HR Specialist

Position Overview Chick-fil-A Palm Coast & Seminole Woods is seeking an experienced, highly professional, and knowledgeable Senior HR Generalist to oversee and execute key human resources functions across our two restaurant locations. This is not an entry-level HR or administrative support position. We are looking for an established HR professional with substantial hands‑on experience, strong knowledge of employment laws, sound judgment, and the ability to independently manage complex HR responsibilities. The ideal candidate understands that effective human resources requires more than processing paperwork and reviewing applications. This individual must be proactive in recruiting talent, confident in navigating employee relations, knowledgeable in payroll and benefits administration, and committed to maintaining compliant, organized, and consistent HR systems. This role works closely with senior leadership and restaurant Directors to strengthen our people operations, protect the organization, improve employee retention, and build strong teams. We are looking for someone who takes ownership, anticipates problems, understands the importance of doing things correctly, and can serve as a trusted HR resource for our organization. Oasis Vision Alignment & Cultural Stewardship Oasis Vision: To be an oasis for our guests by providing exceptional experiences through high-quality food, outstanding service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Our commitment to exceptional guest experiences begins with how we recruit, support, develop, and care for our Team Members. The Senior HR Generalist plays a critical role in protecting our Oasis culture by ensuring that our people systems are professional, compliant, consistent, and aligned with our organizational values. This individual is expected to model professionalism, integrity, discretion, accountability, and a genuine commitment to people. Key Responsibilities HR Compliance & Employment Law Maintain strong working knowledge of federal and Florida employment laws and applicable workplace regulations. Oversee compliance with Florida and federal child labor laws, including minor work-hour restrictions, required documentation, and applicable employment requirements. Monitor wage and hour compliance, timekeeping practices, employee classifications, and required employment records. Ensure proper completion and maintenance of I-9 documentation, employment records, and onboarding requirements. Maintain accurate personnel files, labor law postings, incident reports, and compliance documentation. Monitor regulatory changes and proactively communicate necessary updates to leadership. Identify potential compliance concerns, recommend corrective actions, and coordinate with legal or specialized HR resources when appropriate. Establish and maintain consistent HR procedures across both restaurant locations. Recruiting, Talent Acquisition & Hiring Independently manage the full-cycle recruiting process, including job postings, candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, offers, and onboarding coordination. Proactively identify and recruit qualified candidates rather than relying exclusively on incoming applications. Develop creative and effective sourcing strategies to attract high-quality Team Members, managers, and leadership candidates. Build relationships with local schools, colleges, community organizations, professional networks, and other recruiting resources. Utilize recruiting platforms, social media, employee referrals, and direct outreach to identify potential candidates. Maintain active candidate pipelines for current and future staffing needs. Conduct structured interviews and evaluate candidates for qualifications, professionalism, reliability, and organizational alignment. Partner with restaurant leadership to forecast staffing needs and develop recruiting plans. Monitor recruiting effectiveness, candidate quality, hiring timelines, and retention outcomes. Continuously improve recruiting strategies to attract stronger applicants and reduce hiring challenges. Employee Relations & Performance Management Serve as a knowledgeable, dependable, and professional HR resource for Team Members and leadership. Handle employee concerns, complaints, and sensitive workplace matters with confidentiality and sound judgment. Conduct or coordinate employee relations investigations and maintain appropriate documentation. Advise leadership on coaching, corrective action, performance management, and disciplinary procedures. Guide managers through employee separations and termination processes to ensure consistency, professionalism, and compliance. Help identify and address workplace concerns before they escalate. Support employee engagement, morale, accountability, and retention initiatives. Ensure employment decisions are handled fairly, consistently, and in accordance with applicable laws and organizational policies. Payroll, Benefits & 401(k) Administration Manage and coordinate payroll processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timely completion. Review employee timekeeping records, payroll adjustments, compensation changes, deductions, and discrepancies. Identify and resolve payroll-related concerns in coordination with leadership and payroll providers. Maintain accurate employee information within payroll and HR systems. Coordinate employee benefits enrollment, eligibility changes, and benefits communication. Maintain accurate PTO records and support benefits administration. Manage administrative responsibilities related to the company's 401(k) plan, including eligibility tracking, employee census reports, data reconciliation, and annual reporting coordination. Communicate with retirement plan administrators, insurance providers, and payroll partners to ensure accurate and timely information. Maintain organized documentation and meet required payroll, benefits, and retirement plan deadlines. HR Operations, Onboarding & Systems Oversee employee onboarding and offboarding processes across both restaurant locations. Ensure all new-hire documentation, background checks, employment verification, and orientation requirements are completed accurately and on time. Coordinate new-hire orientation and required training assignments. Maintain accurate, confidential, and organized