Onboarding Specialist

Overview

At Citarella, we believe the team member experience begins long before an employee’s first day on the floor. We are seeking a hospitality-driven, highly organized, and people-focused Onboarding Specialist to help create an exceptional and welcoming experience for every new hire joining our organization.

The Onboarding Specialist will play a key role in ensuring a seamless transition from candidate to team member by managing onboarding processes, coordinating orientations, supporting compliance documentation, and creating a positive first impression of the Citarella culture. This role partners closely with Talent Acquisition, HR, Store Leadership, and Operations teams to ensure new hires are prepared, engaged, and set up for success from day one.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys interacting with diverse teams, and brings strong attention to detail, professionalism, and hospitality to every interaction. Regular travel throughout NYC and surrounding locations is required.

Key Responsibilities

New Hire Experience & Onboarding

• Coordinate and facilitate the onboarding process for all new team members across stores, commissary, and corporate functions
• Deliver engaging and welcoming new hire orientations that reflect the Citarella culture, service standards, and commitment to hospitality
• Ensure all onboarding paperwork, compliance documents, and employment records are completed accurately and in a timely manner
• Serve as a primary point of contact for new hires throughout the onboarding process, providing support and guidance before and during their first days of employment
• Partner with hiring managers and operational leaders to ensure new team members are prepared for a successful start

Coordination & Operational Support

• Schedule orientations, onboarding sessions, and training activities across multiple locations
• Coordinate with Talent Acquisition and HR teams to ensure a smooth handoff from recruitment to onboarding
• Monitor onboarding progress and maintain accurate tracking within HRIS and onboarding systems
• Assist with badge creation, system access requests, uniforms, scheduling coordination, and other new hire readiness activities as needed
• Support the rollout of onboarding process improvements and operational initiatives

Compliance & Administration

• Ensure compliance with company policies, employment regulations, and onboarding procedures
• Maintain organized and accurate onboarding records and employee files
• Assist with audits, reporting, and tracking of onboarding completion metrics
• Support team members with questions related to onboarding documentation, policies, and procedures

Team Member Engagement

• Help foster a welcoming, inclusive, and hospitality-focused onboarding experience
• Gather feedback from new hires and operational leaders to identify opportunities for continuous improvement
• Support employee engagement initiatives and team member events when needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience preferred
• 2+ years of experience in onboarding, HR coordination, recruiting support, training, hospitality, or related fields
• Bilingual English/Spanish required
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with a hospitality-first mindset
• High attention to detail and ability to maintain confidentiality
• Comfortable facilitating orientations and engaging with team members at all levels
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with HRIS or onboarding systems
• Ability to travel regularly throughout NYC and surrounding locations

Preferred Experience

• Experience in retail, hospitality, grocery, restaurant, or multi-site operational environments
• Experience supporting hourly workforces and high-volume hiring environments
• Strong administrative and coordination capabilities
• Passion for creating outstanding employee experiences and building strong workplace culture

Why Join Citarella

For more than a century, Citarella has been known for delivering exceptional quality, hospitality, and service. Our people are at the center of everything we do, and the onboarding experience is a critical part of setting our teams up for success.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the first impression and long-term experience of team members joining one of New York’s most iconic gourmet markets.