Job Description
Job DescriptionDescription:
ABOUT JOHNSON NURSERY
Johnson Nursery is a family-owned wholesale and retail plant nursery in Willard, NC, serving the horticultural industry for over 40 years. We grow and ship 2,000+ plant varieties — annuals, perennials, shrubs, tropicals, grasses, and trees — to garden centers, nurseries, landscapers, and botanical gardens across the eastern United States. We also operate a local garden center and The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina, a community destination for events, workshops, and venue rentals.
We are a people-first, family-owned business where every role has real impact. This position is central to the health and culture of our entire organization.
POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking a high-energy, bilingual (English/Spanish) HR Coordinator / Administrator who loves working in an agricultural environment and is passionate about building a strong workplace culture. This is a hands-on, on-the-ground role with daily interaction across all departments, including our seasonal H-2A workforce. The right candidate is organized, approachable, bilingual, and comfortable moving between an office and the production floor.
This role owns day-to-day HR operations, including payroll coordination, recruiting, onboarding, safety leadership, compliance, and employee relations. Over time, the candidate will also serve as a backup payroll processor, with full training provided.
WHO THRIVES IN THIS ROLE
The ideal candidate is a high-energy self-starter who brings genuine enthusiasm to their work and to the people around them. They love the outdoors, feel at home in an agricultural environment, and see HR as a way to make a real difference in people’s lives — not just a compliance function. They are bilingual bridge-builders who take pride in being the person that employees of all backgrounds can trust and turn to. They don’t wait to be told what needs fixing — they see it, own it, and act.
Requirements:
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Payroll & Benefits Administration
- Coordinate and submit bi-weekly payroll through Paylocity
- Train toward and serve as backup payroll processor
- Respond to employee questions on pay, PTO, and deductions
- Manage benefits enrollment, corrections, and open enrollment
- Support W-2 distribution and year-end paperwork (e.g., 5500 forms)
- Troubleshoot timekeeping and time clock issues
Recruiting, Onboarding & Community Partnerships
- Manage job postings, applicant communication, and interview scheduling
- Coordinate pre-employment background checks and physicals
- Lead new hire orientation and onboarding for a consistent, welcoming experience
- Administer new hire surveys and use feedback to improve onboarding
- Work with managers to facilitate on-the-job (OTJ) training programs
- Coordinate placement and management of temporary workers
- Build relationships with local community colleges and workforce development programs
- Represent Johnson Nursery at job fairs, community hiring events, and workforce partnerships
Safety Program & Committee Leadership
- Lead and facilitate the company safety committee — meetings, action items, and reporting
- Champion a culture of safety across greenhouse, nursery, and retail environments
- Coordinate OSHA and compliance safety training
- Maintain safety records, incident logs, and workers’ compensation documentation
- Partner with managers on workplace incident investigation and corrective actions
- Ensure safety signage, labor postings, and AED program remain current and compliant
Employee Relations & Engagement
- Serve as the first point of contact for employee HR questions and concerns
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and team-oriented workplace culture
- Drive employee recognition programs and engagement initiatives
- Support conflict resolution and escalate to leadership as appropriate
- Conduct offboarding including exit interviews, final pay, and COBRA notification
Compliance & Legal
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws
- Maintain and update employee handbooks and HR policies
- Keep labor law postings current at all locations
- Support data privacy, anti-discrimination, and harassment prevention policies
- Assist with HR-related audits, investigations, and legal matters as directed
- Maintain Insurance and 401k-related company needs, employee requests for information, and the Broker relationship
H-2A Seasonal Workforce Coordination
- Serve as the primary HR point of contact for all H-2A seasonal workers
- Communicate policy changes, pay updates, and program requirements to workers in Spanish
- Coordinate with the program agency (Del-Al) on documentation and worker lists
- Oversee inspection readiness for H-2A housing (local, state, and county compliance)
- Calculate and process H-2A reimbursements accurately and on schedule
HR Administration & Systems
- Maintain accurate employee records in Paylocity and ensure data integrity
- Manage HR email and respond to time-sensitive communications promptly
- Support transition to digital/paperless HR files
- Coordinate with insurance vendors on workers’ compensation, general liability, and benefits
- Generate HR reports and metrics for leadership as requested
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Fluent in English and Spanish — written and spoken (non-negotiable)
- 2+ years of HR, HR administration, or related experience
- Working knowledge of payroll processing and timekeeping systems
- Familiarity with federal and North Carolina labor law compliance
- Proficiency in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Drive, Gmail, Calendar)
- Proficiency in all Microsoft Office products
- Strong Excel aptitude — data management, tracking, and reporting
- Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse, multilingual workforces
- Comfortable working in a hands-on agricultural or production environment
Preferred
- Experience managing or supporting H-2A or agricultural visa programs
- Prior experience with Paylocity or similar HRIS platforms
- PHR, SHRM-CP, or other HR certification
- Safety committee leadership or OSHA compliance background
- Community college or workforce development partnership experience
- Bilingual HR experience in an agricultural, nursery, or seasonal workforce setting
WHAT WE OFFER
- Competitive salary of $48,000 – $52,000 based on experience
- Benefits package including health insurance and retirement options
- Stable, family-owned company with 40+ years in business
- Hands-on role with real ownership and direct impact from day one
- Opportunity to lead safety, culture, and community partnership initiatives
- Supportive team environment rooted in integrity, community, and care