HR Coordinator

Ashland Inc.; Hopewell (VA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashland Inc. in Hopewell, VA is seeking an HR Coordinator to serve as the on-site HR point of contact across payroll, onboarding, labor relations, and general HR operations. You will partner with the Plant Manager to support workforce needs and employee engagement in a manufacturing setting.

This role emphasizes compliance with policies and employment laws, data management, and collaboration with supervisors and leaders to deliver excellent HR service to employees.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Payroll Administration: process and review weekly payroll; audit time records; resolve discrepancies; coordinate with payroll and benefits teams; maintain payroll records.
• Onboarding and Compliance: coordinate new hire onboarding; verify Form I-9; maintain records; ensure compliance with policies and laws; manage HR data.
• Recruiting Support: assist with scheduling, interview coordination, postings, ATS; coordinate pre-employment requirements; support onboarding.
• Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining Support: administrative support for agreements; track grievances; maintain contract records; prepare bargaining materials.
• Employee Relations and HR Support: first point of contact for HR questions; assist with processes; escalate issues; support engagement.
• Administrative Support to Plant Manager: provide scheduling, correspondence, reporting; coordinate meetings and events; prepare presentations.

Skills

HR generalist

Payroll knowledge

Communication

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Associate’s degree in HR/Business Admin

Equivalent education/experience

Tools

HRIS

Payroll systems

Applicant tracking systems

Job description

Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GP

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for an HR Coordinator to join our team at our Hopewell, VA location. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the Human Resources function. This position will report to the Senior HR Business Partner.

The Human Resources Coordinator serves as the primary on site HR point of contact for employees and supervisors, providing support across payroll administration, recruiting, onboarding, labor relations, and general HR operations. This position plays a key role in ensuring compliance with company policies, collective bargaining agreements, employment laws, and HR processes while delivering exceptional customer service to employees and plant leadership.

The HR Coordinator partners closely with the Plant Manager to support workforce needs, employee engagement, and day to day administrative operations.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Payroll Administration

• Process and review weekly payroll transactions for accuracy and compliance.
• Audit employee time records, attendance, and pay adjustments.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with payroll and benefits teams regarding employee status changes.
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation.

Onboarding and Compliance

• Coordinate new hire onboarding activities.
• Complete and verify Form I-9 documentation i
• Maintain employment records and personnel files.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable employment laws.
• Support employee data management within HR systems.

Recruiting Support

• Assist with recruiting activities, including candidate scheduling, interview coordination, and communications.
• Support job posting administration and applicant tracking systems.
• Coordinate pre-employment requirements, including background checks and drug screens.
• Facilitate new hire orientation and onboarding processes.
• Partner with hiring managers to ensure a positive candidate experience.

Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining Support

• Provide administrative support related to collective bargaining agreements and labor relations activities.
• Assist with grievance tracking, labor relations documentation, and meeting coordination.
• Maintain records related to contract administration and union communications.
• Support preparation of bargaining materials, reports, and workforce data.
• Monitor compliance with contractual provisions and HR policies.

Employee Relations and HR Support

• Serve as the first point of contact for employee questions regarding HR policies, payroll, benefits, attendance, and other employment matters.
• Assist managers and employees with HR processes and procedures.
• Escalate complex employee relations issues to HR leadership as needed.
• Support employee engagement activities and plant communications.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee and business information.

Administrative Support to Plant Manager

• Provide administrative support for plant leadership, including scheduling, correspondence, and report preparation.
• Coordinate meetings, employee events, and training activities.
• Prepare presentations, spreadsheets, and reports as requested.
• Assist with maintaining departmental records and documentation.
• Support special projects and plant initiatives.

In order to be qualified for this role, you _ must possess _ the following:

Education

• Associate’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Experience

• 2+ years of experience in Human Resources, payroll administration, or related business functions.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Experience supporting a unionized workforce is preferred.
• Familiarity with HRIS, payroll systems, and applicant tracking systems.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.
At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.
Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.
Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.