HR Generalist

About the role

Our client is a well-established global manufacturer of industrial systems headquartered in Chicago's northwest suburbs. With two successful business units, the company has experienced significant growth and now employs approximately 160 full-time employees, along with a contingent workforce of nearly 60 contractors. To support that continued growth, the organization is creating its first dedicated Human Resources Generalist position.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers regarding day-to-day HR questions, policies, and administrative support.
• Couple recruiting activities by partnering with hiring managers, staffing agencies, and external recruiting firms to ensure an efficient hiring process.
• Manage and continually enhance the new hire onboarding and orientation experience.
• Couple employee training initiatives, monitor completion, maintain training records, and identify development opportunities.
• Support benefits administration by assisting employees with enrollments, changes, and benefit-related questions in partnership with the HR Assistant.
• Maintain accurate employee files and HR documentation, including offer letters, employment verifications, onboarding records, and employee correspondence.
• Aid with employment law compliance by supporting HR policies, documentation, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner closely with leadership to improve HR processes, enhance the employee experience, and contribute to a positive workplace culture.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in Human Resources as an HR Generalist, HR Coordinator, or similar role supporting day-to-day HR operations.
• Hands-on experience coordinating recruitment activities, onboarding new employees, and supporting the employee lifecycle.
• Associate degree or higher in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Previous HR experience within a manufacturing, industrial, or production environment.
• Comfortable working with an hourly manufacturing workforce and building relationships across all levels of the organization—from production employees on the shop floor to senior leadership.
• Strong organizational, administrative, and documentation skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining confidentiality.
• A collaborative, execution-focused mindset with a passion for supporting employees and ensuring HR processes run smoothly rather than managing people or setting HR strategy.
• Solid understanding of federal, state, and local employment law fundamentals.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills with sound judgment when handling sensitive situations.
• A stable career history demonstrating commitment, reliability, and long-term growth.

Qualifications

• Experience enhancing onboarding programs or coordinating employee training initiatives.
• Familiarity with ADP or similar payroll systems (HRIS implementation experience is not required but would be welcomed).
• Experience supporting high-volume hourly recruiting or partnering with staffing agencies and external recruiting firms.
• SHRM-CP, PHR, or similar HR certification.

Skills

A collaborative, execution-focused mindset with a passion for supporting employees and ensuring HR processes run smoothly rather than managing people or setting HR strategy.

Benefits

The Vice President remains responsible for employee investigations, complex employee relations matters, workers' compensation, and legal issues. Benefits administration is managed by an experienced HR Assistant, while payroll remains within the Accounting department. In addition, the company partners with a respected employer association that provides HR and legal expertise whenever needed. This allows you to focus on what you do best—recruitment coordination, onboarding, employee support, training, and day-to-day HR operations—while gaining direct exposure to executive leadership and opportunities to expand your responsibilities over time.

Pay

$70,000 to $75,000 base salary

Schedule

Full-time; a realistic 40-hour week