HR Generalist

Coldist; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Distributing is seeking an HR Generalist to partner with employees and leaders across the lifecycle, delivering day-to-day HR support, guiding policies, and driving operational excellence in our Washington markets.

The role covers employee relations, performance management, leave and benefits administration, compliance, and union-related matters where applicable, with travel up to 25%.

Qualifications

• 3 years of progressive HR experience in a Generalist or similar role.
• Experience supporting employee relations and performance management.
• Experience interpreting and applying HR policies and employment requirements.
• Experience supporting benefits, leave administration, onboarding, and lifecycle processes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary HR contact for employees and leaders within an assigned region, in partnership with HRBP.
• Provide guidance on employees and workplace matters and respond to questions.
• Support employee relations investigations and coach leaders on performance and behavior issues.
• Assist leave administration, benefits questions, onboarding, and HR admin tasks.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and company policies.
• Support unionized employee populations and labor-related matters as needed.

Skills

Employee relations

Performance management

HR policy interpretation

Leave administration

Union/labor relations

Onboarding

HRIS proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business Administration

PHR or SHRM-CP certification

Multi-state HR experience

Tools

ADP HRIS

Job description

The HR Generalist serves as a trusted partner to employees and leaders, delivering day-to-day HR support across the employee lifecycle. This role executes core people process, provides guidance on HR policies and practices, supports employee relations and compliance, and helps ensure an exceptional employee experience while driving operational excellence.

Key Duties

HR Partnership & Employee Support

• Serve as the primary HR point of contact for employees and leaders within an assigned region or business area, in partnership with HRBP.
• Provide practical guidance on employees and workplace matters.
• Respond to employee questions and help employees navigate HR programs, policies, and resources.
• Partner with HR Business Partners and HR leadership on more complex employees or organizational matters.

Employee Relations & Performance Management

• Provide guidance to leaders on employee relations, performance, attendance, corrective action, and workplace concerns.
• Conduct or support employee relations investigations and recommend the next appropriate steps.
• Coach leaders on effectively addressing employee performance and behavioral issues.
• Promote fair and consistent application of company policies and HR practices.
• Escalating complex or high-risk employee matters as appropriate.

Leave, Benefits & HR Administration

• Support administration of employee leave programs, including coordination of FMLA, state leave programs, disability, and other applicable leaves.
• Assist Benefit program lead with employees’ benefits questions.

Compliance & Policy

• Maintain working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment requirements applicable to assigned locations.
• Help ensure HR practices comply with company policies and applicable employment laws.
• Educate employees and leaders on HR policies, programs, and processes.
• Support required posting, documentation, recordkeeping, and HR compliance activities.

Union & Labor Support, as applicable

• Provide day-to-day HR support within unionized employee populations.
• Assist leaders with interpretation and consistent application of collective bargaining agreement provisions.
• Support employee relations matters involving represented employees.
• Partner with HR and labor leadership on grievances, investigations, corrective actions, and other labor-related matters as needed.

Job-Specific Expectations

Travel - Ability to travel 25% of the time to support specific markets

Job-Specific Skills, Experience & Education

Required

• 3 years of experience in progressive Human Resources experience, preferably in a Generalist or similar broad HR role.
• Demonstrated experience supporting employee relations and performance management.
• Experience interpreting and applying HR policies and employment requirements.
• Experience supporting benefits, leave administration, onboarding, and other employee lifecycle processes.
• Experience supporting unionized employees or labor relations preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age of 18.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Proficiency with HRIS, preferably ADP, or the ability to quickly learn the organization’s HRIS and talent management system
• Multi-state HR experience.
• Experience supporting unionized employees or labor relations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant HR experience considered in lieu of degree.
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification

Columbia Distributing offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, 24/7 virtual care, paid vacation, sick and holiday time, and a 401(k) plan with company match. Additional offerings inclu

AAP/EEO Statement

Columbia Distributing is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Please contact the Human Resources Dept. at [phone] or email [e-mail] if you have questions regarding reasonable accommodations.