People and Culture Specialist

Reston Association; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Employee Assistance Program

Onsite EV charging

Job summary

Reston Association is seeking a People and Culture Specialist to manage daily HR operations, including payroll, benefits, HRIS, and programs that enhance the employee experience. The role will partner with leaders to deliver accurate, compliant HR services across the organization.

You’ll support engagement, performance, recognition, and organizational initiatives while ensuring data accuracy and privacy. This hybrid role requires onsite collaboration three days weekly in Reston, VA.

Qualifications

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field or equivalent experience.
• At least four years of HR experience including payroll and benefits administration.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems; preferred ADP Workforce Now.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws (FLSA, FMLA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, ADA).

Responsibilities

• Administer biweekly payroll and benefits enrollment and life events.
• Maintain employee records and HRIS data; onboard/offboard processes.
• Provide guidance on HR policies and programs to employees and leaders.
• Support employee engagement, recognition, performance management, and compliance.
• Assist with audits, reporting, and HR metrics.

Skills

Payroll administration

Benefits administration

HRIS data management

HR compliance

Employee engagement

Communication skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

MS Office proficiency

Education

Associate's or bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

People and Culture Specialist

Human Resources Regular Full Time Reston, VA, US

Salary Range: $74,000.00 To $83,200.00 Annually

Location: 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20191

Work Schedule: Hybrid remote; minimum of three onsite days per week

About Reston Association

At Reston Association (RA), our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the community's steward, RA works to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Reston through outstanding programs, exceptional services, and responsible stewardship of the community's natural and recreational resources.

Our values of Service, Collaboration, Stewardship, Innovation, and Leadership guide how we work—with our members, our community, and each other.

Position Overview

Are you passionate about creating a positive employee experience and helping people and organizations thrive? We are seeking a People & Culture Specialist to support employees throughout the employment lifecycle through effective HR programs, responsive service, and thoughtful people practices.

This is a hands-on HR role responsible for the day-to-day administration of payroll, benefits, HRIS, and HR programs, while also supporting employee engagement, recognition, performance management, compliance, and organizational effectiveness.

The People & Culture Specialist serves as a trusted resource to employees and leaders, helping ensure HR programs and processes are delivered accurately, consistently, and with a strong focus on the employee experience.

This position reports directly to the Division Director of People & Technology, providing an opportunity to work closely with executive leadership and contribute to the continued development of RA's evolving People & Technology function. This position will play an important role in strengthening HR operations, improving processes, and supporting people-focused initiatives across the organization.

What You'll Do

• Administer biweekly payroll and support accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Administer employee benefits, including enrollment, qualifying life events, open enrollment, and ongoing employee support.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS data, including employee changes, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Serve as a resource to employees and leaders on HR policies, programs, benefits, and workplace questions.
• Support employee engagement, recognition, performance management, and other people initiatives.
• Coordinate employee communications related to HR programs, benefits, policies, and organizational initiatives.
• Support compliance with applicable employment laws, regulations, and RA policies.
• Maintain HR documentation and assist with audits, reporting, and HR metrics.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, systems, and the employee experience.
• Partner with the Division Director of People & Technology and leaders across the organization on people-related initiatives and priorities.

What You’ll Bring

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
• At least four (4) years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, including experience supporting payroll and benefits administration.
• Experience processing payroll and maintaining employee records using an HRIS/payroll system; experience with ADP Workforce Now is preferred.
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR compliance requirements, including FLSA, FMLA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, ADA, and related regulations.
• Experience administering employee benefits, including open enrollment, qualifying life events, retirement plans, and leave programs.
• Experience supporting employee engagement, recognition, performance management, or other people initiatives.
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills with the ability to effectively support employees and leaders at all levels of an organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high degree of professionalism and discretion.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive employee information.
• A continuous improvement mindset and interest in finding better ways to deliver HR programs and support the employee experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• SHRM-CP, PHR, FPC, or CPP certification.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now.
• Experience administering or supporting a performance management system.
• Experience working in a generalist HR role with responsibility across multiple HR functions.

What You Can Expect From RA

At RA, you'll join an organization that values the people who make our work possible. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with dignity and respect, encouraged to contribute ideas, and supported in doing meaningful work for the Reston community.

You'll have the opportunity to work across the organization, build relationships with leaders and employees, and contribute to a People & Technology function that is continuing to evolve. We value collaboration, accountability, innovation, and a commitment to making the employee experience better.

At RA, base salary is one part of our comprehensive total rewards package. The salary range represents the full scope of potential starting base compensation. The final offer will be based on factors including relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity.

Our benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Medical and Dependent Care FSAs
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Generous paid time off and federal holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Optional legal, critical illness, and accident insurance
• Free recreation passes for eligible employees and their dependents
• Discounted fees for RA recreation and camp programs
• Discounts at the RA Tennis and Pickleball Pro Shop
• Free electric vehicle charging onsite

Hybrid Work

This is a hybrid remote position requiring a minimum of three (3) onsite days per week at RA's Reston headquarters. To support effective onboarding, training, and knowledge transfer, new employees are expected to work onsite during their first 90 days. This initial period provides an opportunity to build relationships, learn RA's systems and processes, and develop a strong understanding of the organization and its culture.

Following the initial 90-day onboarding period, the position will become eligible for RA's standard hybrid work schedule. While we value the flexibility that hybrid work offers, hybrid arrangements are guided by business needs and may evolve over time.

A Note About Our Recruitment Process

Reston Association is committed to maintaining a secure and transparent recruitment experience. As part of our standard hiring practices, communication with applicants is conducted through official RA/ADP recruitment channels. RA does not use text messaging, social media direct messages, or calls from unidentified numbers to schedule interviews or request personal information.

If you receive a message that appears inconsistent with these guidelines, or if you would like to verify the legitimacy of a recruitment communication, please contact Kaylin Bloom, Talent Acquisition Specialist, at [e-mail] .