Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Channel Strategies, Coaching, Consulting, Continuous Improvement, Customer Relations, Customer Retention/Renewal, Customer Support/Service, Employee Relations, Employment Law, Executive Relationships, FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993), HRIS/HRMS, Healthcare, Human Resources, Human Resources Certification, Human Resources Management, Human Resources Strategy, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Legal, Maintain Compliance, Market Entry Strategy, Microsoft Office, Nonprofit, Operations Management, Organizational Development/Management, PHR (Professional in Human Resources), Philosophy, Policy Development, Process Development, Professional Services, Project Design, Realtime Programming, Regulatory Compliance, Reporting Skills, Sales Management, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Startup, Stewardship, Thought Leadership, Training Program, Willing to Travel
POSITION:
Human Resources Consultant
LOCATION:
Headquarters/Client Site
REPORTS TO:
Vice President - Human Resources Consulting
CLASSIFICATION:
Temporary
STARTING PAY:
$50.00 - $60.00 per hour
AVAILABILITY:
Flexibility within Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
Position Summary:
The Human Resources Consultant serves as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to a portfolio of small to mid-sized organizations across the Capital Region. This role supports clients who often lack internal Human Resources (HR) leadership by delivering high-touch, expert guidance across a wide spectrum of HR disciplines. The HR Consultant will provide ongoing support through retainer-based services, fixed-fee projects, and leave management solutions enabling clients to build compliant, people-first workplaces that align with their mission and growth goals.
The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic, client-facing environment, possesses deep HR Generalist experience, and demonstrates agility in working across diverse industries and organizational cultures. As a core team member in a growing department, this individual will also play a critical role in shaping internal service models, driving operational excellence, and contributing to the success of Pioneer's broader go-to-market strategy.
Key Responsibilities:
Client-Facing Advisory & Ongoing Support
- Serve as primary HR contact for assigned clients, delivering strategic HR guidance aligned with their organizational goals.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with executive stakeholders and front-line managers.
- Support clients with employee relations, policy development, leadership coaching, and organizational planning.
- Deliver high-touch, consistent HR support (both onsite and remote) in accordance with client retainer agreements.
Special Projects & Program Design
- Lead and execute fixed-fee HR projects including employee handbooks, compliance audits, job architecture, compensation studies, and customized training programs.
- Tailor project scope and deliverables to client needs while ensuring legal compliance and operational effectiveness.
Leave of Absence Management
- Support clients in administering and managing leave requests in accordance with FMLA, state-mandated PFL, ADA, and other applicable laws.
- Utilize leave management software to track cases, ensure compliance, and provide reporting as needed.
Thought Leadership & Culture Stewardship
- Promote Pioneer's Imagine culture and client-first philosophy in all engagements.
- Lead internal initiatives such as knowledge sharing, process development, and continuous improvement projects.
- Contribute to the enhancement of Pioneer Better Leadership programming by integrating real-time learnings from external consulting work.
Qualifications & Competencies:
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's Degree or ten (10) years of Human Resources experience in lieu of degree required.
- Must have Human Resources certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, or higher) or must obtain certification within 1 year of employment.
- Minimum 2-5 years of progressive Human Resources experience in a generalist or consulting capacity.
- Proven ability to manage a variety of HR disciplines and client needs across multiple sectors (nonprofit, startup, professional services, healthcare, etc.)
Core Skills & Attributes
- Strategic thinker with strong consultative and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated ability to operate independently while managing multiple clients and priorities.
- Adept at navigating ambiguity and adapting solutions to fit each client's culture and lifecycle stage.
- Technically proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and HRIS platforms.
- Deep understanding of federal, NYS, and local employment laws and regulations.
- High integrity with strict adherence to confidentiality and professional ethics.
- Reliable transportation and willingness to travel to client sites as needed within the Capital Region.
As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, Pioneer Bank will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, criminal record, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status with respect to receiving public assistance, domestic violence victim status, a disabled, special, recently separated, active duty wartime, campaign badge, Armed Forces service medal veteran, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.