HR Generalist

HR GENERALIST – ROLE OVERVIEW The HR Generalist serves as the primary point of contact for employees and managers alike for our US plants (Yakima, WA and New Haven, IN). You’ll provide guidance on a broad spectrum of human resources matters, ensuring that our people operations are executed seamlessly throughout the entire employee lifecycle. The successful candidate will balance a commitment to our organizational culture with a dedicated focus on regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and a high-quality employee experience. This position reports to the People Operations Manager. POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES AND RESULTS EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE & SUPPORT Serve as the primary and accessible point of contact for all employee inquiries concerning policy interpretation, benefits, LOA, HR systems access, and general workplace concerns Ensure prompt response times while maintaining high levels of service, accuracy, and positive employee experiences Work effectively and respectfully with employees at all levels of the organization to build positive, trust‑based relationships Listen actively and intuitively to extract objective data, identify root needs that may be hidden beneath the surface and resolve issues using a solution‑oriented approach Conduct thorough, empathetic, and unbiased intake for employee relations issues. Document all findings with high accuracy and collaborate with leadership to implement fair resolutions that mitigate risk and uphold company values Help employees navigate organizational, people, and change‑related issues to ensure organizational agility MANAGEMENT SUPPORT Partner with managers to ensure consistent administration of HR strategies, policies, procedures, and communications to support business objectives Build strong, respectful relationships across department leads through, understanding their intersecting challenges and needs, displaying effective teamwork and unbiased guidance Assist supervisors and managers with coaching, discipline, and legal compliance in handling sensitive employee issues, escalating to HR leadership when necessary Provide guidance to managers and their employees during performance reviews to ensure fair and constructive evaluations Help managers navigate organizational, people, and change‑related issues to ensure organizational agility HR PROCESSES & SYSTEMS Continually identify process improvement opportunities and solutions to improve HR operations and internal customer experiences Provide coverage to other HR team members during time off, ensuring seamless employee experiences and on‑time HR transactions Monitor and stay up to date on changes in labor laws and regulations and communicate changes to management and employees as needed Understand the organization’s strategic objectives, challenges, and competitive landscape Provide support for assigned HR projects TALENT MANAGEMENT Collaborate closely with department leaders to understand their unique talent needs and challenges, proactively identifying opportunities to drive business results Participate in recruiting activities, including posting job requisitions, managing applicant flow, screening candidates, coordinating interviews, and maintaining thorough documentation Facilitate onboarding and stay interviews to ensure new hires are effectively integrated into the organization Partner with People Operations Manager to flow up identified workforce training needs, development plans, and career paths to support skill growth and career advancement Facilitate employee offboarding, ensuring a smooth and secure exit experience for all OTHER Support Kwik Lok production activities with a focus on continuing improvement of quality, food safety, and manufacturing processes REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS We welcome candidates who have worked in people‑support roles guided by compliance requirements—these may include customer service, legal support, executive administration, education, or similar areas. Such positions call for a dedication to confidentiality, meticulous record‑keeping, policy adherence, and strong interpersonal abilities. Education: 4‑year degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or 6 years of related experience in lieu of degree Experience: At least 2 years’ experience in HR or a similar compliance‑based people‑support role responding to high‑volume questions with professionalism, empathy, accuracy, and sound judgment Bilingual in Spanish/English General understanding of US and state employment laws and business principles Ability to handle confidential information with absolute discretion Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (e.g., Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and Word); familiarity with HRIS platforms a plus Must be able to pass pre‑employment drug and background screenings Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship KEY SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES Possesses strong emotional intelligence, consistent grounding energy, and excellent boundaries to facilitate a culture of accountability Demonstrates high accuracy, attention to detail, thorough documentation, and precise record‑keeping Enjoys routine, and has excellent organization, prioritization, follow‑through, and time management skills Strong de‑escalation skills with the ability to navigate concerns calmly, objectively, and respectfully Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing, including strong proofreading and clear follow‑up communication Resourceful and comfortable proactively researching reliable information to answer questions or escape concerns; utilizes sound judgment to interpret and apply policies and procedures consistently within established guidelines Confident educating employees and managers on policies, procedures, and process changes in a clear and approachable way Anticipates needs, exercises sound judgment, and identifies practical solutions within established processes Works independently with strong self‑direction and ownership of work scope and outcomes, while remaining adaptable and open to feedback for professional growth ALL THE DETAILS… Pay scale: $32.21 – $35.58 per hour Insurance Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription, Life and Disability Insurance plans (waiting period applies) Retirement Benefits: 401K Plan with company match (90 day waiting period – restrictions apply) Paid Time Off: (90 day waiting period, prorated for first year) Vacation: 120 hours a year, with increases based on years of service Holidays: 70 hours a year (8.5 days): 1 Floating Holiday, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following, half day on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day Sick Leave: 40 hours a year, accrued at 1 hour per 40 hours worked for hourly employees, salary employees prorated for first year Other Compensation: Employees may be eligible for annual performance bonuses Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm or similar Location: Onsite in Yakima, Washington Work environment: Office environment, regularly sitting and/or standing at a computer. Noise level in office environment is 10dB, and 85‑95 dB in production environment. Occasionally bends, squats, reaches, kneels, and may lift up to 40 lbs. on occasion. Constantly seeing, hearing, talking. Kwik Lok is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. We value a diverse workforce and provide equal opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, genetic information, status as a veteran, unrelated criminal conviction history, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job or participate in the application and interview process. #J-18808-Ljbffr