Municipal HR Generalist

Job Description

Job Description

GENERAL SUMMARY : The Municipal HR Generalist serves as a shared human resources
resource for both the Town of Smithfield and the Smithfield School Department. This
position supports a wide range of HR functions including recruitment, employee relations,
benefits administration, compliance, training, and HR process coordination. The HR
Generalist works collaboratively with municipal and school leadership to ensure
consistent, efficient, and legally compliant HR practices across departments.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment & Onboarding/Offboarding
• Coordinate full-cycle recruitment for municipal and school positions, including job
postings, applicant screening, interviews, and reference checks.
• Facilitate onboarding/offboarding to ensure smooth integration into the organization.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date job descriptions for all roles.

Employee Relations & Support
• Serve as a point of contact for employees regarding HR policies, procedures, and general
inquiries.
• Assist supervisors and principals with addressing employee concerns and performance-related matters.
• Support positive employee engagement initiatives across both town and school
departments.

Benefits Administration
• Administer employee health insurance, retirement, and other benefit programs.
• Assist employees with benefits enrollment, changes, and troubleshooting.
• Coordinate with vendors and maintain compliance with state and federal requirements.

HR Compliance & Recordkeeping
• Ensure compliance with municipal, state, and federal employment laws and regulations.
• Maintain personnel files, HR systems, and confidential records for both the town and
school department.
• Support reporting requirements, including EEO, ADA, and other regulatory submissions.

Training & Development
• Assist with planning and delivering employee training programs, including safety,
harassment prevention, and professional development.
• Support leadership with identifying training needs and coordinating available resources.

Policy & Process Administration
• Keep employees informed by distributing appropriate employee news/information
• Help maintain and update HR policies, handbooks, and procedures.
• Support collective bargaining activities by providing research, documentation, and
administrative assistance.
• Promote consistent HR practices while respecting the unique needs of municipal
and school operations.
• Other duties may be assigned by the HR Director.

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration,
or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 2–5 years of professional HR experience, preferably in municipal or public-sector
settings.
• Knowledge of state and federal employment laws (FMLA, FLSA, ADA, Title VII).
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Proficiency with HRIS software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience working in unionized environments is a plus.

Work Environment
This position supports both municipal and school department operations and may require
travel between town offices and school facilities within Smithfield. Occasional evening or
early-morning hours may be needed for meetings, interviews, or training sessions.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Town of Smithfield is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Town is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The Town of Smithfield encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process upon request.