Human Resources Specialist

Human Resources Specialist

Location: Poughkeepsie, NY

Position: Full-Time (Exempt) In Person Department: Human Resources Reports To: Director of Human Resources

Chestnut Group is a trusted convenience retail brand, preferred fuels marketer and exceptional place to work in the tri-state area. The family-owned company owns and operates gas stations and convenience stores under the Chestnut Market brand and is a preferred supplier for premium fuel flags including Shell, Exxon Mobil and BP among others.

The company has a growing portfolio of retail, wholesale and food service operations across the Northeast. Chestnut Group is focused on creating and delivering exceptional people-first convenience with care – every experience, every time. Come join our growing and passionate team!

Position Summary

The Human Resources Specialist supports the day-to-day HR operations of Chestnut Market across multiple retail and corporate locations. This role is responsible for administering employee relations support, benefits administration, leave management, workers' compensation coordination, onboarding support, HR compliance, and general employee support functions. The HR Specialist serves as a key resource for employees and managers while helping maintain consistent HR practices throughout the organization. This position is an in-person role based out of our support center and requires regular collaboration with employees, managers, and operational leadership teams.

Our Values

• Safety – We protect the well-being of our people, partners, and communities.
• Quality – We deliver unmatched experiences and service.
• Unity – We collaborate to achieve shared goals.
• Integrity – We do the right thing, always.
• Responsibility – We take ownership of our work and outcomes.
• Respect – We treat everyone with dignity.
• Empowerment – We give people the tools to succeed.
• Love – We bring passion to everything we do.

Our behaviors emphasize operating with excellence, creating welcoming environments, rewarding performance, communicating openly, staying accountable, and approaching challenges with a growth mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Own recruitment and onboarding of all new hires
• Assist with policy implementation, HR communications, and employee engagement initiatives
• Support daily HR operations for a multi-site retail workforce
• Assist employees and managers with HR-related questions, policies, and procedures
• Administer employee benefits programs including enrollments, changes, terminations, and employee communications
• Manage workers' compensation claims, communication, and return-to-work coordination
• Assist with employee relations matters, investigations, documentation, and corrective actions
• Support unemployment claims administration and employment verification requests
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and company employment regulations and policies
• Partner with store management teams to support workforce needs and HR best practices
• Maintain confidentiality of employee and always company information
• Maintain employee records and HRIS data accuracy within ADP Workforce Now
• Coordinate and track leave administration including FMLA, disability, paid family leave, and related documentation

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of Human Resources experience required
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred
• Experience supporting multi-location retail, hospitality, convenience store, or high-volume hourly environments preferred
• Working knowledge of benefits administration, leave management, and workers' compensation
• Experience with HRIS systems; ADP Workforce Now experience strongly preferred
• Familiarity of employment laws and HR compliance practices
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information professionally
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Preferred Skills

• SHRM-CP, PHR, or other HR certification
• Employee relations experience
• Leave administration experience (FMLA/PFL/Disability)
• Workers' compensation coordination
• Multi-state HR support experience
• Bilingual- Spanish preferred

Compensation & Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous paid time off (PTO)
• Professional development and growth opportunities