HR Generalist

Vaco; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco in Irvine, CA is seeking an experienced HR Generalist (Temp to Hire) to partner with the HR team across onboarding, payroll, records, compliance, and employee relations. This hands-on role supports employees and managers in California and beyond as needed.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in HR, deep knowledge of CA employment practices, proficiency with HRIS and MS Office, and the ability to handle sensitive information with professionalism while improving HR processes and employee

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience in a broad Generalist capacity.
• Strong knowledge of California employment practices and regulations.
• Experience onboarding, payroll coordination, employee records, compliance, and separations.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable working with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to handle sensitive information professionally.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Multi-state HR exposure is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support HR activities throughout the employee lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, employee changes, and separations.
• Maintain employee records, documentation, and HR system information.
• Assist with payroll-related processes, timekeeping, and employee data.
• Support leaves of absence, workplace claims, and related documentation.
• Serve as a resource to employees and managers regarding HR policies, procedures, and general employee questions.
• Help ensure compliance with applicable California and federal employment regulations.
• Participate in employee engagement, recognition, and other people-focused initiatives.
• Assist with HR reporting, audits, and process improvements.
• Partner with HR leadership on employee matters requiring guidance or escalation.

Skills

Employee relations

HR policy knowledge

Communication

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

HR Generalist - Temp to Hire

About the Opportunity

We are partnering with a well-established organization in Orange County seeking an experienced HR Generalist to join its Human Resources team. This is a hands-on role supporting employees and managers across a variety of day-to-day HR functions. The ideal candidate is a well-rounded HR professional who enjoys being involved in multiple areas of HR, thrives in a collaborative environment, and is comfortable balancing employee support, compliance, administration, and HR operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Support HR activities throughout the employee lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, employee changes, and separations
• Maintain employee records, documentation, and HR system information
• Assist with payroll-related processes, timekeeping, and employee data
• Support leaves of absence, workplace claims, and related documentation
• Serve as a resource to employees and managers regarding HR policies, procedures, and general employee questions
• Help ensure compliance with applicable California and federal employment regulations
• Participate in employee engagement, recognition, and other people-focused initiatives
• Assist with HR reporting, audits, and process improvements
• Partner with HR leadership on employee matters requiring additional guidance or escalation

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, ideally in a broad Generalist capacity
• Strong knowledge of California employment practices and regulations
• Experience supporting areas such as onboarding, payroll coordination, employee records, compliance, and employee separations
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable working with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office
• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential information professionally
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred
• Multi-state HR exposure is a plus

What Makes This Opportunity Attractive

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys being a true HR Generalist and wants exposure across multiple areas of the HR function. The position offers variety, visibility, and the opportunity to work closely with both employees and leadership while helping strengthen HR processes and the overall employee experience.

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.