Human Resources Generalist

Job Description:

Join our Human Resources team in supporting our valuable and committed employees who make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve on a daily basis!

You will be encouraged to reach your full potential on the job through fulfilling a wide range of human resources functions and responsibilities.

Our HR team will depend on your contribution in a wide range of important functions such as recruitment, leave administration, staffing, compensation/benefits, and other day-to-day operations.

Recruitment #: 130-02-25

Closes:               March 25, 2025 (Last day for internal lateral transfer: 2/18/25)

Location:           Salem, OR

Salary:               Starting at $5,882 per month with excellent benefits. (See below)

Agency Sponsored: Medical/Dental 100% paid for employee and 90-98% for dependents, generous Paid-time off, Public Employee Retirement (PERS), Employee Assistance Plan, Long Term Disability.

Employee paid: Deferred Compensation, Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, Colonial Life Supplemental Plans, Legal Shield.

Other: Employment qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

General Description

The purpose of this position is to support the initiatives and lend overall support to multiple functions held within the Human Resources Department.

Essential Functions

1. Serves as an HR resource to staff members, primarily for protected leaves under state and federal laws
2. Provides technical and administrative support
3. Maintains human resource information systems (HRIS)
4. Supports Human Resources Manager
5. Collaborates with staff
6. Protects customers and reduces agency risk
7. Provides excellent customer service in a professional manner

1.     Serves as an HR resource to staff members

• Serve as primary leave of absence administrator providing excellent customer service to employees through timely and accurate resolution of routine and complex employee questions and issues pertaining to leave
• Advise and educate employees and managers on leave policies, procedures and programs
• Administer employee leave under state and federal laws
• Collaborate with supervisors and managers on employee-relation issues
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and ensure compliance with HIPAA.
• Review, update and maintain all LOA policies and leave-related content

Skills needed to perform assigned duties include the ability to:

• Understanding of regulations related to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Oregon Family Medical Leave Act and Paid Leave Oregon (PLO)
• Research and remain aware of changes to leave laws
• Investigate employee-performance issues

2.     Provides technical and administrative support for HR 

• Exhibit technology skills related to the work to be done such as creating and managing media profiles, internet research, IM, desktop publishing, electronic scheduling, phones, filing, copying, maintaining contact/vendor information, etc. 
• Develop and maintain human resource electronic and paper forms and files, database, and spreadsheet applications as needed
• Generate personnel action forms
• Coordinate with fiscal services staff regarding payroll changes
• Complete and file regular reports, such as annual OSHA logs, EEO-4, etc.

Skills needed to perform assigned duties include the ability to:

• Employ strong computer skills
• Demonstrate administrative skills consistent with prior HR experience

3.     Maintains human resource information system 

• Provide data entry and ensure accuracy of information
• Update screens and fields as needed to improve the database
• Troubleshoot problems
• Generate reports 

Skills needed to perform assigned duties include the ability to:

• Learn specific computer systems
• Apply database skills and knowledge to the work
• Enter data accurately

4.     Supports human resources manager

• Be a partner within the HR team; conduct research to provide suggestions for policy, procedure, HR compliance, and general process improvement
• Assists with labor relations, fact-finding, performance-management meetings, grievance resolution, and collective bargaining
• Recommend, research, develop, and administer HR-related training.
• Provide staff support for HR-related committees (insurance, safety, bargaining, workgroups, etc.) as well as take and prepare minutes, materials, copies, etc.

Skills needed to perform assigned duties include the ability to:

• Develop, interpret, and implement policies and procedures
• Employ good research, analysis, and writing skills
• Learn and interpret bargaining agreements and agency policies 
• Present information to others
• Work effectively with a wide variety of individuals and small groups

5.     Collaborates with staff

• Prepare HR information and distribute it to staff members in a timely manner
• Interact with others in a respectful and culturally appropriate manner
• Embrace and exhibit the agency Mission and Core Values
• Work independently yet seek and offer assistance when needed
• Be aware of agency programs and services

Skills needed to perform assigned duties include the ability to:

• Maintain excellent interpersonal skills including advanced communication and conflict facilitation skills
• Speak, read, write and understand English and follow verbal and written instruction

6.     Protects consumers and reduces agency risk

• Follow policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements of the HR program and the agency
• Provide documentation as set forth by federal and state, funding regulations and agency policy
• Serve as a mandatory reporter of suspected abuse of vulnerable populations according as required by policy and regulation.
• Maintain and share information according to privacy regulations
• Exhibit good decision making and problem solving skills

Skills needed to perform assigned duties include the ability to:

• Learn mandatory reporting requirements
• Understand confidentiality and handle confidential and sensitive information properly

7.     Provides excellent customer service in a professional manner

• Meet the needs of internal and external customers, follow through, and meet deadlines
• Exhibit a positive attitude toward customers, coworkers, and others
• Exhibit good work habits and meet quality standards in accuracy and timeliness of work

Skills needed to perform assigned duties include the ability to:

• Work closely and proactively with employees, with excellent follow-through

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Experience and Skills:

Minimum  Qualifications - Education & Experience

A qualified applicant will have a minimum of five (5) years of equivalent combination of education and/or experience in human resources which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities required. The following is preferred qualifications, but all experience meeting the minimum requirements will be considered:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field of study
• Work experience in a human resource role
• Experience working with unions a plus
• Successful completion of a background check and ability to meet requirements as an Authorized Designee

Work Environment and Physical Demands

Human resources generalists typically work in an office environment. They must be able to:

• Use a computer, telephone, and other office equipment
• Tolerate and be able to work where the noise level is that of a typical office
• Travel to consumers’ homes (in an agency or personal vehicle)
• Encounter frequent interruptions throughout the work day
• Regularly sit, talk, or hear
• Use repetitive hand motions
• Handle objects and sustain a sense of touch
• Stand, walk, reach, and bend
• Lift up to 25 pounds

Contact with the public in home or office environments may risk exposure to people with contagious diseases or irrational/hostile behavior and contact with domestic animals.               

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The essential functions of this job require it to be performed in the office and in the field, with the possibility of partial remote work schedule.

Field work requires frequent travel to community sites and agency offices. Field work requires driving an Agency car or employee car, carrying and using a laptop computer.  Office work will be conducted using general office equipment, includes substantial sitting and is performed primarily in a cubicle environment, with noise and interruptions, being on phones and working at a computer. 

These essential outcomes require regular sitting, talking, hearing, computer use; frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle or feel, and to stand, walk, reach, bend or lift up to 25 pounds.

Classification: HR Generalist

Position Number: 130

Salary Range: UN24

FLSA Status: Exempt

Unit: HR/Administration

Location: Salem

Reports to: Human Resources Manager

Union Status:  Unrepresented

Last revision: December 2023

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by an employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned, including work in other agency Units or locations to ensure workload coverage.  Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisors.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.