orientation team-building activities
  • Explain benefits programs to new hires
  • Assign lockers and assist with locker setup
  • Enter employee data into the GHR system
  • Complete new hire reporting in compliance with the Alabama Department of Labor
  • Record and verify orientation hours in ADP
  • Audit new hire files and maintain accurate digital records
  • Coordinate new hire transitions to the production floor with supervisors and trainers
  • Prepare orientation materials (rosters, name tags, boots, packets, and supplies)
  • Maintain orientation inventory, including boot closet organization and restocking
  • Assist with locker cleaning and maintenance as needed
  Coordinate orientation snacks, beverages, and meals
  

• Benefits Administration

• • Maintain comprehensive knowledge of all benefit offerings, including:
  • • Medical, Dental, and Vision
    • 401(k)
    • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
    • Life Insurance
    • Ancillary benefits
  • Present and explain benefits during Day 4 of orientation
  • Proactively follow up with new hires prior to their 90-day eligibility date to assist with enrollment or waivers
  • Administer and track FMLA leaves
  • Participate in weekly Leave of Absence (LOA) status meetings with HR leadership
  • Coordinate intermittent leave schedules, including tracking call-outs and managing attendance points for employees on leave
  • Communicate leave status and return-to-work expectations to employees and supervisors
  • Manage benefits arrears for employees on leave, including communication, payment collection, and submission of premiums to corporate
  • Conduct monthly locker audits

• Additional Responsibilities

• • Provide administrative support to HR leadership as needed
  • Participate in employee engagement initiatives and company events
  • Communicate project updates and departmental needs effectively to management

• Qualifications

• • High school diploma
  • Minimum 2 years of prior HR Experience
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
  • Working knowledge of concepts related to employee benefits, organizational structures and recruiting/interview processes
  • Strong public speaking and presentation skills
  • Excellent organizational, collaborative, and time-management skills
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel
  • Experience with HR systems such as GHR, TimeStar, Avigilon, Alchemy, ADP, and Equifax preferred
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team
  Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive
  

• The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following:

• · Vacation / Sick days

• · Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

• · Telemedicine

• · Onsite Clinic

• · Free annual health screening

• · 401 (k) with company match

• · STD and LTD

• · Life insurance & other voluntary benefits

• · Career Development: We support professional growth through continuous learning and development opportunities.
  

• Soules Foods is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.

• Applicants with disabilities needing accommodation during the application process can contact Human Resources at the relevant location.

• Soules Foods will not discriminate against applicants who discuss their compensation. We also participate in the E-Verify program where required by law.

• Unsolicited Assistance: Soules Foods does not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for U.S. positions. Resumes or candidate profiles submitted without a valid written request and search agreement from HR will be considered the property of Soules Foods. No fees will be paid for candidates hired through unsolicited referrals.