What Is an HR Administrator?

City of Olathe/CC-BY-2.0

A human resource (HR) administrator manages an organization or industry’s employees by handling recruiting and orientation, facilitating training, and administering payroll and benefits. This position was once called personnel manager.

HR administrators conduct orientations for new employees at all levels to deliver information about benefit plans and enrollment provisions. HR administrators process monthly billings from insurance providers and communicate with and counsel employees and dependents as needed. They resolve employee complaints concerning health and benefit plans and handle enrollments and terminations in health plans. HR administrators also process documents through payroll and insurance providers to ensure accurate records and payroll deductions. They work closely with executive management to ensure personnel needs are met and plan for any future alterations. Coordinating with executives, HR administrators may recruit, interview and evaluate candidates for hiring.