Human Resources Associate

About Ascend Ascend is Brooklyn’s premier K–12 public charter network, committed to graduating high-achieving students who have access to boundless choice in their futures—not only through college acceptance, but through meaningful preparation for career readiness and thriving adult lives. Across our schools, we pair rigorous academics with strong systems, supportive adult culture, and a deep belief in students’ brilliance and potential. Our work is grounded in the understanding that preparing students for long-term success requires excellence in instruction, intentional culture-building, and disciplined execution at every level of the organization. At Ascend, adults are held to high standards because our students deserve nothing less. How we teach, lead, collaborate, and make decisions every day directly shapes the opportunities our students will have tomorrow. Join us in shaping learning environments where curiosity is nurtured, excellence is the norm, and every student is prepared for a lifetime of boundless choice. About the Role The Human Resources Associate provides the highest standards of administrative skills and customer service to the People Team, leveraging their knowledge of HR practices to support the department with the HR strategy for Ascend. Reporting to the Human Resources Manager, the Human Resources Associate is responsible for supporting many aspects of the HR function. As a champion of Ascend’s mission, culture, and values, the Human Resources Associate partners closely with the community of leaders and staff by providing HR support to other members of the Human Resources function. Responsibilities The Human Resources Associate will provide administrative support for the People Team. In this role, you will oversee daily tasks for obtaining and recording HR information, maintaining the HR databases, assisting employees with onboarding and offboarding, benefits enrollment procedures, and other HR-related issues. Maintain comprehensive employee records with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements and organizational standards. Execute the onboarding experience by efficiently managing new hire background checks and I-9 verifications via HireRight, facilitating seamless transitions into our organization. Ensure the implementation and integrity of our HRIS system, ensuring data accuracy and optimal functionality to support strategic People operations. Serve as primary administrator for various other professional platforms, including maintaining precise roster management to support organizational compliance and development initiatives. Operate key employee engagement touchpoints, including New Hire Orientation, Benefits Enrollment programs, and compliance-related training initiatives, to enhance employee experience and mitigate organizational risk. Deliver exceptional service through our Zendesk ticketing system, providing timely and accurate responses to employee inquiries while maintaining service excellence standards. Develop and maintain comprehensive Zendesk knowledge resources, ensuring information accuracy and accessibility for all employees. Administer the suite of HR services, including but not limited to offboarding, employment verification, and leave management. Generate sophisticated analytics and compliance reporting to support regulatory requirements, funding documentation, and strategic decision-making. Partner with the People team to develop and track meaningful HR metrics and KPIs that drive organizational performance and highlight opportunities for improvement. Provide high-level administrative and project support to team leadership, demonstrating exceptional judgment and prioritization skills. Maintain vigilant oversight of regulatory changes to ensure the People Team practices consistently align with all federal, state, and local employment legislation. Contribute to Ascend's mission fulfillment through strategic collaboration on cross-functional initiatives and special projects as they arise. Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by leadership to support organizational priorities and objectives. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree required, strongly preferred in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field; candidates actively pursuing relevant higher education will be considered. Minimum of 1 year of experience in Human Resources operations or administrative support with demonstrated accomplishments in process improvement. Exemplifies the highest standards of professional ethics and integrity. Demonstrates authentic alignment with Ascend's educational mission and workplace philosophies, and is able to serve as a cultural ambassador. Exhibits exceptional organizational agility, with demonstrated capacity to prioritize competing demands, meet critical deadlines, and maintain precision while operating within a dynamic, high-growth organizational structure. Possesses strong analytical capabilities and technology proficiency, with the ability to quickly master new systems and optimize existing platforms. Maintains absolute discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information, with impeccable judgment regarding appropriate information sharing. Communicates with clarity and professionalism across all levels of the organization, demonstrating both written and verbal excellence. Approaches challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset and demonstrates resilience in navigating organizational complexity. #J-18808-Ljbffr