HR Generalist: Build Our People Ops Engine

BNO a creative agency (Baldwin & Obenauf, Inc.); Somerville (NJ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

BNO, a dynamic, full‑service creative agency based in Somerville, NJ, is seeking an in‑house HR Generalist to build our people operations. You’ll own HR processes, partner with Finance and an outsourced HR firm, and create structured, compliant programs for a 50–60 person team across eight states.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of HR experience in a small agency or startup, strong knowledge of federal and multi‑state employment laws, hands‑on benefits administration, onboarding, recruiting,

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of HR experience in a small agency or startup
• Solid knowledge of federal and multi-state employment law (FMLA, ADA, NJLAD, wage & hour)
• Experience administering benefits and supporting open enrollment end-to-end
• Comfort with HRIS and/or payroll systems; Paychex experience is a plus
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Admin, or related field; equivalent experience welcomed
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification
• Experience supporting employees across multiple states simultaneously

Responsibilities

• Maintain and audit I-9 records, employee files, and regulatory documentation across eight states
• Ensure ongoing compliance with employment laws across multiple states
• Support HR audits and compliance reporting
• Coordinate multi-state leave administration (FMLA, NJ FLA, etc.) and track balances
• Administer benefits programs and support open enrollment
• Liaise with outsourced HR firm and payroll
• Lead onboarding for new hires and maintain job descriptions
• Support full-cycle recruiting and workforce planning
• Proactively update Finance on HR project status and risks

Skills

Policy implementation

Employee relations

Payroll coordination

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

PHR/SPHR/SHRM certification

Tools

Paychex

HRIS

Job description

BNO, a dynamic, full‑service creative agency based in Somerville, NJ, is seeking an in‑house HR Generalist to build our people operations. You’ll own HR processes, partner with Finance and an outsourced HR firm, and create structured, compliant programs for a 50–60 person team across eight states.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of HR experience in a small agency or startup, strong knowledge of federal and multi‑state employment laws, hands‑on benefits administration, onboarding, recruiting,