Human Resources Generalist

The Human Resources Generalist in Escondido, CA supports daily HR operations and provides comprehensive HR services to employees and management at the company’s Escondido, CA facility. This role is responsible for a wide range of functions including recruitment, employee relations, benefits administration, compliance, and performance management. The HR Generalist ensures adherence to California state laws and federal employment regulations while fostering a positive workplace culture. Working under the direction of the VP of Human Resources based at the Escondido, California headquarters, the HR Generalist serves as the on-site human resources point of contact for the Eloy, Arizona facility as well—partnering with site leadership, supervisors, and employees to deliver responsive, accurate, and people-focused HR support. The ideal candidate brings broad generalist experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment, strong knowledge of California employment law, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to operate independently in a remote-site setting while staying closely aligned with corporate HR strategy and policy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Recruitment and Talent Acquisition

Partner with site leadership and corporate HR to attract, recruit, and onboard qualified talent to support the workforce needs of the Escondido, CA. Key responsibilities include:

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for hourly and salaried positions at the Eloy facility, including job postings, candidate sourcing, resume screening, interview coordination, reference checks, and offer preparation.

• Partner with hiring managers to develop accurate job descriptions, define position requirements, and establish hiring plans aligned with production and business needs.

• Build and maintain a network of local recruiting sources including community colleges, trade schools, workforce development organizations, staffing agencies, and online platforms to support a consistent candidate pipeline.

• Coordinate and administer the new hire onboarding process, including completion of Form I-9 and E-Verify documentation, new hire paperwork, policy acknowledgments, benefits enrollment, and orientation scheduling.

• Maintain accurate applicant tracking records and recruitment metrics, providing regular reporting to the VP of Human Resources on open requisitions, time-to-fill, and source effectiveness.

Employee Relations

Serve as a trusted on-site resource for employees and supervisors, fostering open communication and a positive workplace culture. Key responsibilities include:

• Act as the first point of contact for employee questions, concerns, and workplace issues, providing prompt, professional, and confidential support.

• Conduct thorough and impartial investigations into employee complaints, harassment allegations, policy violations, and other workplace concerns; document findings and recommend appropriate corrective action in coordination with the VP of Human Resources.

• Coach and advise supervisors and managers on employee relations matters including performance discussions, disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and accommodation requests.

• Support employee engagement initiatives, recognition programs, and site communications that reinforce company values and promote a positive, inclusive workplace culture.

• Conduct exit interviews and analyze turnover data to identify trends and recommend retention strategies to site and corporate leadership.

Benefits Administration

Administer employee benefits programs at the site level and serve as the local resource for benefits-related inquiries. Key responsibilities include:

• Administer day-to-day benefits activities for Eloy employees including enrollments, qualifying life event changes, terminations, and COBRA notifications in coordination with the corporate HR team and benefits carriers.

• Educate employees on available benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plans, and other voluntary benefits; conduct benefits orientations for new hires and lead annual open enrollment activities on site.

• Respond to employee questions regarding benefit plans, eligibility, claims issues, and coverage; serve as liaison between employees and benefit providers to resolve issues.

• Process leaves of absence including FMLA, ADA accommodations, Arizona-specific leave entitlements (including Arizona paid sick time under the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act), military leave, and personal leave; coordinate return-to-work activities with employees, supervisors, and benefit carriers.

• Administer workers’ compensation claims for the Eloy facility in coordination with the Safety Manager and corporate HR, ensuring timely reporting, documentation, and return-to-work support.

Compliance and Employment Law

Ensure HR practices of the Escondido facility to ensure comply with all applicable state laws, federal employment regulations, and company policies. Key responsibilities include:

• Maintain working knowledge of California-specific employment laws including the California Civil Rights Act, California Employment Protection Act, California Minimum Wage Act, California paid sick leave requirements, and California unemployment insurance requirements.

• Ensure ongoing compliance with federal employment laws including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, FMLA, USERRA, NLRA, OSHA, IRCA, and EEO/AAP requirements as applicable to the facility.

• Maintain accurate, confidential, and compliant employee records including personnel files, I-9 forms, medical files, and required postings; ensure all records retention requirements are met.

