HR Associate

Westlake Chemical; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake Chemical is seeking an HR Associate to be one of the first points of contact for new hires, ensuring a polished, professional experience from candidate intake through offboarding. You will support employees and managers across the lifecycle, handling onboarding, payroll, timekeeping, and reporting with confidentiality and discretion.

As part of the Corporate HR Business Partner team, you will leverage Workday and other tools to produce dashboards, maintain records, and aid in process

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 1–2 years in HR/recruiting.
• Proficiency in Workday; SAP experience is a plus.
• Strong skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently with discretion and accuracy.
• Familiarity with Power BI, Power Automate, and AI productivity tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate onboarding and new hire orientations.
• Support HR administration, payroll, and timekeeping processes.
• Prepare reports using Word, Excel, PowerPoint; proofread for accuracy.
• Complete Workday transactions and partner with HRBPs for accuracy.
• Develop and maintain organized filing systems and dashboards.
• Identify opportunities to automate workflows and improve processes.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Communication (verbal & written)

Attention to detail

Discretion & confidentiality

Independent work

Strong initiative

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday

SAP

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Power BI

Power Automate

AI productivity tools

Microsoft Copilot

Job description

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.

SUMMARY

The HR Associate is one of the first people new hires meet and plays a key role in establishing the company's reputation and professionalism from the very first interaction. As a member of the Corporate HR Business Partner team, this role supports employees and managers throughout the employee lifecycle, from candidate experience and onboarding through ongoing HR administration, payroll and timekeeping support, and offboarding, ensuring a consistent, professional experience at every stage. Success in this role requires accuracy in every transaction and record, timeliness, discretion with confidential employee information, and a service-oriented mindset that treats every candidate, employee, and manager as a valued stakeholder. The role also leverages modern productivity, analytics, and automation tools to improve efficiency and deliver a positive, polished experience.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

Talent Acquisition

• Facilitate New Hire Onboarding and New Hire Orientations.
• Facilitate the Cleared to Hire process, including communication and coordination with managers and candidates.
• Maintain the onboarding tracker.
• Track new hire compliance with assigned training through completion.
• Provide oversight of I-9 documentation, reverification, and retention. Conduct annual compliance audit.
• Produce the Weekly Recruiting Report.
• Handle third-party reimbursements for job candidates.

HRBP Support / Administration

• Prepare reports and documents in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, including formatting, editing, and printing of text, data, and graphics. Proofread to ensure complete accuracy. Use Excel to organize and analyze information.
• Complete Workday transactions to support organizational changes. Partner with Corporate Lead HRBPs to ensure accuracy and timeliness of input.
• Set up vendors in the system and code vendor invoices in the vendor invoice management system.
• Assist with monthly budget review summaries.
• Upon request run various Workday reports. Collect and verify complex information from multiple sources for consolidated reporting and build dashboards and automated reports where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain a well-organized physical and electronic filing system that permits easy reference and retrieval of complex information, including storage arrangements as needed.
• Communicate payroll updates to managers on a periodic basis. Conduct timekeeper review of timesheets for submission to payroll on a bi-weekly basis.
• Assist with the offboarding process for exiting employees, including preparing and processing exit paperwork, coordinating the return of company equipment, and coordinating the removal of system access.
• Act as primary monitor of the general HRBP mailbox, checking inbox daily and responding to emails.
• Distribute Service Recognition Certificates to managers on a timely basis.
• Coordinate scheduling of random drug testing
• Identify opportunities to streamline manual processes using automation and AI tools.
• Assist with special projects, as needed.
• Comply with all Company policies and procedures. Perform any additional responsibilities or tasks as assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree and 1-2 years of related experience, preferably in Human Resources and full-cycle recruiting.
• Working proficiency in Workday; SAP experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written.
• Professionalism, discretion, and respect for confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Strong initiative, attention to detail, and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment.
• Preferred: Power BI for building reports and dashboards (e.g., recruiting, onboarding compliance, HR metrics).
• Preferred: Power Automate to automate workflows such as approvals, notifications, and onboarding checklists.
• Preferred: AI productivity tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, used with sound judgment on data privacy, and a willingness to learn new technologies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office. Some of the work may be required in the operating units which can require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Minimal travel may be required.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.