HR Generalist

Talentfoot Executive Search; Somerville (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Talentfoot Executive Search in Somerville, New Jersey, is seeking an HR Generalist to own the HR function for a well established creative agency, reporting to the Head of Finance.

You'll manage the full talent lifecycle, maintain I-9s and compliance across eight states, administer benefits, lead onboarding, and collaborate with our outsourced HR partner to drive payroll accuracy and workforce planning.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of HR experience in a small agency/startup or solo role
• Solid knowledge of federal and multi-state employment law (FMLA, ADA, NJLAD, wage & hour, I-9)
• Experience administering benefits and supporting open enrollment end-to-end
• Comfort with HRIS/payroll systems; Paychex experience is a plus
• Strong project management instincts and ability to communicate progress
• Exceptional attention to detail with discretion for sensitive information

Responsibilities

• Maintain and audit I-9 records, employee files, and regulatory documentation across eight states
• Ensure compliance with federal, multi-state, and local employment laws (FMLA, ADA, wage & hour, workers' compensation)
• Support HR audits, compliance reporting, and diversity initiatives
• Coordinate multi-state leave administration (FMLA, NJ Family Leave Act) and balance tracking
• Administer benefits programs and support open enrollment, including communications and vendor coordination
• Verify employee data and update payroll/time-tracking systems
• Liaise with outsourced HR firm and align on deliverables
• Partner with Finance on payroll inputs and discrepancies
• Serve as first contact for HR policies, benefits, and procedures
• Support employee relations with discretion (performance docs, ADA accommodations)
• Build rapport with distributed employees; remote doesn't mean disconnected
• Support managers in navigating HR processes and accountability
• Assist full-cycle recruiting (postings, resumes, interviews, offers)
• Lead onboarding from paperwork to first-week check-ins
• Maintain updated job descriptions and support workforce planning
• Own and improve HR processes, templates, and systems
• Update Director of Finance on HR project status and risks
• Identify gaps in HR infrastructure and propose solutions

Skills

Project management

Attention to detail

Discretion with information

Communication skills

Tools

Paychex

Job description

Talentfoot is working on an exciting HR Generalist opportunity that will own the HR function for a well established creative agency. This will own the full talent/employee lifecycle while reporting to the Head of Finance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and audit I-9 records, employee files, and regulatory documentation across all eight states
• Ensure ongoing compliance with federal, multi-state, and local employment laws, including FMLA, ADA, wage & hour, and workers' compensation
• Support HR audits, compliance reporting, and initiatives such as diversity certifications
• Coordinate multi-state leave administration (FMLA, NJ Family Leave Act, and applicable state equivalents) and track balances accurately
• Administer benefits programs and support open enrollment, including employee communications and vendor coordination
• Verify employee data, maintain PTO balances, and update payroll and time-tracking systems
• Serve as the day-to-day liaison with our outsourced HR firm, ensuring alignment and follow-through on shared deliverables
• Partner with Finance on payroll inputs and flag discrepancies proactively
• Serve as the first point of contact for employee questions on HR policies, benefits, and procedures
• Support employee relations matters with discretion, including performance documentation, ADA accommodations, and corrective action
• Build rapport with distributed employees across all locations, remote doesn't mean disconnected
• Support managers in navigating HR processes effectively and holding their teams accountable
• Support full-cycle recruiting, including job postings, resume screening, interview coordination, and offer administration
• Lead onboarding for new hires from paperwork to first-week check-ins, ensuring a consistent and welcoming experience
• Maintain updated job descriptions and support workforce planning conversations with leadership
• Own and build out HR processes, templates, and systems, starting from what exists and improving from there
• Proactively update the Director of Finance on HR project status, compliance risks, and anything that needs attention
• Identify gaps in current HR infrastructure and propose solutions. You're building this function, not just maintaining it

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of HR experience, ideally in a small agency, startup, or solo HR role — you know what it means to be the department
• Solid working knowledge of federal and multi-state employment law (FMLA, ADA, NJLAD, wage & hour, I-9 compliance)
• Experience administering benefits and supporting open enrollment end-to-end
• Comfort working with HRIS and/or payroll systems; Paychex experience is a plus
• Strong project management instincts, you can track moving pieces, set timelines, and communicate progress without being asked
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion

A communication style

If you're ready to make an impact and take your career to the next level, we’d love to hear from you.