People Operations Specialist, Americas
About this role
We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions.
The Americas People Operations team delivers responsive, compliant, and employee experience–focused shared services support across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.
The People Operations Specialist serves as a primary point of contact for People-related inquiries and lifecycle transactions across multiple countries in the Americas region. Operating within a tiered support model, this role supports onboarding, offboarding, Leave of Absence (LOA) administration, case management, policy interpretation, and operational program execution while ensuring regional compliance and service excellence.
This position partners closely with People Partners, Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition, Systems Operations, Payroll, Benefits, and regional stakeholders to deliver consistent, compliant, and seamless employee experience across geographies.
Responsibilities
Employee Lifecycle Support
Support end-to-end employee lifecycle processes (including hires and terminations) across the Americas region, ensuring compliance, consistency, and a seamless employee experience from hire through exit.
Execute onboarding from offer acceptance through Day One, including documentation audit, compliance review, systems coordination, and orientation delivery.
Conduct centralized, virtual, day one orientation sessions for U.S. and Canada hires based on our global onboarding materials Partner with Talent Acquisition, Hiring Managers, People Partners, and Systems Operations to ensure a smooth and compliant employee experience.
Manage voluntary and involuntary offboarding processes with timeliness, confidentiality, and accuracy, including exit documentation, surveys, and equipment coordination.
Provide lifecycle insights and trends to People Partners and Employee Relations to support continuous improvement.
Process assigned employee lifecycle transactions in Workday with accuracy, timeliness, and strong attention to data integrity.
Employee Inquiries, Case Management, Policy Support
Serve as a primary point of contact for People-related inquiries from employees and managers across the Americas region, delivering a positive, professional, and solutions-oriented experience.
Manage, triage, and resolve routine People-related cases through ServiceNow, meeting SLAs and escalating complex matters as appropriate.
Manage, triage, and resolve routine People-related cases through ServiceNow, meeting SLAs and escalating complex matters as appropriate.
Interpret and apply country-specific policies, employment regulations, and practices across supported geographies.
Escalate complex, high-risk, or sensitive matters to Employee Relations, Legal, or regional People Partners as appropriate.
Identify inquiry trends and recommend improvements to portal content, communications, self-service tools, and operational workflows.
Serve as a subject matter expert for People processes, policies, and tools.
Maintain strict confidentiality and sound judgment in handling sensitive employee matters.
Program Administration
Execute and administer regional People programs and compliance-related activities across the Americas, including tuition reimbursement, service awards, benefits administration support, employment verifications, unemployment claims (as applicable), and personnel file management.
Provide clear guidance to employees and managers on company policies, programs, and procedural requirements.
Ensure consistent application of policies and accurate documentation across supported countries.
Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state/provincial, and country-specific employment regulations.
Partner cross-functionally with Payroll, Benefits, Employee Relations, and People Partners to ensure accurate and timely program administration.
Leave of Absence (LOA) Administration
Administer and coordinate Leave of Absence processes across Canada, and LATAM in alignment with local regulations and company policies.
Partner with employees, managers, and People Partners to ensure accurate documentation and timely communication.
Track leave status, required documentation, and return-to-work processes.
Coordinate with Payroll, Benefits, and Systems teams to ensure accurate processing and system updates.
Ensure compliance with country-specific leave laws and reporting requirements.
People Systems, AI & Digital Enablement
Maintain strong data governance practices to ensure compliance, audit readiness, and accurate employee records.
Support system enhancements, testing activities, and implementation initiatives in partnership with Global People Technology and IT.
Leverage AI and technology tools to streamline workflows and enhance employee and manager experience.
Support adoption of new technologies and digital-first ways of working while maintaining high-touch, employee-centered service delivery.
Team Collaboration & Regional Support
Build strong partnerships with US, Canada, and LATAM People Partners and regional stakeholders.
Collaborate with global People Operations colleagues to ensure alignment and consistency in service delivery.
Execute deliverables on time while following established policies, procedures, and communication protocols.
Participate in regional and global initiatives and special projects as assigned.
Contribute to maintaining credibility, trust, and confidence with employees and stakeholders.
Knowledge Management & Process Improvement
Identify and recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency, compliance, documentation standards, and employee experience, including opportunities to streamline workflows through approved digital tools.
Contribute to the creation and maintenance of SOPs, job aids, quick reference guides, templates, and country-specific process documentation.
Support the upkeep of Employee and People portals with regionally accurate and up-to-date content.
Partner cross-functionally to streamline workflows and enhance service delivery across the Americas region.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
3+ years of experience in People Operations, HR Shared Services, or a related HR operational role.
Experience supporting multi-country employee populations, including U.S., Canada, and LATAM.
Hands-on experience administering Leave of Absence (LOA) processes and employee lifecycle transactions.
Daily operational experience using Workday and ServiceNow (or similar HRIS and case management platforms).
Familiarity with multi-country employment practices and compliance considerations.
Experience working within a tiered or shared services service delivery model.
Ability to manage high-volume inquiries across multiple time zones while meeting SLAs and quality standards.
Strong attention to detail with a high level of data accuracy and confidentiality.
Bilingual Spanish/English required.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in a global, matrixed, or professional services environment.
Experience supporting HR operations for mid-to-large employee populations (2,000+ employees).
Exposure to Workday implementations, enhancements, testing, or module expansions.
Strong understanding of U.S. and Canada employment compliance requirements; familiarity with LATAM employment practices is a plus.
Experience supporting service delivery metrics, operational reporting, or KPI tracking.
HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, or equivalent) preferred.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Experience collaborating within regional, global, and virtual teams.
$62,000 - $92,000 a year
An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.
DJEH offers a wide range of benefits: medical and dental insurance, vision, 401K, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, travel assistance and wellness programing.
DJEH is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek applications from all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation in any part of the employment process, please let us know.
Company at a glance
Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead, act with certainty and earn the lasting trust of their stakeholders.
We develop powerful ideas and tell magnetic stories that move at the speed of news, make an immediate impact, transform culture and spark movements.
Since our founding in 1952 by Dan Edelman, we have remained an independent, family-run company. We use our profits to strengthen our business, provide our employees with opportunities to grow, advance our industry, and serve as a responsible citizen of the world. Every day, we strive to live and work by a long-held set of core values: the pursuit of excellence, the freedom to be curious, the courage to do the right thing, and a commitment to improving society.
Edelman is an equal opportunity employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Top Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401k
- Life insurance
- Disability insurance
- Paid time off
- Travel assistance
- Wellness programming
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