Human Resources Generalist

Chaucer; Forest Grove (OR); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Chaucer Foods in Forest Grove, Oregon is seeking an experienced HR Generalist to partner with plant leadership and frontline teams. This role focuses on recruiting hourly production staff, employee relations, payroll accuracy, leave coordination, and day-to-day HR guidance in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.

The successful candidate will impact the employee experience and help scale our local talent pipeline.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field.
• 3+ years HR generalist experience including payroll and recruiting.
• Experience supporting hourly employees in manufacturing or operations.
• Strong communication, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with sound judgment.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruiting for hourly production and plant positions and collaborate with managers.
• Coordinate interviews, offers, onboarding and pre-employment requirements.
• Provide guidance on employee relations, performance management and attendance.
• Support payroll processing, timekeeping, leave administration and HR records.
• Drive HR programs, reporting, audits and compliance activities.
• Partner with leadership on workforce planning and leave/ accommodations.

Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Confidentiality

Employee Relations

Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Tools

Payroll systems

Timekeeping systems

Job description

Chaucer Foods is seeking an experienced, hands‑on HR Generalist to support our Forest Grove team.

This is an exciting opportunity for an HR professional who enjoys being close to the business, building relationships with employees and leaders, solving problems, and making a tangible impact on the employee experience.

As an HR Generalist supporting our Forest Grove site, you will be a key HR partner to plant leadership and our frontline workforce. You’ll play an important role in recruiting and retaining talent, supporting employee relations, ensuring accurate payroll processes, coordinating leave and accommodations, and providing day-to-day HR guidance in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role reports to the HR Director of Americas and Global Services and will be supporting a workforce of about approximately 130 employees.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and support recruiting activities for hourly production and plant positions.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing needs, develop recruiting strategies and move candidates efficiently through the hiring process.
• Coordinate interviews, offers, pre‑employment requirements and onboarding.
• Help strengthen Chaucer Foods’ local talent pipeline and employer brand.
• Identify opportunities to improve retention and the overall new‑hire experience.

Employee Relations

• Serve as a trusted HR resource for employees and people leaders.
• Provide guidance on employee relations, performance management, attendance, workplace concerns and corrective action.
• Conduct or support HR investigations and help ensure consistent application of company policies.
• Coach leaders on effective communication, documentation and people management practices.
• Promote a positive, respectful and inclusive workplace culture.

Payroll & HR Operations

• Support accurate and timely payroll processes for the Forest Grove workforce; familiarity with manufacturing and hourly payroll practices in Oregon and California.
• Partner with managers and employees to resolve payroll, timekeeping and attendance questions.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HR documentation.
• Support HR reporting, audits and compliance activities.
• Help identify opportunities to streamline HR processes and improve the employee experience.

Leave, Accommodations & Compliance

• Coordinate and support employee leave processes and workplace accommodation requests in partnership with appropriate internal and external resources.
• Help ensure consistent and compliant administration of applicable federal, state and local employment requirements.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and confidentiality.
• Partner with employees and leaders to facilitate effective return‑to‑work and accommodation processes.

General HR Support

• Support employee communications, engagement initiatives and site HR programs.
• Assist with performance management, training and development initiatives.
• Partner with leadership on workforce planning and organizational needs.
• Be a visible HR presence within the Forest Grove plant and build strong relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Take on additional HR projects and initiatives that support the growth of Chaucer Foods.

What We’re Looking For

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of progressive HR generalist experience including payroll experience.
• 3+ years of recruiting experience.
• Experience supporting hourly employees, preferably in a manufacturing, food production, distribution or other operations environment.
• Demonstrated experience with employee relations and recruiting.
• Working knowledge of payroll processes, leave administration and employment practices.
• Strong communication, organization and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment with sensitive employee matters.
• Comfortable working independently while also partnering closely with plant and corporate leadership.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting a union or non‑union manufacturing workforce.
• Experience with timekeeping/payroll systems.
• Experience with leave and accommodation administration.
• SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP, PHR or similar HR certification.

The Ideal Candidate

You are someone who rolls up your sleeves and gets involved. You can move comfortably between a conversation with a production employee, coaching a frontline leader, supporting a recruiting event and working through a payroll question.

You build trust quickly, communicate clearly and approach employee concerns with empathy, consistency and good judgment. You also understand that HR in a manufacturing environment requires responsiveness, visibility and a strong partnership with operations.

Annual Salary Range: $75,000–$80,000

Chaucer Foods offers a competitive total rewards package, including:

• Company‑matched 401(k)
• Generous paid time off
• Medical insurance
• Life insurance options
• Additional employee benefits and programs

The posted salary range represents the anticipated base salary range for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, qualifications, skills and other relevant factors.

This position is based onsite at our Forest Grove, Oregon manufacturing facility and requires regular interaction with plant leadership and production employees.

Because this role supports a manufacturing operation, the successful candidate should be comfortable working in a production environment and following applicable safety, food safety and workplace policies. The role may require occasional movement throughout the facility and the ability to interact with employees across different shifts and work areas.

Reasonable accommodations may be available for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Chaucer Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and consider qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics under applicable federal, state or local law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities during the application and employment process. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us through the appropriate recruiting channel.