Bilingual People Operations Generalist

Bento Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Bento Inc. in Chicago is seeking a People Operations Generalist to support recruitment, employee relations, compliance, benefits, training, and HR operations.

You will serve as a key contact for employees and managers, ensuring consistent policy application and a positive work environment. This role handles full-cycle recruitment, onboarding, I-9 compliance, investigations, benefits inquiries, performance processes, training coordination, and HR reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field preferred.
• 2-5 years of HR, administrative, recruiting, or employee support experience required.
• Knowledge of State and Federal Labor laws strongly preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to speak and write in Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Support full-cycle recruitment activities, including job postings, candidate screening, interview coordination, and hiring logistics.
• Facilitate onboarding and orientation, ensure I-9 compliance, and manage offboarding processes including exit interviews and separations.
• Manage intake and resolution of employee concerns, conduct internal investigations, and advise leaders on conflict resolution.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state (including Chicago), and local employment laws and regulations.
• Assist with employee benefits enrollment, changes, and respond to inquiries.
• Support performance review cycles and assist managers with documentation and administration of performance improvement plans.
• Coordinate and track required compliance and professional development training programs.
• Partner with staffing agencies to ensure adherence to policies, onboarding standards, and training compliance.
• Partner with corporate teams to maintain HR systems, ensure data accuracy, and generate reports.
• Communicate, interpret, and enforce company policies and procedures across the organization.
• Administer employee leave programs and ensure compliance with applicable laws (FMLA, ADA and state-specific leave).
• Support workplace safety initiatives and workers’ compensation case management and tracking.
• May travel, as needed, to support People Operations initiatives at other locations.

Skills

Spanish language

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field

Job description

Join Team Bento and be a part of our group of companies which operates more than 12000 locations globally. With operations across Canada and United States, Bento brings together a dynamic team of people with diverse backgrounds, experience, and talent, to create an exceptional guest experience.

Location:

• Chicago Food Factory: 2136 South Peoria Street Chicago, IL 60608 | Monday to Friday

Responsibilities:

The People Operations Generalist is responsible for supporting a wide range of People Operations functions including recruitment, employee relations, compliance, benefits, training, and People Operations. This role serves as a key point of contact for employees and managers, ensuring consistent application of policies and fostering a positive work environment.

• Support full-cycle recruitment activities, including job postings, candidate screening, interview coordination, and hiring logistics.
• Facilitate new hire onboarding and orientation, ensure I-9 compliance, and manage offboarding processes including exit interviews and separations.
• Manage intake and resolution of employee concerns, conduct internal investigations, and partner with the People Operations Manager to advise leaders on conflict resolution and appropriate actions.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state (including Chicago), and local employment laws and regulations.
• Assist with employee benefits enrollment, changes, and respond to employee inquiries in a timely manner.
• Support performance review cycles and assist managers with documentation and administration of performance improvement plans.
• Coordinate and track required compliance and professional development training programs to ensure completion and effectiveness.
• Partner with staffing agencies to ensure adherence to company policies, onboarding standards, and required training compliance.
• Partner with corporate teams to maintain HR systems, ensure data accuracy, and generate reports to support business needs.
• Communicate, interpret, and consistently enforce company policies and procedures across the organization.
• Administer employee leave programs and ensure compliance with applicable laws (e.g., FMLA, ADA and state-specific leave requirements).
• Support workplace safety initiatives, partner with operations on safety programs, and assist with workers’ compensation case management and tracking.
• May travel, as needed, to support People Operations initiatives at other locations, including out-of-state sites.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field preferred.

2-5 years of Human Resources, administrative, recruiting, or employee support experience required.

Knowledge of State and Federal Labor laws strongly preferred.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain confidentiality.

Ability to speak and write in Spanish required.

Office and food manufacturing environment depending on business needs.

• Will require walking the production floor and interacting with hourly workforce.

Why you should join our team:

• Power of Collaboration: Live our core values - "Own it", "Care about it", "Make it exceptional", and "Win together" - as we work together to create better food for everyone, the Japanese way.
• Competitive Rewards: Reap the benefits of a comprehensive compensation package with a bonus plan and group health benefits that recognize your outstanding contribution.
• Ignite Your Potential: Fuel your growth with extensive training and opportunities for career advancement, empowering you to unleash your full potential.
• Champion Diversity and Inclusion: We proudly celebrate and champion employment equity, diversity, and inclusion through our Affinity Committee, ensuring that every voice is empowered and heard.
• Lead the Sustainability Revolution: As part of our commitment to ESG, our Sustainability Committee drives our environmental initiatives and champions sustainable practices.

For more information about Bento Sushi and our opportunities, please visit www.bentosushi.com.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those candidates elected for an interview will be contacted. Special consideration will be given to applicants with previous experience working as a; Human Resources Coordinator, People Operations Coordinator, People Operations Specialist, Human Resources Generalist, HR Generalist, People and Culture Generalist, Employee Experience Specialist, People and Culture Advisor, HR Operations Specialist.