About Us: Uwajimaya, a family-owned business, and a cornerstone of Asian grocery retailing since 1928, is seeking dedicated individuals to join our dynamic team. With a legacy of excellence and a commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences, Uwajimaya has grown to become the premier destination for Asian food culture in the Pacific Northwest.
Who We're Looking For: We are seeking individuals who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, driven to excel in their roles, and motivated to contribute to our vibrant team. Whether you're a seasoned professional or eager to start your career, we welcome candidates from all backgrounds who share our enthusiasm for food, customer service, and Asian culture.
We offer:
A flexible, friendly, and diverse work environment
Competitive starting wages
Employee discounts on food and gift items
Paid holidays from day one
Excellent health benefits
Retirement plan
Paid time off
Long term disability
Life insurance
Opportunities for growth and advancement
Supplemental insurance options available
Position Summary:
The Human Resource Associate at Uwajimaya supports various functions within the Human Resources Department, including recruiting and hiring, wage and salary administration, benefits and leave administration, and HRIS/reporting/payroll administration. This entry-level role assists with routine tasks while learning to apply educational knowledge to practical experience, with success measured by progress. The position requires effective collaboration across departments, adherence to legal compliance, and providing employee assistance. The HR Associate must demonstrate organizational skills, effective communication, and technical judgment.
Position’s Key Responsibilities:
Assist in pursuing improvements to meet or exceed customer needs and company objectives.
Assist in recruitment processes, including job postings, sourcing candidates, interview coordination, reference checks, and compliance oversight. Assist with administering entrance and exit interviews.
Support the new employee orientation and onboarding process, helping new hires transition smoothly and learn company policies and procedures.
Support payroll administration tasks, including auditing for accuracy, resolving issues, ensuring timeliness and accuracy, and maintaining compliance with record-keeping regulations.
Help maintain HRIS policies, explore enhancements, provide training, and liaise with consultants to optimize system utilization.
Assist in revising and creating job descriptions, and assist with annual program/system revisions.
Assist in benefit communication and enrollment, claims administration, retirement plan inquiries., Coordinate unemployment claims, salary verifications, and administer recognition programs. Ensure legal compliance.
Other duties as assigned.
Starting at $24.00/hr., Depending on Experience.
Bachelor’s Degree in Business (preferably in Management/Human Resources), Social Science or related field.
One year of related experience.
Strong communication, problem-solving, and multitasking skills.
Ability to take ownership of responsibilities, meet deadlines, and maintain interpersonal relationships.
Excellent collaboration skills with diverse backgrounds.
Proficient in office applications (Excel, Word) and other business software tools.
Quick learner, able to follow instructions, and work independently.
Skilled in working in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
This position will primarily be required to work in-person at company locations.
This role requires some travel to various company locations. Candidates must have reliable transportation to fulfill this requirement effectively. Travel frequency may vary based on business needs.