HR Generalist

Demakes Bros.; Danvers (MA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Demakes Bros. is seeking an HR Generalist based in Danvers with regular time at the Lynn manufacturing facility (1-2 days/week). The role supports recruiting, employee relations, benefits, leaves of absence, workers' compensation, payroll, HRIS, and workforce reporting.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of progressive HR experience, is comfortable working with employees at all levels, and is excited to grow toward an HR Manager role within the organization.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of progressive HR experience in a Generalist role.
• Experience supporting manufacturing/fast-paced hourly environments is preferred.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now and benefits, leaves, workers' comp, payroll is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruiting for hourly technical and salaried roles across the organization.
• Partner with managers through the full recruiting and selection process.
• Manage employee relations, leaves of absence, payroll questions, and HRIS reporting.
• Develop and maintain workforce reports on headcount, turnover, and attendance.
• Support onboarding, employee engagement, training, and HR policy compliance.

Skills

Recruiting

Employee relations

Payroll

HRIS

ADP Workforce Now

Data reporting

Communication

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Job description

We are looking for an HR Generalist to join our growing Human Resources team. This is a great opportunity for an HR professional with 3-5 years of experience who is looking to broaden their experience, take ownership of key HR functions, and continue developing toward an HR Manager role.

Reporting directly to the Chief Talent Officer / CHRO, this is a hands‑on position supporting both employees and managers across our organization. The HR Generalist will work closely with the broader HR team and Operations leadership and will have exposure to a wide range of HR responsibilities, including recruiting, employee relations, benefits, leaves of absence, workers' compensation, payroll, HRIS, and workforce reporting.

The ideal candidate enjoys being involved in the day‑to‑day business, is comfortable working directly with employees and managers, and is looking for an opportunity where they can continue growing their HR career.

This position will primarily be based in our Danvers location, with regular time spent at our Lynn manufacturing facility approximately 1-2 days per week to support employees and Operations, attend production meetings, and participate in hiring events.

What You'll Do

• Manage recruiting for hourly technical positions, including Drivers, Quality Assurance, Maintenance, and other skilled roles.
• Manage recruiting for salaried positions at the Manager level and below.
• Partner with hiring managers throughout the recruiting and selection process.
• Manage relationships with temporary staffing agencies and help coordinate temporary labor needs.
• Participate in hiring events and other recruiting initiatives.
• Serve as a resource for employees and managers on day‑to‑day HR questions and employee matters.
• Partner closely with Operations leadership to address employee relations issues, including attendance, performance, conduct, and other workplace concerns.
• Support employee warnings and corrective actions and ensure appropriate documentation and follow‑up.
• Conduct workplace investigations in partnership with Operations and HR leadership.
• Maintain a regular presence within our manufacturing operations and build strong relationships with employees and supervisors.
• Support employees with benefit questions, enrollment, and benefit‑related issues.
• Manage employee leaves of absence, including communication, documentation, tracking, and return‑to‑work coordination.
• Help ensure leave programs are administered consistently and in compliance with applicable requirements.
• Manage workers' compensation cases in partnership with Safety, including open claims, documentation, employee follow‑up, compliance, and return‑to‑work coordination.
• Serve as a backup for weekly payroll processing and assist with payroll and timekeeping questions as needed.
• Become a key internal resource for ADP Workforce Now, including reporting and overall system utilization.
• Develop and maintain reporting related to labor, headcount, turnover, attendance, recruiting, and other workforce metrics.
• Help identify workforce trends and provide data to support HR and Operations decision‑making.
• Support onboarding, employee engagement, retention, training, and other HR initiatives.
• Assist with HR policies, compliance, and special projects.
• Provide support across the HR function as business needs continue to evolve.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 3-5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience.
• Generalist experience across multiple HR functions and a desire to continue expanding your HR knowledge.
• Experience supporting employee relations and working directly with managers and employees.
• Recruiting experience supporting both hourly and salaried positions.
• Experience with HRIS/payroll systems; ADP Workforce Now experience is a plus.
• Experience with benefits, leaves of absence, workers' compensation, and/or payroll is a plus.
• Experience within manufacturing, distribution, food production, or another fast‑paced hourly workforce environment is strongly preferred.
• Strong communication, organization, judgment, and follow‑through.
• Comfortable spending time on the production floor and working directly with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employee matters appropriately.

We are looking for someone who wants to continue building their HR career and take on increasing responsibility over time. Working directly with the Chief Talent Officer / CHRO, this role will provide broad exposure across Human Resources and the opportunity to develop into a well‑rounded HR leader.

For the right person, this position offers a clear opportunity to grow into an HR Manager role within the next few years.