HR Generalist

Vaco; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco is partnering with a well-established organization in Orange County to hire an experienced HR Generalist. This hands-on role supports employees and managers across day-to-day HR functions, with a focus on compliance, administration, and HR operations.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years of HR experience, strong knowledge of California regulations, and the ability to handle confidential information while supporting onboarding, payroll, and employee records.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience in a generalist role.
• Strong knowledge of California employment practices and regulations.
• Experience with onboarding, payroll coordination, employee records, compliance, and separations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; multi-state HR a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support HR activities across the employee lifecycle from hiring to separations.
• Maintain employee records and HR system information.
• Assist with payroll-related processes and timekeeping.
• Support leaves of absence and workplace claims documentation.
• Provide guidance on HR policies to employees and managers.
• Ensure compliance with California and federal regulations.
• Contribute to employee engagement and recognition initiatives.
• Assist with HR reporting, audits, and process improvements.
• Partner with HR leadership on escalated employee matters.

Skills

HR Generalist

CA employment law

Payroll coordination

HRIS proficiency

Confidentiality

Communication skills

Bachelor’s degree

Multi-state HR

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

HRIS

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.

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