HR Generalist

MAAC (Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee; Chula Vista (CA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

MAAC is seeking an HR Generalist in Chula Vista, CA. The role partners with the HR Manager to support recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, compensation, and HR compliance while handling sensitive information with discretion.

Responsibilities include HRIS data entry, reporting, benefits coordination, and employee relations support. The position requires a Bachelor’s in HR (Master’s preferred) and 3–5 years of HR experience, with nonprofit exposure a plus.

Qualifications

• Broad knowledge of HR functions including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, compensation, benefits, and HRIS
• Understanding of federal and state employment laws (ADA/ADAAA, FMLA, CFRA, EEO/AA, COBRA, OSHA)
• Experience with HR data, reporting, and records management
• Familiarity with AI-assisted HR tools and automation beneficial

Responsibilities

• Serve as HR contact for managers and staff on policies and labor relations questions
• Administer and track HR programs, benefits, leaves, and performance management
• Coordinate company-wide compliance training and intake of employee complaints
• Maintain HR records and job descriptions; manage HRIS transactions
• Support talent acquisition activities and onboarding; oversee pre-employment requirements
• Prepare HR correspondence and documents as needed

Skills

HR policies

Employee relations

Compliance

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Master's degree in HR Management (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP desirable)

Tools

JazzHR

Paycor

Job description

HR Generalist

Location: Chula Vista, CA

Hourly Range: $33.65 - $36.05 per hour (DOE / Q)

52Weeks

MAAC STORY

Since 1965, MAAC has been maximizing self-sufficiency with families and individuals through high-quality programs and advocacy in our communities. MAAC employs dedicated staff who provide life-changing services to thousands of individuals annually through programs in five core focus areas: Education, Economic Development, Health & Wellbeing, Housing, and Advocacy & Leadership Development. Through a wide variety of programs, MAAC has grown to become one of the largest nonprofit social service organizations in the community. Learn more about the great things happening with MAAC at http://www.maacproject.org/.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under direction of the Human Resources Manager, the Human Resources Generalist is a trusted HR operator and resource for staff that enhances the employee experience at MAAC. This role provides professional support across recruitment, onboarding, performance management, staff recognition, compensation, classification, benefits, and HR compliance, while coordinating, managing, tracking, and entering HR transactions. The Generalist also provides frontline support on employee and labor relations matters, escalating complex or formal issues to the HR Manager, and helps ensure all employees’ interactions with HR are handled with professionalism, consistency, and responsiveness. This position requires a high degree of discretion due to regular handling of sensitive and confidential information related to recruitment and selection, payroll administration, benefits, workers' compensation, employee relations, and training and development. The incumbent may supervise subordinate staff and/or volunteers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

Employee Support, Compliance, and Programs

• Serves as a point of contact for managers, staff, and external partners on HR policies, procedures, and day‑to‑day employee and labor relations questions.
• Administers and tracks HR programs including but not limited to performance management, staff recognition, benefits, and leaves of absence, coordinating with Payroll and other HR functions as needed.
• Coordinates MAAC‑wide compliance training (e.g., EEO/AA, conflict of interest, False Claims) and supports intake of employee complaints, including those involving discrimination, harassment, or other policy violations, escalating as appropriate.
• Compiles data and analysis for periodic and special compliance reporting; recommends process improvements for efficiency.
• Maintains current knowledge of HR best practices and applicable law through ongoing training and professional development; may represent HR on internal or external committees.
• Reviews and make recommendations on processes for continuous improvement and efficiency

Human Resources Operations and HRIS

• Researches, computes, and enters personnel transactions (new hires, separations, promotions, transfers, stipends, position/supervisor changes, etc.) into MAAC's HRIS in accordance with payroll deadlines and schedules; applies agency policy and union contract provisions to determine correct transactional placement.
• Recognizes and reports system anomalies; produces reports and spreadsheets from the HRIS to support workforce analyses (headcount, staffing, classifications)
• Leverages AI‑assisted tools to improve efficiency and accuracy where appropriate.
• Maintains accurate, compliant personnel records, documentation, and job descriptions (essential functions, FLSA status, EEO categorization).
• Creates HR correspondence, forms, templates, and other personnel documents as needed.

Talent Acquisition Support and Onboarding

• Supports talent acquisition as needed, including job postings (via JazzHR), resume screening, and interview scheduling and coordination.
• Manage and oversee pre‑employment requirements (e.g. live scans, background checks, DMV pull notices, and physicals) with external agencies and vendors.
• Owns new hire onboarding, including work‑eligibility verification and new employee orientation.
• Develops and coordinates recruitment outreach, job fairs, and related events.
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• HR functional areas including recruitment, HRIS, employee relations, leaves of absence, benefits, compensation, classification, and risk management
• Federal and state employment law, including ADA/ADAAA, FMLA, CFRA, PDL, EEO/AA, COBRA, HIPAA, Labor Law, OSHA, and workers' compensation
• Business communication principles and modern office practices
• HRIS platforms and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); knowledge of JazzHR and Paycor is a plus
• Familiarity with AI‑assisted HR tools and a willingness to build fluency in emerging HR technology and automation

Skills and Ability to:

• Build and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships across a diverse workforce; communicate clearly in writing and verbally at all levels
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound discretion with sensitive information
• Define problems, gather data, and draw valid, defensible conclusions
• Work independently and collaboratively, prioritizing effectively amid shifting and ambiguous demands
• Adapt to and adopt new HR technology, including AI‑assisted tools, to improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Travel between MAAC worksites and offsite locations as needed to provide support

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree and three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, OR
• Master' degree in Human Resources Management and two (2) years of progressively experience in the HR field Supervisory experience and a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP designation is highly desirable. Experience in organizations with labor unions and/or in a non‑profit setting is preferred.

VALUE-BASED BEHAVIORS

• Listens attentively to others. Asks clarifying questions to gain a better understanding of the other person’s views and underlying assumptions.
• Works effectively in a team environment and actively participates in joint problem solving; willingly cooperates with co‑workers.
• Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Attends work consistently and punctually. Arrives to meetings prepared and on time; honors work commitments; follows through on what was agreed upon; meets deadlines.
• Honors the private and confidential matters of co‑workers. Protects the proprietary information of MAAC systems.
• Follows rules, regulations, and policies; positively contributes to implementing changes.
• Deals with issues directly, in a respectful and timely manner. Focuses on resolving the issue while not criticizing the person.

HEALTH STATUS

Must have a physical examination and a drug screen by a doctor/clinic designated by MAAC prior to the first day of employment.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit, talk or hear both in person and by telephone, uses hands to finger, handle or feel objects or controls, reach with hands and arms. An employee also is regularly required to stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl, climb or balance and lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret information; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret people and situations; use basic math; learn and apply new information or skills; work under intensive deadlines and interact with MAAC management, administrators, staff, teachers, parents, family members, children and others encountered in the course of work.

BACKGROUND CLEARANCE

All positions are subject to a background/education check, DMV check, NSOR, exclusion and debarment checks prior to hire and periodically throughout employment as required by various funding sources.

Note: California Start law requires background criminal checks on anyone who works in a licensed childcare facility who is not a client. Must have or obtain a current criminal background check clearance, signed criminal record statement, and signed Acknowledgement to Report Child Abuse form prior to the first day of employment.

TRANSPORTATION

Must have and maintain a valid California Driver’s License, daily use of a personal, insured vehicle, and have and maintain a motor vehicle driving record acceptable to MAAC’s insurance carrier. Incumbents will be enrolled in the California DMV Pull Program.