• Complete and submit required federal, state, and local employment reporting including EEO-1, OSHA recordkeeping support, California new hire reporting, and other regulatory filings.

• Partner with the VP of Human Resources to interpret and apply company policies consistently, recommend policy updates to address California-specific requirements, and communicate policy changes to employees and supervisors.

• Stay current on changes in California and federal employment law and proactively communicate impacts to site leadership and corporate HR.

Performance Management and Employee Development

Support a structured performance management process and contribute to employee growth and development at the Escondido facility. Key responsibilities include:

• Administer the company’s performance review process at the site level, ensuring timely completion of evaluations, goal-setting, and development discussions for all employees.

• Coach supervisors on delivering effective performance feedback, addressing performance gaps, and documenting performance issues consistent with company policy and applicable law.

• Support progressive discipline processes by partnering with supervisors and the VP of Human Resources to ensure documentation, due process, and consistency in disciplinary actions.

• Identify training needs at the site and coordinate the delivery of required and elective training programs including new hire orientation, anti-harassment training, supervisor training, and compliance training.

• Track training completion and maintain accurate training records to support compliance, audits, and employee development planning.

HR Operations and Cross-Functional Support

Provide day-to-day HR operational support and partner across functions to deliver effective HR services. Key responsibilities include:

• Maintain accurate employee data in the company’s HRIS, payroll, and timekeeping systems; process employee changes including promotions, transfers, pay changes, and terminations in coordination with corporate HR and payroll.

• Support payroll processing for the Escondido AND Eloy facility by reviewing timekeeping records, addressing employee pay inquiries, and ensuring accurate and timely processing of pay-impacting changes.

• Prepare HR-related reports and metrics for site and corporate leadership, including headcount, turnover, absenteeism, training completion, and other key indicators.

• Partner with the Safety Manager, Facilities Manager, and site operations leadership on cross-functional initiatives including safety, employee engagement, and facility communications.

• Maintain regular communication with the VP of Human Resources and the corporate HR team in Escondido, ensuring alignment of site HR practices with company-wide standards and priorities.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field—or equivalent combination of education and directly relevant HR experience.

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive HR generalist experience, including at least 2 years supporting a manufacturing, industrial, or other operations-intensive environment.

• Working knowledge of state employment laws and demonstrated experience applying federal employment regulations including Title VII, ADA, FLSA, FMLA, and related statutes.

• Experience administering full-cycle recruitment, benefits, employee relations, leave of absence programs, and performance management processes.

• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and sound judgment.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with employees and managers at all levels.

• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a remote-site setting.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and experience using HRIS, applicant tracking, and payroll systems.

• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States (E-Verify compliant).

• Must pass pre-employment drug screening.

Preferred

• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.

• Bilingual English/Spanish—ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in both languages to support a diverse manufacturing workforce.

• Prior experience as the sole or primary on-site HR representative at a remote facility, with strong demonstrated ability to operate independently.

• Experience supporting an ISO 9001 or AS9100 quality management system environment and familiarity with HR’s role in compliance and audit readiness.

• Experience with workers’ compensation claims management, OSHA recordkeeping coordination, and return-to-work program administration.

• Familiarity with EEO-1 reporting, affirmative action plan administration, and government contractor HR requirements.

• Experience supporting employees across multiple states or working with a corporate HR team based in another state.

Work Environment

This position is based at the company’s Escondido, California facility and operates primarily in an office environment within the manufacturing site, with regular presence on the production floor to engage with employees, support investigations, conduct training, and assist with site initiatives. The production floor is a non-climate-controlled industrial fabrication and assembly environment with exposure to varying temperatures, noise levels, dust, welding fumes, and industrial equipment; the HR Generalist must be able to work safely in this environment while wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE) when on the floor. Standard business hours apply, with occasional flexibility required to support multi-shift operations, urgent employee matters, or investigations. Physical demands include the ability to sit at a workstation for extended periods, walk the facility multiple times per day, and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds. Regular communication with the HR team in Eloy, Arizona is required, and occasional travel to the Arizona or other company locations may be necessary.

Freeberg Industrial Fabrication Corp. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.