HR Generalist, Bilingual

Company Description

F&S Fresh Foods, based in Vineland, NJ, is a premier distributor of fresh-cut fruits, vegetables, and meal solutions, serving nearly 100 million customers daily. With over 650,000 square feet of cutting-edge facilities, F&S processes more than 100 million pounds of produce annually for retail, food service, and industrial clients. With 40 years of expertise, the company has honed its production capabilities and safety standards. F&S Fresh Foods is committed to innovation, customer support, and fostering strong partnerships across a diverse customer base.

Role Description

The Bilingual HR Generalist (Vineland, NJ) is a full-time, on-site role focused on supporting daily HR operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Working closely with the HR VP and HR team, this position helps drive a culture of learning, engagement, safety, and compliance.

Key responsibilities include implementing HR policies, managing employee benefits, supporting recruitment and onboarding, assisting with employee relations, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The role requires a hands-on HR professional who is comfortable working directly on the production floor and collaborating across departments to support a large hourly workforce and maintain a positive, inclusive workplace.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as an HR partner to managers, supervisors, and employees, providing guidance on employee relations, performance management, and policy enforcement.
• Be hands-on and approachable in the manufacturing environment, delivering on-the-floor HR support across multiple departments and shifts.
• Manage employee relations issues with empathy and professionalism, including investigations, corrective actions, and conflict resolution.
• Support recruitment efforts including interviews, hiring coordination, and onboarding and offboarding for hourly and salaried employees.
• Assist with benefits administration and employee inquiries.
• Administer and manage leave of absence programs, including FMLA, ADA, and state-specific leaves, ensuring accurate documentation, tracking, and compliance.
• Maintain and update employee records in HRIS systems (e.g., Paylocity), ensuring data accuracy and timely processing of employee changes.
• Support attendance tracking processes, call-out monitoring, and reporting in collaboration with operations teams.
• Partner with leadership to support workforce planning, staffing needs, and retention strategies in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives across HR processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address staffing, retention, and training needs.
• Coordinate and support employee engagement initiatives, including surveys (e.g., GPTW), recognition programs, wellness events, and company activities.
• Manage internal communication platforms such as Appspace, text messsage portal, or similar employee engagement portals, including content creation and updates.
• Support internal communications and employer branding through department social media or internal channels.
• Assist in organizing company events, training sessions, orientations, and employee activities.

Success Competencies

• Bilingual Communication: Fluency in English and Spanish is required
• Relationship Building: Ability to build trust across all levels of the organization.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Employee Advocacy: Commitment to a positive employee experience.
• Operational Awareness: Strong understanding of manufacturing environments, including production flow, attendance challenges, and workforce dynamics.
• Communication & Engagement: Ability to effectively communicate with large, diverse employee populations through multiple platforms (in-person, digital, and social).
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and quality.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish (required).
• At least 4 years of HR experience, preferably in manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Proven experience managing FMLA, leave administration, and employee accommodations.
• Experience in workers’ compensation processes preferred
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Hands-on, problem-solving mindset with the ability to work independently.
• Knowledge of employment laws and regulations (FMLA, FLSA, ADA).
• Experience conducting investigations and resolving employee relations issues.
• Experience with HRIS systems (e.g., Paylocity) and digital tools for workforce management.
• Experience managing employee communication platforms (e.g., Appspace) and/or internal social media channels.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and high employee volume.
• Experience supporting employee engagement initiatives, surveys, and company events is highly preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace applications.
• Commitment to teamwork, safety, and company values.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing or cold production environments.
• Experience supporting a workforce with a high percentage of Spanish-speaking employees.
• Knowledge of attendance systems, timekeeping, and production floor operations.
• Experience working in companies with 500 employees.