HR Generalist (Leave Specialist)

Mental Health Association - Western MA; Chicopee (MA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Family Leave

Long Term Disability

Job summary

The Mental Health Association - Western MA is seeking an HR Generalist to administer a broad range of HR programs for all employees and serve as a liaison between HR and staff in Chicopee, MA. Responsibilities include onboarding compliance, leave administration, HRIS maintenance, and employee support, with a focus on policy consistency and regulatory compliance in a 100% on-site setting.

The role reports to the Director of Human Resources and requires meticulous recordkeeping, confidentiality,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• At least one year of experience in a relevant HR role preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate onboarding compliance activities, including background check processing and new-hire documentation.
• Serve as a point of contact for employee support inquiries and guidance on HR processes.
• Maintain knowledge of local, state, and federal employment laws and ensure compliance across HR operations.
• Collaborate with managers to ensure fair HR practices and a compliant workplace environment.
• Maintain HR compliance and support audits; prepare for external audits and address findings.
• Manage onboarding of new hires in payroll system and keep HRIS records up-to-date.

Skills

Onboarding

Leave of Absence

HR compliance

Employee support

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Applicant tracking systems

Job description

Under the supervision of the Director of Human Resources, the HR Generalist administers and supports a wide range of human resources programs and initiatives for all MHA employees. This role is responsible for providing employee support, coordinating onboarding-related compliance and employment documentation, including background check compliance, leave of absence administration, HRIS maintenance, and general employee support services. The HR Generalist serves as a key liaison between Human Resources and staff, ensuring consistent application of organizational policies and compliance with employment laws and regulations.

This position is 100% on-site, in-person in Chicopee, MA.

Schedule: Monday through Friday 9am - 5pm (40h)

Pay range: $24- $26 per hour

Essential Job Functions

Coordinate onboarding compliance activities, including but not limited to, background check processing, fingerprinting coordination, and verification of completed new-hire requirements.

Serve as a point of contact for employee support inquiries, providing guidance on HR processes, policies, and required documentation.

Maintain working knowledge of local, state, and federal employment laws and support compliance across HR operations and practices.

Collaborate with managers to ensure fair and consistent HR practices, provide guidance on employee-related questions, and support a positive and compliant workplace environment.

Maintain ongoing HR compliance, prepare for external audits when scheduled, and implement follow-up actions to address any findings or recommendations.

Manage the onboarding of new hires in the payroll system and ensure HRIS records are accurate and up-to-date for all employees.

Leave of Absence Administration

• Manage the full lifecycle of employee leaves of absence, including short-term, long-term, and intermittent leave, ensuring 100% compliance with company policy, state, and federal regulations (e.g., FMLA, ADA).
• Coordinate and administer ADA accommodations and other legally mandated accommodations to support employees’ safe and timely return to work.
• Ensure all leave requests are properly documented, tracked, and maintained in HR systems, including timely updates and accurate recordkeeping.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees regarding leave policies, providing clear communication, guidance, and support throughout the leave process.
• Collaborate with management, HR, and medical providers to evaluate and approve leave requests in alignment with legal requirements and organizational standards.
• Monitor leave balances, deadlines, and return-to-work requirements, ensuring a seamless transition back to the workplace.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in administrative team meetings and support HR-related planning initiatives.
• Carry out special projects and assignments as directed by the Director of Human Resources or senior leadership.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Mental Health Association is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.

At least one year of experience working in a relevant human resources role preferred.

Highly detail-oriented, ensuring accuracy and consistency in HR records, processes, and compliance tasks.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

High degree of discretion and confidentiality.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments.

Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Proficient with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and experience with HRIS and applicant tracking systems.

Commitment to professionalism

Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)

Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)

Long Term Disability

Mental Health Association - Western MA

MHA (Mental Health Association) is a nonprofit provider of mental health & addiction recovery services in Western Mass.

The Mental Health Association is dedicated to providing innovative residential and support services, fostering dignity and equality, and empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential.

Non-profit Organizations Consumer Services

Company size 501–1,000 employees

Company type Nonprofit Founded 1960

Momentum

Team growth

Momentum

Team growth

9% in 12 mo

214 employees on LinkedIn

Footprint

Where they work

Headquarters Chicopee, Massachusetts

350 Memorial Dr, Chicopee, Massachusetts 01020, US