Human Resources Generalist

Overview: The HR Generalist is a trusted partner to employees and managers at a multi-company organization supporting a workforce of 400+ people. This role carries out day-to-day HR and workplace safety activities across the full employee lifecycle, including recruiting and onboarding, employee relations, benefits and leave administration, compliance, and safety. The HR Generalist works independently within defined limits, takes ownership of results, and escalates matters that require HR Manager or management decision, as outlined in the Decision-Making Authority and Escalation section. Tasks/Responsibilities: Planning: Partner with hiring managers to plan staffing needs, write job postings, and define candidate profiles Schedule and coordinate the annual open enrollment, performance review, and compensation review cycles Maintain the annual compliance and safety training calendar and the workplace inspection schedule Draft recommended updates to the employee handbook, HR policies, and written safety program for HR Manager review and approval Identify opportunities to streamline and improve HR processes and recommend them to the HR Manager Coordination: Coordinate candidate screening, interviews, offer letters, and background checks with hiring managers Coordinate new hire orientation, onboarding, and offboarding, including exit interviews and final pay Work with payroll to process new hires, changes, and terminations accurately and on time Work with brokers and carriers to resolve benefits and workers' compensation issues Coordinate training programs, including compliance, safety, and leadership development, track completion, and gather feedback Coordinate safety committee meetings and safety training sessions Execution and Assurance: Serve as the first point of contact for employee and manager questions on policies, performance, and workplace concerns, and resolve them in a timely manner Investigate employee concerns and complaints, document findings, and recommend resolutions; escalate complex or high-risk matters to the HR Manager Advise managers on performance management, corrective action, and difficult conversations Support employee engagement initiatives, surveys, and recognition programs Administer health, dental, vision, retirement, and other benefit programs, and answer employee benefits questions Manage leaves of absence (FMLA, parental, medical, and state-specific leave) and accommodation requests in line with company policy and the law, escalating denials and complex cases Carry out the company safety program, including safety committee support, employee safety communications, and follow-through on corrective actions Maintain OSHA compliance records, including injury and illness logs (OSHA 300, 300A, and 301) and required postings Conduct workplace inspections and hazard assessments and follow up on corrective actions Investigate incidents, injuries, and near-misses, identify root causes, and recommend preventive measures Administer workers' compensation claims and coordinate return-to-work and modified duty programs Track safety metrics, such as incident rates and claims, and report trends to the HR Manager Apply and monitor compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (FLSA, ADA, FMLA, EEO, and others), escalate risks to the HR Manager, and support EEO-1 and ACA reporting Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS data, prepare for audits, and report on headcount, turnover, and other metrics Adherence and Control: Participate in and support continual improvement of processes under the company's Lean 5S and industrial security programs Report to supervisor any corrective actions that need to be taken Must maintain an excellent working relationship with co-workers, management team and staff members of other departments Any other task not included in this list and that is assigned by HR Manager Expected Results and Accountability: Take ownership of assigned work and follow it through to completion, resolving employee and manager inquiries in a timely manner Keep OSHA logs, workers' compensation reports, leave records, and HRIS data accurate, complete, and filed by required deadlines Complete onboarding documentation, including I-9 verification, accurately and within legal deadlines Deliver HR-related payroll changes accurately and on time so that employees are paid correctly Begin incident investigations promptly and document findings and corrective actions in full Keep the HR Manager informed of open issues, risks, and trends, and escalate early Be accountable for the quality and timeliness of own work, while the HR Manager remains accountable for overall HR and compliance results Decision-Making Authority and Escalation: May decide and act independently: Answer employee and manager questions by applying established policies and procedures Process onboarding, offboarding, status changes, and routine HRIS and payroll updates Administer benefit enrollments and leave requests that meet policy and legal requirements Screen candidates, schedule interviews, and extend offers within approval from HR Manager Provide managers with guidance on routine performance and corrective action within policy Open and document incident investigations, workplace inspections, and workers' compensation claims, and maintain OSHA records Conduct and document initial fact-finding on employee concerns Requires HR Manager or management approval, or must be escalated: Terminations, suspensions, and final written warnings Complex or high-risk investigations, such as harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or threats of legal action Exceptions to policy and offers or pay adjustments Denials of leave or accommodation requests, and any decision involving legal risk Contact from government agencies or attorneys (OSHA, EEOC, DOL, or others), OSHA citations, and serious or fatal injuries Approval of new or revised handbooks, HR policies, and the written safety program Severance, settlements, and changes to benefit plans or vendors Qualifications/Skills and Competencies: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience Master's degree in Human Resources Management preferred 3–5 years of HR generalist experience, ideally in a company of 400–600 employees Working knowledge of employment law and HR best practices Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and experience administering a workplace safety program and workers' compensation claims Experience with HRIS (e.g., BambooHR, ADP, Paylocity, or similar) Fluent in English and Spanish (spoken and written) Strong written and verbal communication skills Minimum 1 year of experience using AI tools Sound judgment and the ability to work independently within defined authority, recognize when to escalate, manage multiple priorities, and handle confidential information with discretion Strong service orientation, with ownership, follow-through, and accountability for results Approachable and trustworthy with employees at all levels, balancing the needs of employees with the needs of the business Detail-oriented, organized, and dependable, and comfortable with data and basic reporting in Excel or similar tools Proactive, with a mindset of continuous improvement Preferred: PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification Preferred: OSHA 10/30-hour certification or a safety credential (e.g., CSP, ASP, or similar) Preferred: multi-state compliance and workplace investigation experience Physical Requirements: The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to work safely by following all of the safety standards Primarily office-based; ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods Ability to communicate (hear and speak) effectively in person, by phone, and by video Ability to walk, stand, and climb stairs as needed to conduct workplace safety inspections of work areas, which may include warehouse, temperature-controlled, or outdoor areas Ability to work in different environmental conditions (e.g., heat, cold, noise, and dust) when inspecting work areas Ability to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety glasses, hard hat, ear protection, or a high-visibility vest, during inspections Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds following appropriate safety procedures Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus Occasional travel between company locations and flexibility with hours for events, investigations, or emergencies Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Education: Bachelor's (Preferred) Experience: Human resources: 2 years (Required) Language: English (Required) Spanish (Required) Ability to Commute: Miami, FL 33122 (Required) Work Location: In person