HR Generalist

Institute for Justice; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Remote day flexibility

Health insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

HSA contributions

401(k) with matches

Casual dress code

Generous PTO

Job summary

The Institute for Justice, a national public interest law firm, seeks an HR Generalist to oversee benefits administration and payroll for nearly 200 employees across multiple states. This role partners with Finance and HR to ensure accurate compensation and compliant benefits processing.

You will run semi-monthly payroll via ADP, administer health plans, support open enrollment, and administer leave programs while ensuring strict data integrity and policy adherence.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of HR experience with at least 3 years in payroll and benefits administration.
• Experience with an HRIS/payroll system — ADP experience strongly preferred.
• Comfort with multi-state payroll compliance.
• Impeccable attention to detail, particularly payroll calculations and compliance deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Discretion and sound judgment handling confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Process semi-monthly payroll using ADP, including state tax registrations and compliance.
• Administer employee health and benefit plans — enrollments, changes, qualifying life events, terminations.
• Serve as a go-to resource for staff benefits questions and policy clarification.
• Support annual open enrollment processes and communications.
• Help administer leave programs, including FMLA and state-specific leave laws.
• Assist in onboarding and offboarding and maintain confidential employee records.
• Review and communicate HR policies to keep pace with employment law changes.
• Run payroll and benefits reports for Finance and HR leadership.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Payroll administration

Benefits administration

ADP experience

HRIS experience

Multi-state payroll

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Discretion

ERISA knowledge

PHR/SHRM-CP (certification)

Education

PHR or SHRM-CP certification

Tools

ADP payroll

HRIS

Job description

The Institute for Justice, the national law firm for liberty, is a nonprofit public interest law firm that fights for the rights of ordinary Americans. We win court cases that others said were impossible, and we couldn't do it without a team that keeps the organization firing on all cylinders behind the scenes. Whether someone is litigating before the Supreme Court or processing payroll, every member of the IJ team plays a vital role in our mission to secure the constitutional rights of all Americans.

IJ's administrative team makes sure every department has what it needs to focus on the fight for liberty and fulfill our mission. We're looking for an HR Generalist to join that team, with a focus on benefits administration and payroll, supporting close to 200 employees across multiple states.

Responsibilities

• Process semi-monthly payroll using ADP, including managing state tax registrations, withholding, and compliance in multiple jurisdictions.
• Administer employee health and benefit plans — enrollments, changes, qualifying life events, and terminations
• Serve as a go-to resource for staff benefits questions, escalating complex compliance matters as needed
• Support IJ's annual open enrollment process, from staff communications to enrollment logistics
• Help administer leave programs, including FMLA and state-specific leave laws
• Support onboarding and offboarding processes and maintain accurate, confidential employee records
• Assist in reviewing and communicating HR policies to keep pace with changing employment law
• Run payroll and benefits reports for Finance and HR leadership
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of HR experience, with at least 3 years focused on payroll and benefits administration
• Experience with an HRIS/payroll system — ADP experience strongly preferred
• Comfort with multi-state payroll compliance
• Impeccable attention to detail, particularly when handling payroll calculations, benefits data, and compliance deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive, confidential information
• Familiarity with ERISA and benefits plan administration is a plus
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification a plus

Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule with one remote day a week for first 90-days, with the possibility to increase to two remote days thereafter
• Opportunity to work remotely for four weeks a year, with manager approval
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance (IJ covers 100% of individual premiums)
• Employer paid Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life insurance plans
• HSA employer contributions
• 401(k) with employer matches
• Smart casual dress code with casual Fridays
• Generous PTO package

The salary range for the HR Generalist position is $80,000-$100,000.

IJ is an equal opportunity employer.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At IJ we value a diverse workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

To learn more about our culture and benefits, visit our Working at IJ page. No phone calls please.

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