People Operations Specialist, Americas

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

Role Summary The Americas People Operations team delivers responsive, compliant, and employee experience-focused shared services support across the U.S. and Canada. The People Operations Specialist serves as a primary point of contact for People-related inquiries and lifecycle transactions across the U.S. and Canada. Operating within a tiered support model, this role supports onboarding, offboarding, Leave of Absence (LOA) administration, case management, policy interpretation, and operational program execution while ensuring regional compliance and service excellence.

This position partners closely with People Partners, Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition, Systems Operations, Payroll, Benefits, and regional stakeholders to deliver a consistent, compliant, and seamless employee experience across geographies.

• Support end-to-end employee lifecycle processes, including hires and terminations, across North America, ensuring compliance, consistency, and a seamless employee experience from hire through exit.
• Execute onboarding from offer acceptance through Day One, including documentation audits, compliance reviews, systems coordination, and orientation delivery.
• Conduct centralized, virtual Day One orientation sessions for U.S. and Canada hires based on our global onboarding materials.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition, Hiring Managers, People Partners, and Systems Operations to ensure a smooth and compliant employee experience.
• Manage voluntary and involuntary offboarding processes with timeliness, confidentiality, and accuracy, including exit documentation, surveys, and equipment coordination.
• Provide lifecycle insights and trends to People Partners and Employee Relations to support continuous improvement.
• Process assigned employee lifecycle transactions in Workday with accuracy, timeliness, and strong attention to data integrity.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for People-related inquiries from employees and managers across North America, delivering a positive, professional, and solution-oriented experience.
• Manage, triage, and resolve routine People-related cases through Service Now, meeting SLAs and escalating complex matters as appropriate.
• Interpret and apply country-specific policies, employment regulations, and practices across supported geographies.
• Escalate complex, high-risk, or sensitive matters to Employee Relations, Legal, or regional People Partners as appropriate.
• Identify inquiry trends and recommend improvements to portal content, communications, self-service tools, and operational workflows.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for People processes, policies, and tools.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and sound judgment when handling sensitive employee matters.

• Execute and administer regional People programs and compliance-related activities across North America, including tuition reimbursement, service awards, benefits administration support, employment verifications, unemployment claims, where applicable, and personnel file management.
• Provide clear guidance to employees and managers on company policies, programs, and procedural requirements.
• Ensure the consistent application of policies and accurate documentation across supported countries.
• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, provincial, and country-specific employment regulations.
• Partner cross-functionally with Payroll, Benefits, Employee Relations, and People Partners to ensure accurate and timely program administration.

• Administer and coordinate Leave of Absence processes across Canada in alignment with local regulations and company policies.
• Partner with employees, managers, and People Partners to ensure accurate documentation and timely communication.
• Track leave status, required documentation, and return-to-work processes.
• Coordinate with Payroll, Benefits, and Systems teams to ensure accurate processing and system updates.
• Ensure compliance with country-specific leave laws and reporting requirements.

• Maintain strong data governance practices to ensure compliance, audit readiness, and accurate employee records.
• Support system enhancements, testing activities, and implementation initiatives in partnership with Global People Technology and IT.
• Leverage AI and technology tools to streamline…