HR Generalist

Established in 2007 in Northern California by wine industry veterans Rebecca Faust and Bruce Lundquist, Rack & Riddle was founded with the mission to craft superior sparkling wines. Through years of steadfast dedication and thoughtful expansion, Rack & Riddle has become the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the United States with 3.5 million cases of capacity. An exceptional winemaking team dedicated to the mastery of sparkling wine supported by state-of-the-art technology, delivers turnkey grape-to-bottle, wine-to-bottle, and private label sparkling wine services with tank sizes ranging from 500 to 100,000 gallons. Four modern wineries located in Healdsburg, Geyserville and Lodi specialize in Méthode Champenoise, Charmat, and in-line carbonation solutions producing the best of all things sparkling. The company prides itself on being an upstanding member of the communities in which it operates and is committed to operating fairly, ethically, and sustainably.

Rack & Riddle is a drug-free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This position is subject to a background check in accordance with applicable laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.

This role's compensation is anticipated to fit within the stated range. These figures represent what we reasonably expect to pay for this position, but the actual compensation offered will depend on numerous job-related factors, including but not limited to candidate skills, knowledge, and education.

Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services, the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the United States, is seeking to add an HR Generalist to our team.

The HR Generalist supports the execution of core HR processes and serves as a primary point of contact for employees on routine HR matters. The role provides day-to-day support across employee relations, performance management administration, onboarding execution, employee-facing benefits and leave intake, and HR compliance processes.

The HR Generalist serves as a functional escalation point for routine HR inquiries and employee issues, with higher-risk, complex, or judgment-intensive matters escalated to the HR Director as appropriate. This role provides functional guidance and coordination support across HR operations but does not have formal supervisory responsibility. May support HR continuity needs when designated by the HR Director.

Essential Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Policy Interpretation

· Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations, including intake, investigation, resolution, and documentation of employee concerns, grievances, and incidents.

· Conduct investigations and resolve ER matters, escalating complex or high-risk cases to the HR Director as appropriate.

· Interpret and apply company policies consistently; provide guidance to managers on day-to-day employee issues.

· Support performance improvement actions, corrective actions, and terminations in partnership with leadership.

· Serve as the primary HR point of contact for employee workers’ compensation claims.

· Coordinate initial injury reporting and claim submission in partnership with managers and employees.

· Provide employee guidance regarding the WC process, status updates, and frequently asked questions.

· Support return-to-work coordination and transitional duty discussions where applicable.

· Partner with Payroll & Benefits Specialist and external carriers to ensure accurate documentation and timely follow-up.

· Escalate complex or high-risk issues to the HR Director as appropriate.

Performance Management

· Administer performance management processes, including goal setting, performance reviews, feedback processes, and performance improvement plans (PIPs).

· Support managers on performance documentation and fair application of standards.

· Partner with HR Director on calibration and equity considerations.

Onboarding & Employee Lifecycle

· Execute the onboarding process, ensuring a consistent and compliant experience for all new hires (logistics supported by HR Administrator).

· Prepare and issue offer letters within approved compensation parameters.

· Support employee lifecycle processes including transfers, promotions, and offboarding in coordination with Payroll & Benefits Specialist.

· Maintain workforce data accuracy and support organizational chart updates.

· Ensure consistent hiring practices and candidate experience standards.

Benefits Administration (Employee-Facing)

· Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits questions, education, and support.

· Lead open enrollment planning, employee communications, and coordination with the benefits broker from an employee-experience perspective.

· Conduct intake for leave of absence requests and coordinate next steps.

· Partner with Payroll & Benefits Specialist on benefits changes, eligibility, and escalations.

Compliance & HR Operations

· Support HR compliance operations, including training completion, policy acknowledgments, and audit readiness.

· Ensure accurate documentation and adherence to employment laws and company policies.

· Support HR reporting and data requests in partnership with HR Director.

Requirements

The successful candidate’s background includes:

· Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field (or equivalent experience).

· 3-5 years of progressive HR experience, including exposure to EE relations and Core HR Processes.

· Working knowledge of employment law and HR best practices (California experience preferred) .

· Strong communication skills and ability to manage sensitive situations with discretion.

· Sound judgment, attention to detail, and ability to partner effectively with managers and employees.