Human Resources Generalist

About the Role

The Hoffman Institute Foundation is seeking a thoughtful, organized, and service-oriented Human Resources Generalist to manage day-to-day HR operations across the Hoffman Institute Foundation and Hoffman Institute Canada. This role is the primary operational HR resource for employees and managers and supports the full employee lifecycle - from recruitment and onboarding through performance management, benefits, leave administration, and offboarding.

Reporting to the Director of Administration and partnering closely with the Payroll Administrator, the HR Generalist will independently manage established HR processes, maintain accurate and confidential records, and help ensure policies and programs are administered consistently and in compliance with applicable requirements. The right candidate combines strong HR knowledge with sound judgment and knows when to resolve an issue directly and when to escalate a complex or high-risk matter.

What You'll Do

Employee Relations & Performance

• Serve as the day-to-day HR resource for employees and managers regarding policies, procedures, workplace concerns, conduct, and performance matters.
• Guide managers through routine employee issues and support the Director of Administration with complex employee relations matters, workplace complaints, conflict resolution, and investigations.
• Maintain clear, accurate, and confidential employee relations documentation and appropriately escalate significant disciplinary, legal, compliance, or organizational risks.

Recruitment, Onboarding & Employee Lifecycle

• Coordinate job postings, applicant screening, interviews, candidate communication, reference checks, and hiring documentation.
• Partner with hiring managers throughout the recruitment and selection process and provide guidance regarding established hiring practices and procedures.
• Manage onboarding and offboarding workflows, including documentation, system enrollment, orientation, training coordination, benefits notifications, equipment return, and cross-departmental communication.
  

Benefits, Leaves & Employee Support

• Administer medical, dental, and vision benefits and coordinate new-hire, annual, and qualifying-event enrollment processes.
• Administer leaves of absence and coordinate reasonable accommodations in accordance with organizational procedures and applicable federal and California requirements.
• Support retirement plan education and enrollment; assist with benefit reconciliations, eligibility audits, employee communications, and vendor coordination.
• Coordinate workers' compensation claims, documentation, employee communication, and return-to-work processes.

HR Systems, Records & Payroll Coordination

• Serve as the primary administrator for BambooHR and related HR systems, ensuring workforce information is complete, accurate, and current.
• Process approved employee changes in partnership with the Payroll Administrator and provide HR-related payroll support and backup as needed.
• Maintain confidential electronic and personnel records, generate HR reports, and recommend and implement approved improvements to systems, forms, and workflows.

Compliance, Training & Engagement

• Administer HR policies and procedures; maintain required notices, acknowledgments, certifications, training records, and employment documentation.
• Draft updates to handbooks, state and Canada addenda, safety materials, forms, and employee communications for review and approval.
• Support HR, workers' compensation, OSHA, safety, and other compliance audits and requirements.
• Coordinate annual performance reviews, employee training, professional development, recognition programs, surveys, and approved employee-experience initiatives.
• Compile HR data and identify trends related to performance, employee feedback, turnover, and employee relations.

What You'll Bring

• Three to five years of progressively responsible HR experience, ideally in an HR Generalist or comparable role.
• Working knowledge of California employment law and federal employment regulations.
• Hands-on experience with employee relations, performance management, recruitment, onboarding, benefits, leaves, workers' compensation, and employee separations.
• Experience administering an HRIS and maintaining confidential personnel records; BambooHR experience is a plus.
• Sound judgment and the ability to independently apply established policies while recognizing when leadership involvement is needed.
• Strong organization and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills, along with professionalism, emotional intelligence, discretion, and a strong commitment to confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, applicant tracking systems, payroll systems, and related HR technology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• SHRM-CP, PHR, or comparable HR certification.
• Experience supporting a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Experience coordinating HR operations across both U.S. and Canadian teams.
• Why Join Hoffman
• This is an opportunity to play a central role in the employee experience at a mission-driven organization. You'll work across departments, improve the systems employees rely on, and help create a workplace where people feel informed, supported, and treated with consistency and care.