HR Generalist

The International School of San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The International School of San Francisco is seeking a Human Resources Generalist to manage payroll administration, employee records, benefits, recruitment support, and HR compliance within a PK-12 independent school environment.

You will be a key resource for employees and managers, safeguarding confidential information while ensuring timely payroll processing, accurate HRIS records, and smooth onboarding and offboarding in line with federal, state, and local laws.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent. Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field preferred.
• 2–4 years of relevant experience in payroll, accounts payable, finance, or HR administration.
• 2–4 years of relevant experience in HR
• Experience with timekeeping, payroll, accounting, or HRIS systems preferred.
• Experience handling confidential employee or financial information preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist with payroll processing and timekeeping accuracy.
• Maintain confidential employee records and HRIS data.
• Support onboarding, employee changes, leave administration, and offboarding.
• Assist benefits enrollment and inquiries; manage health/dental/retirement programs.
• Coordinate recruitment activities: postings, interviews, onboarding; background checks.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws; support audits and reporting.
• Provide HR support to leadership and employees; generate reports and metrics.

Skills

Payroll & timekeeping

Confidentiality

HRIS systems

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

NetSuite

Time management

Communication

Policy compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR (preferred)

High school diploma (required)

Tools

NetSuite

Ramp

Google Workspace

Job description

OUR SCHOOL

The International School of San Francisco is a PK-12 independent school in San Francisco. Founded in 1962, the school is a multicultural, multilingual educational institution with almost 1,100 students across an urban campus in the heart of the city.

MISSION

Guided by the principles of academic rigor and diversity, The International School of San Francisco offers programs of study in French and English to prepare its graduates for a world in which the ability to think critically and to communicate across cultures is of paramount importance. Our international community brings together people from many backgrounds. Together we strive to create a shared culture that develops compassionate, confident, and principled people who will make the world better. We base our community on these values: Respect, Integrity, Inclusion, Collaboration, and Curiosity.

OPPORTUNITY

Working at The International School of San Francisco opens up a myriad of opportunities – both personal and professional. Critical to our Strategic Plan in creating a proud, engaged community; we appreciate our faculty and staff by fostering a community of ongoing learning, respect, and collegiality and by providing competitive compensation and benefits. It is also of paramount importance to us that we continue to foster an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion as we build a school community of individuals who are an actual representation of the world in which we live.

Position Overview

The Human Resources Generalist is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources function, with primary responsibility for payroll administration, maintaining employee records, benefits administration, recruitment support, and HR compliance.

This position serves as a key resource for employees and managers, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing, consistent application of HR policies, and effective administration of employment-related programs. The role supports the organization’s growth and operational objectives while maintaining compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll and Timekeeping – Primary Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation and processing of regular payroll in accordance with established payroll schedules and procedures.
• Review employee timecards for completeness, accuracy, appropriate approvals, and compliance with established timekeeping procedures.
• Monitor timekeeping records for missed punches, missing timecards, duplicate entries, unusual entries, and other discrepancies.
• Follow up with employees and supervisors regarding missing or inaccurate timekeeping information.
• Assist with reviewing regular hours, overtime, double-time, paid sick leave, vacation/PTO, holidays, and other applicable paid time.
• Enter and/or verify payroll-related information in the organization’s payroll or timekeeping system.
• Assist with processing employee changes affecting payroll, such as new hires, status changes, pay changes, deductions, leave information, and separations, based on authorized documentation.
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with organizational procedures and applicable recordkeeping requirements.
• Assist with payroll-related reporting, audits, reconciliations, and routine data verification.
• Identify discrepancies or issues and promptly refer questions requiring interpretation, authorization, or decision-making to the appropriate supervisor.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll, compensation, personnel, and other sensitive employee information.
• Assist with responding to routine employee questions regarding timekeeping and payroll procedures and refer more complex questions to the appropriate Business Office or Human Resources representative.
• Follow established procedures for payroll deadlines and promptly communicate potential delays or issues to the supervisor.

Human Resources Administration

• Support the HR Manager in administering the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee changes, leave administration, and offboarding.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee personnel files and HRIS records.
• Prepare employment letters, offer letters, employment agreements, and other HR documentation.
• Assist with benefits administration, including enrollment, qualifying life events, and employee inquiries.
• Support administration of health insurance, retirement plans, and other employee benefits.

Recruitment and Talent Support

• Coordinate recruitment activities, including job postings, interview scheduling, candidate communications, and onboarding.
• Assist hiring managers with recruitment documentation and employment-related processes.
• Support background checks, employment verification, and pre-employment requirements.
• Help ensure a consistent and positive candidate and employee experience.

Compliance and Regulatory Support

• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Support compliance with wage and hour requirements, employment eligibility verification, and required employment documentation.
• Assist with employment-related audits, reporting, and recordkeeping.
• Support workplace training and compliance initiatives.
• Maintain accurate documentation and confidentiality of employee information.

General HR Support

• Serve as a first point of contact for employee HR questions and requests.
• Provide administrative support to HR leadership.
• Assist with HR reporting, metrics, and workforce data analysis.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, payroll accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Executive & Administrative Support

• Provide direct, high-level administrative support to the CFO.
• Assist with document preparation, meeting scheduling, report organization, and special office projects.
• Serve as a reliable point of contact for internal team members regarding basic payroll, expense, and AP inquiries.
• Perform routine data entry, document preparation, filing, scanning, copying, and electronic record maintenance.
• Assist with monitoring routine office supplies and submitting purchase requests in accordance with established procedures.
• Prepare routine reports, spreadsheets, correspondence, and other administrative documents.
• Assist with maintaining organized electronic and physical filing systems.
• Communicate professionally with employees, supervisors, vendors, and other members of the organization.
• Perform other related administrative and operational duties as assigned

Knowledge & Skills

• Working knowledge of payroll and timekeeping processes and procedures.
• Ability to accurately enter, review, and reconcile numerical and employee information.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to identify discrepancies and appropriately elevate issues.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling payroll and personnel information.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, NetSuite, Ramp or similar office applications.
• Ability to learn and effectively use payroll, timekeeping, accounting, and other business systems.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage recurring deadlines and prioritize routine assignments.
• Professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work cooperatively with employees, supervisors, and other departments.
• Ability to follow established policies, procedures, and instructions.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent. Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field preferred.
• 2–4 years of relevant experience in payroll, accounts payable, finance, or general business administration.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience in HR
• Experience with timekeeping, payroll, accounting, or HRIS systems preferred.
• Experience working with confidential employee or financial information preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to regularly sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and use a computer and other office equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and electronically.
• Ability to read and work with computer screens, documents, spreadsheets, and numerical information.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move office supplies or materials weighing up to [25] pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

This is a Full Time, Exempt position. The salary range is $85,000-95,000 based on experience and qualification.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY

The International School of San Francisco is committed to providing an open, fair, inclusive, non-discriminatory environment for all individuals across differences of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, socio-economic status, ethnicity, age, physical ability, or medical condition. We seek to increase the presence, representation, and inclusion of U.S. historically under-represented people of color, international, bilingual, and bicultural students, faculty, and staff; and, to provide an environment that will attract and retain individuals identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and intersex (LGBTQQI).

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

All prospective staff will be fingerprinted and submit a criminal background check.