Entrylevel Human Resource Jobs in Bridgeport, CT

RISE Human Resources Associate

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Reports to:  Director of Talent

Location: New Haven, CT (Hybrid)

Salary: $50,000 -65,000

Benefits: Comprehensive employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with employer matching; generous paid time off; flexible scheduling; and additional benefits designed to support employee well-being and work-life balance. 

Additional Information: The anticipated start date for this position is September 2026

The interview process will begin with a brief screening interview followed by a performance task and interview.

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 Overview:

The RISE Network’s mission is to ensure all students graduate from high school with a plan and the skills and confidence to achieve college and career success. Founded in 2015 in partnership with educators, RISE collaborates with public schools and districts to lead networks where school communities work together to use data to learn and improve. School partners collaborate to ensure all students experience success as they transition to, through, and beyond high school by using data to pinpoint needs, form hypotheses, and pursue change ideas to advance student achievement. Through our founding and most comprehensive network, we partner with eight high schools across seven school districts, serving over 13,000 students. We’ve grown over the past decade, and during the 2025-26 school year, we partnered with 60 schools across seven states. Through our work, we focus on closing opportunity gaps, and the majority of RISE students identify as Black, Latine, and/or from low-income backgrounds.

RISE high schools have achieved double-digit gains improving Grade 9 on-track achievement, four-year-high school graduation rates, and student identification of postsecondary plans, while also decreasing subgroup gaps across all indicators. In 2021, the RISE Network was honored to receive the Carnegie Foundation’s annual Spotlight on Quality in Continuous Improvement recognition. 

Position Summary and Essential Job Functions:

Position Summary:  The Talent Associate supports the day-to-day operations of RISE's talent function. This role is responsible for executing and supporting improvements to recruitment, onboarding, payroll and benefits administration, performance management, employee engagement, HR compliance, and talent operations. The Talent Associate ensures accurate processes, timely communication, and an exceptional experience for candidates and employees while building foundational expertise in Human Resources and Talent Operations. 

Entry-level roles at RISE own well-defined tasks and workstreams with close supervision and frequent feedback from their supervisor. Individuals at this level contribute to team goals and KPIs through reliable follow-through and responsiveness to teammates. They are responsible stewards of RISE resources and focus on building foundational skills, growing competence, and learning how to deliver quality work through continuous learning.

Key Responsibilities:

• Hiring, Recruitment, and Onboarding

• Coordinate job postings across recruiting platforms and internal communication channels.

• Coordinate interview scheduling and logistics for candidates, hiring managers, and interview panels.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for candidates throughout the hiring process, maintaining timely and professional communication.

• Coordinate pre-employment processes, including background checks, employment documentation, and offer administration.

• Enter new hires into HR systems and coordinate onboarding schedules, orientation, I-9 completion, and onboarding checklists.

• Maintain accurate recruitment and onboarding records while supporting hiring managers throughout the hiring and onboarding process.

• Payroll and Benefits Administration 

• Support biweekly payroll processing by preparing personnel changes, reviewing payroll information for accuracy, and identifying discrepancies prior to payroll processing. 

• Support benefits administration activities, including new hire enrollments, qualifying life event changes, terminations, and annual open enrollment.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for routine employee questions related to payroll, benefits, and HR processes, escalating complex issues, as appropriate.

• Maintain accurate employee information across HRIS, payroll, and benefits systems.

• Coordinate with external vendors to support payroll, benefits, background checks, and other talent operations.

• HR Compliance and Employee Lifecycle 

• Maintain personnel files and employment documentation in compliance with organizational policies and applicable employment laws.

• Coordinate employment verifications, background checks, compliance documentation, and HR audit preparation.

• Coordinate onboarding and offboarding activities, including documentation, technology collection, benefit terminations, and completion of onboarding and offboarding checklists.

• Maintain and update HR policies, procedures, forms, and internal documentation.

• Escalate employee relations, compliance, or policy concerns to the Director of Talent.

• Handle confidential employee information with discretion and professionalism.

• Talent Development and Performance Management, 

  • Coordinate employee engagement initiatives, including surveys, communications, and participation tracking.

  • Prepare newsletter communications, and reminders to support talent initiatives and organizational routines.

  • Identify opportunities to improve talent processes, systems, and documentation to increase efficiency and enhance the employee experience.