Human Resources Generalist

HUMAN RESOURCES GENERALIST

Description:

Are you passionate about fostering a positive and effective workplace? Do you enjoy helping employees thrive while ensuring compliance with HR policies and best practices? We have a great opportunity for you!

The Human Resources Generalist plays a vital role in supporting the library’s employees by overseeing all aspects of human resources functions. This position ensures compliance with employment laws and regulations while promoting a collaborative and welcoming work environment. The HR Generalist manages employee relations, benefits administration, recruitment, onboarding, and personnel records. They also provide guidance to employees and supervisors, helping to facilitate strategic HR initiatives that support the library’s mission and objectives.

Salary: $75,000 - $80,000 per year, Full-time (40 hours per week) exempt position

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance: Options for individual or family coverage. Cost-sharing: Employer pays 90% of the premium for individual coverage & 75% of the premium for family coverage. The library helps cover the cost of higher deductibles by contributing to Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA) depending on the plan chosen.
• Dental & Vision Insurance: Employee-paid coverage
• Life Insurance: Employer-paid basic life insurance, with optional employee-paid AD&D and supplemental coverage available.
• Retirement Plans: Employer contributions to an IMRF pension plan (required enrollment) with the option to start a 457 tax-deferred retirement savings plan.
• Professional Development: Funding for conferences, seminars, and workshops.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): Counseling and wellness services.

Paid Time Off

• Vacation, sick leave, floating holiday and paid leave time.
• 9 paid Holidays (Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, etc.).
• 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• 5 days of paid bereavement and/or emergency leave

Human Resources Duties:

• Provides counsel and guidance to employees and supervisors to address employee relations, conflicts, and disciplinary actions.
• Interprets and clarifies library policies and guidelines.
• Ensures compliance with employment laws, regulations, and safety standards.
• Develops and implements recruitment, retention, and onboarding strategies.
• Manages employee records, including personnel files, benefits documents, FMLA, worker's compensation, and evaluations, ensuring confidentiality and compliance.
• Works with the Business Manager to prepare biweekly payroll and acts as backup when needed.
• Oversees benefit programs, including enrollments, updates, and guidance on changes or additions.
• Coordinates performance evaluation processes.
• Proposes updates to personnel policies.
• Administers the employee search process, including advertising, screens, interviews, reference checks, and new hire procedures.
• Supervises the exit process, including conducting exit interviews and collecting library property.
• Provides regular HR reports for the Management Team and Board of Trustees.

Strategic and Organizational Duties:

• Collaborates with the Director on organizational development strategies, compensation data, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Coordinates and prioritizes HR department projects, ensuring accurate and timely completion.
• Recommends updates and drafts job descriptions in consultation with supervisors and the Director.
• Supports other administrative functions and services as needed
• Participates actively in library committees, including the Staff Social Committee (as Chair)
• Attends professional workshops, conferences, and continuing education relevant to HR.
• Attends meetings of the library’s benefit providers (LIMRiCC, IMRF)
• Closely monitors Illinois and Federal labor laws and conveys important changes to the Director.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI):

Fremont promotes a culture that values equity, diversity, and inclusion among staff and patrons by being open to and respecting diverse beliefs, identities, languages, and cultures.

Organizational Relationships:

• Reports to the Library Director
• Is an integral part of the Administration Department, working with and filling in for other members when appropriate.
• Works closely with the Management Team and other departments to align HR initiatives with library objectives.
• Co-supervises any administrative assistants with the Business Manager.
  

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Human Resources or a Business-related field.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory or HR experience preferred.
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR best practices.
• Proficiency in payroll systems and standard office software.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
• Commitment to teamwork and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Physical Requirements

• Manual: Operate standard office equipment, including a computer and phone.
• Visual: Read documents and utilize a computer screen effectively.
• Communication: Fluent in English, both written and oral. Able to communicate with co-workers and others in person and over the phone.