Generalist, Human Resources

Generalist, Human Resources

Woodward Academy is Atlanta at its very best. We intentionally bring together students from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, creating a richer learning community and exceptional academic opportunities. Our students and graduates are caring and compassionate global citizens who are a microcosm of what the world should be.

Position Summary: The Human Resources Generalist is a key member of the Human Resources team responsible for delivering high-quality HR services that support Woodward Academy's employees and organizational goals. This role handles a broad range of human resources functions, including recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, benefits administration, workers' compensation, HR compliance, employee relations support, and HR operations.

The Human Resources Generalist serves as a primary point of contact for employees and managers, providing guidance, support, and solutions across a variety of HR matters. Through a commitment to service, continuous improvement, and operational excellence, this position helps create an exceptional employee experience while ensuring compliance with employment laws, regulations, and Academy policies.

Specific Duties Include:

• Manage the full-cycle recruitment process, including partnering with hiring managers to identify staffing needs, developing job postings, screening applicants, coordinating interviews, facilitating pre-employment screening processes, preparing offer documentation, and conducting new hire onboarding and orientation.
• Maintain the integrity, accuracy, and confidentiality of employee records in the Human Resources Information System (HRIS), personnel files, and other platforms.
• Champion the effective use of HR systems and technology platforms by identifying opportunities to improve processes, conducting regular audits of employee data and records, generating reports and metrics, and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of HR information.
• Ensure timely and accurate data entry, filing, document retention, and perform regular audits to support compliance with organizational policies and applicable employment laws.
• Drive employee engagement initiatives by managing the employee recognition platform (Cooleaf), coordinating new employee onboarding experiences, developing monthly employee communications, and planning employee events and activities.
• Process routine billing and invoices for assigned operational areas.
• Administer employee separations, including processing terminations, preparing separation documentation, and conducting exit interviews.
• Serve as the first point of contact for employee and manager inquiries regarding policies, benefits, leave administration, performance management, employee relations, workplace concerns, compensation, training and development, and other human resources matters. Escalate complex matters as appropriate.
• Assist with employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, conflict resolution, corrective action processes, and documentation.
• Support benefits administration activities, including employee enrollments, life event changes, leave administration, annual open enrollment, and employee education.
• Provide administrative support to the HR team including maintaining calendars, scheduling meetings, filing paperwork, drafting communications, maintaining office stock, creating reports and providing phone support.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for workers' compensation administration, ensuring timely reporting, claim management, communication, and return-to-work coordination.
• Maintains compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and recommended best practices; reviews policies and practices to maintain compliance.
• Provide administrative support to the Human Resources Department, including scheduling meetings, maintaining calendars, preparing reports, drafting communications, managing department records, and responding to inquiries.
• Participate and lead HR projects and process improvement initiatives designed to enhance operational efficiency and the employee experience.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills:

• Passion for learning, innovation, and leveraging technology to improve HR processes and the employee experience.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, and HR technology platforms; experience with Paycom and Paycor preferred.

Minimum Job Qualifications:

• Associates degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required
• 1-3 years of professional experience in Human Resources, recruiting, education, or a related field.
• Human Resources certification (SHRM-CP, PHR, or equivalent) or the ability to obtain certification within one year of hire.
• Bilingual (Spanish) is a plus.

The Generalist, Human Resources position is an exempt, 12-month position.

Woodward Academy is dedicated to providing a safe, drug-free environment for its students, faculty, and staff. Accordingly, Woodward has adopted a drug-free workplace policy, which includes substance abuse testing of all employees and applicants, in accordance with applicable state law. As such all offers of employment are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of pre-employment requirements which include background checks and substance testing.

Equal Opportunity Employer