HR Generalist

Hawkins Construction Company is committed to providing the very best in professional construction services. The most important factor in meeting this goal is our people. Our success is driven by employing people who represent the best in the industry. Be the operational engine that keeps Hawkins' HR running accurately, on schedule, and without missing a beat, so the HR Director and HR team can focus on strategic workforce initiatives. CORE DUTIES: HR Operations & Employee Records: Maintain accurate, compliant employee files and HRIS/ATS records. Process employee status changes, new hires, transfers, promotions, terminations in the HRIS and coordinate Payroll. Administer Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) tracking. Support EEO and compliance recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Manage unemployment claims administration and responses. Onboarding, Offboarding & Documentation: Administer new-hire onboarding logistics: offer paperwork, I-9/E-Verify, background checks, orientation scheduling. Process offboarding and retirement transitions, including exit documentation and benefits transition support. Maintain and update HR forms, and process documentation as directed by the HR Director. Benefits & Leave Administration: Provide day-to-day benefits administration support: enrollment processing, vendor coordination, and employee questions. Recruiting & Employee Relations Support: Provide administrative support to recruiting: interview scheduling, offer letter generation, and candidate correspondence. Support frontline leaders and the HR Generalist team with first-line employee relations documentation as directed. Assist with HR reporting and metrics tracking (turnover, time-to-fill, headcount) to support HR Director planning. Compliance & Policy Administration: Support administration of company policies, employee handbook distribution/acknowledgment, and required training tracking. Assist with state-specific compliance requirements as Hawkins expands operations in Kansas and Missouri. Process Improvement & Automation: Identify manual, paper-based HR processes and lead their conversion to digital, automated workflows. Document the new process, build the supporting templates or forms, and train the HR team and frontline leaders on the change. TRAITS REQUIRED: Honest and high-energy Gritty, thorough, reliable, and process-driven Thinks and acts — prepares well and fights for the team Deliberate and organized Takes ownership of the details that keep HR running smoothly Strong independent judgment; comfortable operating with minimal oversight High degree of discretion with confidential employee information PAST EXPERIENCE DESIRED: 5+ years of progressive HR generalist experience. Working knowledge of employment law fundamentals (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO) and multi-state HR administration. Experience with an HRIS/ATS platform. Strong Microsoft Office skills; comfort with data tracking, reporting, and process documentation. Demonstrated record of converting paper and manual HR processes into automated, technology-enabled workflows. Examples include digitizing personnel files, moving onboarding and status-change paperwork to electronic forms with e-signature, or launching employee self-service in an HRIS. Candidates should be prepared to walk through one process they converted end to end and the time or error reduction it produced. Hands-on experience using AI and agentic tools (such as Microsoft Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, or workflow automation platforms like Power Automate) to reduce repetitive administrative work, including document drafting, records summarization, data extraction, and multi-step task automation. Comfort experimenting with new tools, along with sound judgment about where AI is and is not appropriate for confidential employee data. Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Primarily office-based at Hawkins' Nebraska headquarters. BENEFITS: Competitive Salary (based on experience) Company Paid Health Insurance and Dental Profit Sharing Plan Paid Vacation Paid Holidays Performance Based Bonuses Employee Discounts Employee Assistance Program (EAP) *Duties and responsibilities may be subject to change based on organizational needs and evolving industry requirements. Hawkins Construction Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity in our workforce. It is our policy to attract and retain the best-qualified people available, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or status as a Special Disabled Veteran, Vietnam Era Veteran or other qualifying veteran. Diverse employees/candidates are encouraged to respond. Hawkins Construction Company is committed to developing and maintaining a workplace which reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled/VEVRAA Federal Contractor