What are the responsibilities and job description for the HR GENERALIST position at Lamarca & Sons Bakery Products?
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced HR professional who enjoys building processes from the ground up. The successful candidate will thrive in a hands-on environment, taking ownership of daily HR operations while designing and implementing the policies, procedures, and structure needed to support the company's continued growth.
The HR Generalist is responsible for managing the day-to-day Human Resources functions while establishing, maintaining, and continuously improving HR processes, policies, and procedures across the organization. This is a hands-on role that requires a self-motivated professional capable of working independently in a growing organization where many HR processes, policies, and systems are yet to be developed.
This position supports all areas of Human Resources including employee relations, benefits administration, payroll support, compliance, recruiting, onboarding, HRIS administration, leave management, and policy development. The HR Generalist partners closely with the HR Director and business leaders to build and continuously improve a structured, compliant, and employee-focused HR function.
Support Human Resources initiatives across both the company's distribution and manufacturing operations, ensuring consistent HR practices and compliance throughout the organization.
General Human Resources
- Serve as the primary HR contact for employees and managers.
- Support all day-to-day Human Resources operations.
- Maintain employee records within the HRIS system, ensuring data accuracy and completeness.
- Ensure HR records remain accurate, organized, and compliant.
- Respond to employee questions regarding company policies and benefits.
- Assist leadership with employee relations matters.
- Escalate complex employee relations matters and policy exceptions to the HR Director, as appropriate.
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee information.
Payroll, Benefits & Compliance
- Process employee status changes including new hires, promotions, compensation changes, transfers, and terminations within the HRIS system.
- Support payroll processing by ensuring employee data, timekeeping information, and personnel changes are accurate prior to payroll submission.
- Administer employee benefits including health insurance, dental, vision, 401(k), life insurance and other company-sponsored programs.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for employees regarding benefit programs and coordinate with benefit providers as needed.
- Assist with workers' compensation, unemployment claims, PFML/FMLA administration and leave management.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
- Maintain employment eligibility documentation and ensure compliance with Form I-9 requirements.
- Assist with payroll tax reporting, employee tax documentation, and government reporting requirements.
- Coordinate annual audits and compliance documentation as needed.
Recruitment & Onboarding
- Coordinate recruiting activities from job posting through onboarding.
- Schedule interviews and communicate with candidates.
- Prepare offer letters and onboarding documentation.
- Conduct new hire orientation.
- Coordinate pre-employment screenings and drug testing when applicable.
- Maintain onboarding and offboarding processes.
HR Process Improvement
- Develop, document, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for HR processes.
- Evaluate existing HR processes and implement practical solutions to improve efficiency, compliance, and consistency across the organization.
- Create and update HR policies and employee handbook content.
- Identify opportunities to improve HR efficiency through automation and process improvements.
- Recommend and implement HR best practices to support the continued growth of both the distribution and manufacturing operations.
- Develop HR forms, templates, and documentation.
Reporting
- Maintain HR metrics and reports.
- Prepare reports related to headcount, turnover, benefits, recruiting, and compliance.
- Assist the HR Director and leadership with HR-related analysis and recommendations.
- Support annual audits and internal reporting requirements
Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:
The HR Generalist will work closely with the HR Director to support the Human Resources needs of both the company's distribution and manufacturing operations. This position is responsible for executing daily HR activities, recommending process improvements, and supporting the development of HR programs and policies. While this role operates with a high level of independence, strategic direction, policy decisions, organizational changes, and major HR initiatives will be established in partnership with the HR Director.
Perform other duties as required.
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
- Minimum of 3 years of progressive Human Resources Generalist experience.
- Strong knowledge of federal and Massachusetts employment laws.
- Experience with payroll administration and payroll tax processes.
- Experience administering employee benefits.
- Experience managing leave administration including FMLA, PFML, ADA accommodations, Workers' Compensation, and unemployment claims.
- Experience with recruiting and onboarding.
- Experience developing HR policies, procedures, and SOPs.
- Experience working in a stand-alone or small HR department preferred.
- Experience supporting both salaried and hourly employees preferred.
- HRIS experience required; ADP Workforce Now experience preferred.
- Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
Other Skills/Knowledge/Abilities
- Strong hands-on approach with the ability to execute daily HR responsibilities independently.
- Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail.
- Ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
- Strong customer service mindset.
- Process-oriented with continuous improvement mentality.
- Self-starter capable of building structure in an evolving HR environment.
- Comfortable working in a small business environment where priorities may shift and flexibility is essential.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
- Authorization to work in the United States.
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (30-minute paid lunch).