HR Generalist

Job Description: HR Generalist

Title: Human Resources Generalist

Employment Status: Full-Time

Reporting To: Head of School

Serves: Faculty & Staff

KPIs: 

• Payroll and benefits administration with error-free accuracy via Paylocity/Employee Navigator
• Core HR operations & responsiveness to all personnel communications; 100% service level compliance
• Employee net promoter score above 80 to recommend to others as a great place to work
• Online reputation management with Glassdoor and other hiring site rankings above 4.5/5.0

At a Glance

Bennett Day School is seeking a high-caliber HR Generalist in a new role to provide comprehensive HR infrastructure support as our organization continues to scale. This role is designed for someone who prioritizes hiring and retaining highly-qualified and talented individuals, culture-building, and possesses the deep expertise required to manage payroll, benefits, and HR operations with absolute precision.

Core Objectives: Excellence and Integrity

The HR Generalist is responsible for identifying and retaining top-tier talent by focusing on candidate excellence, professional integrity, and interpersonal skills. Supporting our Head of School, you will help steward workplace culture, including ensuring that all personnel decisions and conflict resolutions are handled with the highest degree of professionalism and compliance.

Primary Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition & Management

• Recruiting: Lead end-to-end recruitment efforts (posting, job fairs, etc.), focusing on identifying high-performing candidates who embody our commitment to academic and operational excellence.
• Credential Verification: Ensure all new hires meet rigorous standards for certification and expertise before joining the Bennett team.
• Risk Mitigation & Professional Conduct: Conduct professional due diligence and comprehensive background checks, including the verification of public-facing professional profiles to ensure alignment with school values, code of conduct expectations, and regulatory compliance standards.

Technical Payroll & HRIS (Paylocity Expertise Required)

• Paylocity Power User: Serve as the school’s leading expert in the Paylocity suite, including the Recruiting, Onboarding, and Time & Labor modules.
• Payroll Administration: Manage bi-weekly salary and hourly payroll processing with zero errors, including the accurate management of stipends, cell phone reimbursements, and 401(k) integrations.
• System Integration: Ensure data integrity across platforms, including the automated integration of payroll data with GL accounts. Partner with the finance and accounting team to ensure flawless mapping of labor metrics into the QuickBooks reporting suite.

Employee Relations & Workplace Compliance

• Internal Communication: excellent, error-free written communications to employees for HR matters.
• Events/Community Building: organize social and community-building events for employees.  Support teacher and staff appreciation efforts with the school’s family association.
• Conflict Resolution: Act as the primary point of contact for handling complex workplace issues, employee claims, and interpersonal conflicts with discretion and fairness.
• Legal Compliance: Maintain deep knowledge of and compliance with federal, state (Illinois), and local labor laws (including EEOC, FMLA, and ADA) to ensure compliance and minimize institutional risk.
• Policy Management: Oversee and update the Faculty Handbook and all internal HR policies to ensure they remain current and aligned with school objectives.
• Discipline and Terminations: Processes recommendations for discipline and/or termination of employees, assembling supporting documentation, and arranging improvement/action plans as needed.

Benefits & Compensation

• Administration: Manage end-to-end personnel records in print and digital, as required, as well as benefits administration, including open enrollment, broker relations, and any provider transitions. Communicate/present effectively in large groups and be readily available for 1-on-1 conversations.
• Budget Alignment: Work closely with the Director of Finance to reconcile labor files, manage benefit placeholders, and ensure all staffing costs align with budget.

Required Qualifications

• Technical Mastery: Proficiency with Paylocity or a similar HRIS is required.
• Proven Experience: 5+ years of experience coordinating and/or managing HR functions in a professional setting, with a track record of success handling sensitive employee relations and claims.
• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Principled Professionalism: A steadfast commitment to merit-based hiring practices to attract and retain accomplished and talented people, and the ability to maintain objectivity in all personnel matters.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: Commensurate with accomplishments and experience.
• Tuition Benefit: Tuition remission benefit for children attending Bennett Day School.
• Health & Wellness: Complete group health, dental, and vision insurance packages.

Retirement Planning: 401(k) safe-harbor matching program.

Employment Requirements & Legal Disclaimers

• Work Authorization: In compliance with the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), all new employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States and complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 upon hire.
• Physical Demands: Candidates must possess the physical capability to execute essential office workflows and the independent strength to comfortably lift up to 30 pounds.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Bennett Day School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We make all personnel and hiring decisions without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, parental status, or any other legally protected classification under federal, state, or local laws.