HR Generalist

Description
Under the general direction of the Deputy Director of Human Resources, with day-to-day process guidance from the Senior HR Generalist, the HR Generalist (Junior) provides transactional and administrative support across the full range of HR operations, including recruitment coordination, onboarding and offboarding support, benefits enrollment processing, timekeeping support, and HRIS data entry. This role executes established HR processes accurately and consistently, applies defined procedures and templates to day-to-day transactions, and escalates matters requiring the judgment, interpretation, or specialized expertise of the Senior HR Generalist or Deputy Director. This position also serves as a representative of the Agency, consistently promoting and modeling the mission and core values of CUCS.

Section 1. Essential Functions include, but are not limited to:

Recruitment & Onboarding: Manage recruiting and applicant-tracking activities, including file set-up and data entry, to support an efficient hiring process and positive candidate experience; prepare offer letters, wage notices, background checks, and pre-employment documentation; coordinate preboarding, onboarding, and orientation activities; serve as backup support on candidate selection and hire approvals as directed by the Senior HR Generalist or Deputy Director.
Benefits Administration (Transactional): Process new hire benefit enrollments, qualifying life event changes, flexible spending/dependent care enrollments, and other routine, transactional benefit requests; respond to routine employee benefit inquiries; review and process commuter benefit enrollments. Perform benefit reconciliation including participant audits and payment requests as needed. Escalate any eligibility discrepancy, missed enrollment, or issue requiring investigation or judgment to the Senior HR Generalist.
Payroll & Timekeeping Support: Serve as the first point of contact for routine payroll and timekeeping inquiries; process timecard/timesheet adjustments that fall outside the manager's standard window (e.g., submitted after payroll lock); process transactional payroll-related requests (e.g., 403(b) changes). Forward payroll-specific issues requiring the Payroll Specialist's expertise with a warm hand-off, keeping the employee informed.
Leave of Absence & Reasonable Accommodation – Administrative Support: Support the Senior HR Generalist with the administrative components of leave of absence and reasonable accommodation cases, including uploading documentation to the employee file and entering scheduling or credentialing reminders in the HRIS. Flag any item of concern to the Senior HR Generalist for review; this role does not own leave or accommodation decisions.
HRIS & Records: Perform HRIS data entry, scheduling, and credential updates as directed; maintain accurate, organized, and secure employee files and records in accordance with recordkeeping requirements and ensure they remain readily accessible to authorized personnel.
Offboarding Support: Support offboarding administrative tasks, including distribution of exit surveys and file closeout.
Mailbox & Ticketing: Serve as first-line triage for the HR mailbox and ticketing system, acknowledging, responding to, or escalating inquiries within the required timeframe, and routing matters to the appropriate level.
Process Adherence: Follow established processes using templates, intake forms, and step-by-step process guides precisely and consistently; raise questions about how to apply a process or template to the Senior HR Generalist or Deputy Director rather than interpreting it independently.
Requirements
Education:

High school diploma with a minimum of 2 years of relevant administrative or HR experience; or

Associate's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; or

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (no prior experience required).

Certification/License:

SHRM-CP a plus but not required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Strong attention to detail and accuracy in following established procedures, templates, and checklists.

Ability to manage multiple transactional priorities, meet deadlines, and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Developing working knowledge of HR practices and employment-related processes, with the judgment to recognize and escalate matters outside standard parameters.

Proficient in Microsoft Office, with the ability to quickly learn and accurately use HRIS and related systems.

Clear verbal and written communication skills; professional and discreet when handling confidential employee information.

Flexible and reliable, with the ability to work independently on routine tasks while following direction on escalated matters.