digital employee records. Develop and improve HR procedures, checklists, tracking systems, and administrative workflows. Monitor employee status changes, training requirements, documentation deadlines, and other HR responsibilities. Conduct regular HR file and process audits to identify and correct inconsistencies. Partner with restaurant leadership to improve communication, accountability, and operational consistency. Identify opportunities to strengthen HR systems and reduce administrative errors. Qualifications & Requirements Minimum of 5 years of progressive, hands‑on human resources experience , preferably in an HR Generalist, Senior HR Generalist, or HR management role. Demonstrated knowledge of federal and Florida employment laws, including child labor regulations, wage and hour requirements, and employment documentation. Direct experience handling employee relations, workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, and employee separations. Proven experience managing recruiting processes, conducting interviews, and proactively sourcing qualified candidates. Practical experience with payroll administration, payroll audits, benefits coordination, and employee recordkeeping. Strong understanding of professional HR practices, confidentiality, documentation, and compliance. Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, identify problems, and implement effective solutions. Exceptional professionalism, integrity, communication skills, and sound judgment. Highly organized, detail‑oriented, dependable, and process‑driven. Comfortable advising and collaborating with senior leadership and restaurant Directors. Proficiency with HR software, applicant tracking systems, payroll platforms, and digital recordkeeping. Ability to work on‑site and support both restaurant locations. Preferred Qualifications SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification. Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. Previous HR experience in restaurant, hospitality, retail, or other high‑volume environments. Experience supporting multiple business locations. Direct experience with 401(k) administration, employee census reporting, and benefits reconciliation. Demonstrated success developing proactive recruiting strategies and leadership talent pipelines. Experience with Workstream or comparable applicant tracking systems. Schedule & Availability This is a full‑time, on‑site position supporting both Chick-fil-A Palm Coast and Seminole Woods. Approximately 40 hours per week. Monday–Saturday scheduling flexibility based on business needs. Occasional early morning, evening, or Saturday availability may be necessary for interviews, orientations, recruiting events, employee meetings, or special initiatives. Both restaurant locations are closed on Sundays. Regular on‑site presence is required to maintain relationships with Team Members and leadership at both locations. Accountability & Performance Standards The Senior HR Generalist is expected to take ownership of assigned HR functions and consistently deliver accurate, timely, and professional results. Performance will be evaluated based on: Consistent compliance with applicable employment laws and HR requirements. Accuracy and organization of employee documentation and HR records. Payroll accuracy, timely processing, and effective resolution of discrepancies. Timely and accurate completion of benefits and 401(k) administrative responsibilities. Effectiveness of proactive recruiting efforts and quality of candidates sourced. Hiring efficiency, candidate pipeline development, and staffing support. Professional handling of employee relations matters and sensitive situations. Improvement of HR systems, processes, and organizational consistency. Effective communication and collaboration with restaurant leadership. Demonstrated initiative, accountability, confidentiality, and independent problem‑solving. This position requires an individual who can recognize what needs to be done, establish priorities, follow through consistently, and take responsibility for results. Why Join Our Team? Competitive pay: $25-30/hour based on experience and qualifications. Full‑time employment supporting two established Chick-fil-A restaurant locations. Health, dental, and vision insurance options. Paid time off. 401(k) with company match, subject to eligibility. Employee discounts. Paid training and professional development opportunities. Sundays off. Opportunity to work closely with senior leadership and influence organizational systems and culture. Meaningful responsibility and the opportunity to make a direct impact on recruiting, employee experience, and organizational success. Stable, locally owned organization with opportunities for long‑term professional growth. A Long-Term Career Opportunity We are not simply looking for someone to fill an HR position. We are looking for an experienced human resources professional who understands the responsibility that comes with supporting employees, advising leadership, maintaining compliance, and protecting the integrity of an organization. The right individual will bring knowledge, professionalism, initiative, and confidence to this role. They will be someone who understands employment regulations, takes recruiting seriously, maintains accurate systems, and handles sensitive matters with maturity and sound judgment. This is an opportunity to take meaningful ownership of HR operations across two growing restaurant locations while helping strengthen the people, processes, and leadership systems that support our long‑term success. If you are an experienced HR professional who takes pride in doing things correctly, proactively solves problems, and wants to make a meaningful impact on an organization, we would like to meet you. Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are operated by independent franchised business owners who make their own employment decisions and are responsible for their own employment policies and practices. Working at a Chick-fil-A restaurant is more than a job – it’s an opportunity for teamwork and leadership development in a positive, people‑focused environment. Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent, franchised Operators who invest in the future of their Team Members and give back to their communities. #J-18808-Ljbffr Chick-fil-A