HR Generalist

We are seeking an experienced Human Resources Generalist to lead HR operations, payroll administration, and compliance across a growing, multi-site organization. The company is a food distributor located in Edison, NJ comprised of about 75 employees. It is private equity backed and rapidly growing.

This hands-on role will serve as the company’s first dedicated onsite HR presence, responsible for building scalable systems, ensuring compliance, and supporting a safe, high-performance culture.

The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in HR operations, payroll (ADP Workforce Now), benefits administration, and employment compliance within industrial, logistics, or multi-location environments. This individual will play a key role in modernizing HR processes—implementing new systems, refining policies, and driving operational excellence across all HR functions.

Success in this role requires a balance of strategic vision and day-to-day execution. You’ll oversee payroll and benefits, guide managers through employee relations and performance issues, ensure compliance with DOT, OSHA, and labor laws, and help shape a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous improvement.

This position is onsite with operations and offers a unique opportunity to build HR infrastructure and systems from the ground up as the company scales.

Focus Areas & Keys to Success

· HR Operations & Payroll Administration - Manages all day-to-day HR operations, including onboarding, employee records management, and data integrity across multiple sites. Oversees payroll processing through ADP, ensuring accuracy and compliance for multi-state operations with varied pay cycles. Leads payroll system transitions and integrations as the business scales and partners with finance and operations to resolve discrepancies, maintain audit readiness, and ensure seamless execution of payroll cycles. Oversees relationships with temporary staffing agencies, ensuring alignment on onboarding standards, timekeeping accuracy, safety protocols, and adherence to company policies and procedures.

· Compliance & Risk Management - Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local labor laws, maintaining full adherence across multi-jurisdictional operations. Maintains DOT compliance for drivers, including recordkeeping, reporting, and required training documentation. Implements and enforces HR policies that mitigate risk and align with changing employment regulations. Leads OSHA and warehouse safety programs, including injury reporting, OSHA 300 log maintenance, incident investigation and prevention, and safety onboarding for all new hires. Serves as the internal point of contact for audits, documentation requests, and employment law inquiries. Serves as the internal point of contact for audits, documentation requests, and employment law inquiries.

· Benefits Administration & Total Rewards - Administers employee benefits programs, including health insurance, 401(k), and leave management, ensuring accuracy and compliance in all processes. Oversight of new benefits plans, coordinating vendor relationships and employee communication to drive understanding and engagement. Ensures compliance with ACA, COBRA, and related benefit regulations, and collaborates with leadership to refine benefit offerings as the organization grows.

· Talent Acquisition & Onboarding - Manages the full recruiting and onboarding lifecycle, including job postings, interview coordination, pre-employment checks, and new hire system setup. Ensures consistent, compliant, and engaging onboarding experience across all sites. Supports hiring managers in developing structured, transparent, and compliant hiring practices that attract and retain top talent. Partners with staffing agencies and hiring teams to ensure temporary and full-time workforce onboarding is consistent, efficient, and compliant with company and legal standards.

· HR Systems & Data Management - Maintains and audits employee data in ADP, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and consistency across systems. Supports integration or migration to new platforms such as Business Central or SAP as the business expands. Leverages HR technology to streamline processes, strengthen data visibility, and enhance reporting capabilities across payroll, benefits, and employee records. Leads the creation and modernization of the employee handbook, policies, and HR procedures, establishing foundational systems and documentation for a growing organization. Builds scalable HR infrastructure, processes, and tools to support long-term organizational growth.

· Culture, Communication & Employee Relations - Builds trust and credibility as the first dedicated HR presence onsite, providing day-to-day guidance to employees and managers. Serves as the primary contact for HR policies, employee relations, and performance concerns. Promotes a culture of safety, respect, and accountability in an industrial, multi-site environment. Implement engagement initiatives that strengthen communication, retention, and overall workforce morale. Supports an inclusive and multicultural workforce, fostering respect and understanding across diverse teams.

Requirements

Requirements

· Approximately 7 years of HR experience, preferably in industrial, logistics, or multi-site environments.

· Proven experience with ADP Workforce Now or similar payroll/HRIS platforms.

· Strong understanding of HR and labor law compliance, including multi-state and DOT regulations.

· Hands-on experience rolling out or administering benefits programs and new HR systems.

· Experience with Microsoft Business Central, SAP, or similar ERP systems a plus.

· Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or related field preferred; HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, or equivalent) desirable.

· Must be onsite with the operations team; this is not a remote or hybrid position.

· Bilingual fluency in Spanish, Urdu, or Hindi is a strong plus.