HR Generalist/Employee Relations/Payroll

The Northbrook Public Library is hiring a Human Resources Generalist to join our Administration Department. This is a hands‑on, relationship‑centered role for someone who does their best work supporting the people who do the work and who finds satisfaction in paying attention to details. Under the direction of the Human Resources Director, you will serve as the primary day‑to‑day HR contact for library staff. Your responsibilities will include responding to staff inquiries, implementing the employment lifecycle from recruitment to separation, administering benefits and wages, and facilitating employee relations.

The ideal candidate embraces our core values of innovation, inclusion, customer service, lifelong learning, equity, and collaboration, viewing them as a framework for decision‑making in their day‑to‑day work. Following the completion of a comprehensive Equity, Diversity & Inclusion assessment in 2025, the library has embedded key recommendations directly into our HR practices. This role is vital for helping sustain and advance this work at the operational level. We are looking for someone with hands‑on experience applying EDI principles to everyday HR functions: refining how we recruit and onboard, navigating conflict, and ensuring our policies work equitably for a staff with varied identities and experiences.

Qualifications

Have worked in HR for a unit of local government and/or hold a SHRM or HRCI certification.

Build relationships with warmth, empathy, and professionalism while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and discretion.

Demonstrate solid technical knowledge in MS Office, Google Workspace, and HRIS/payroll technology.

Are fluent in HR compliance across the full employment lifecycle: hiring, onboarding, performance management, leaves, separations, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.

Hold a track record of handling difficult HR situations—such as performance improvement or conflict resolution—with fairness and compassion.

Bring demonstrated experience applying EDI best practices to organizational processes.

Manage your own work with discipline: you set timelines, track details, and follow through.

Can develop training and communicate procedures clearly for staff with different learning styles and levels of HR familiarity.

Communicate proactively with staff and leadership, adjusting your approach for the audience.

Commit to continuous improvement, using holistic thinking to ensure a consistent experience across the library.

We are seeking a wide array of candidates that encompass varied identities and abilities and encourage those who have gained skills outside of traditional education to apply. The Northbrook Public Library is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging - so if you’re excited about this position but not sure if you meet all the criteria, we encourage you to still consider applying. You may have other experiences or skills that would still make you a great candidate.

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