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Whitsons Culinary Group · 20 hours ago

Human Resources Generalist

New Britain, CT

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$80K/yr - $80K/yr

5+ years exp

Whitsons Culinary Group is seeking a Human Resources Generalist to provide hands-on HR support across various functions including employee relations, onboarding, and compliance. The role involves managing the onboarding process, recruiting for open positions, and supporting employee relations matters while ensuring compliance with HR policies and regulations.

Food and BeverageFood DeliveryFood ProcessingRestaurantsWholesale

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end onboarding process from offer acceptance through completion of all onboarding stages, ensuring a seamless, compliant, and positive new-hire experience

Partner with Corporate Onboarding, Talent Acquisition and hiring managers to support timely, accurate, and compliant hiring execution

Prepare, issue, and maintain offer letters, onboarding packets, and all required new-hire documentation

Administer HRIS and ATS transactions related to onboarding, pre-employment screening, and employee record setup

Serve as the primary point of contact for new hires throughout the onboarding process, addressing questions and ensuring a smooth transition into the organization

Coordinate onboarding logistics and facilitate or participate in new-hire orientations as needed

Ensure onboarding practices meet documentation, audit, and regulatory requirements across all assigned locations and business units

Manage recruiting for assigned openings, including posting jobs, reviewing applications, screening candidates, and coordinating interviews with hiring managers

Support and participate in local hiring events (job fairs, on-site hiring days, etc.) to help meet hourly, supervisory and management staffing needs

Develop/maintain relationships with local schools, colleges, and workforce organizations to support ongoing recruitment and candidate pipeline development

Source candidates through job boards, referrals, community partners, and recruitment firms to ensure a steady flow of qualified applicants

Track recruiting activity and hiring progress and provide regular updates to HR leadership and hiring managers

Foster a diverse and inclusive workforce through effective recruitment practices

Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations matters within assigned operations, responding to questions and issues in a timely, professional, and confidential manner

Support union-related activities by tracking grievances, maintaining required documentation, and escalating issues and trends to HR leadership in accordance with established protocols

Advise and coach managers on performance management, attendance, conduct, documentation, and corrective action to promote fair and consistent people management

Conduct workplace investigations and maintain supporting documentation in accordance with established HR, legal, and compliance standards

Partner with HR leadership on complex, sensitive, or high-risk employee relations matters requiring escalation or additional oversight

Support conflict resolution through coaching, mediation, and issue clarification to drive timely and effective resolution

Monitor employee relations trends and identify risk areas, sharing insights and recommendations with HR leadership

Ensure consistent application of HR policies and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws across assigned locations

Support required training programs in partnership with Corporate Learning and Development

Monitor training completion and follow up on overdue or missing requirements

Assist with compliance initiatives related to postings, documentation, and regulatory readiness

Support change initiatives through clear communication and manager guidance

Promote a positive, respectful, and compliant workplace culture aligned with company values

Partner with the Safety Director, HR & Business leadership to support safety initiatives, audits, and corrective action plans, ensuring follow-through and timely documentation

Provide guidance to managers on safety protocols, OSHA requirements, and proper incident reporting, escalating concerns as needed

Ensure compliance across HR practices, including required postings, certifications, personnel files, training records, and recordkeeping standards

Support regional compliance efforts, annual training cycles, and regulatory readiness activities, flagging gaps and risks to HR leadership

Utilize HR metrics and analytics to inform decision making and measure effectiveness

Prepare reports and presentations on key HR initiatives and outcomes

Support the Director of Human Resources to drive special projects and initiatives that support organizational change, culture enhancement, and employee engagement

Take on additional responsibilities or interim assignments as business needs evolve

Qualification

Human ResourcesEmployee RelationsOnboardingHRISHR CertificationMicrosoft OfficeCommunicationCritical ThinkingOrganizational SkillsCollaboration

Required

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required

Minimum of 5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience in a generalist or operational HR role

Demonstrated experience supporting employee relations, onboarding, compliance, and HR administration

Strong employee and manager support focus with the ability to build trust, credibility, and effective working relationships

Practical HR judgment with the ability to apply policies, procedures, and employment law consistently

Employee relations capability with experience handling performance, conduct, and attendance matters

Communication effectiveness with the ability to clearly explain HR concepts and expectations

Relationship management skills with the ability to partner with managers and internal stakeholders

Critical thinking skills with the ability to assess situations, identify risks, and escalate appropriately

Strong organizational and time management skills to manage multiple priorities in a demanding environment

High level of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality

Adaptability and resilience in operational and change-driven environments

Diligence with a strong focus on documentation accuracy and compliance

Collaboration skills across HR, Operations, Safety, and Corporate teams

Accountability and follow-through to ensure HR processes are completed accurately and on time

Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

HRIS experience required; ADP strongly preferred

Ability to effectively communicate via email, virtual platforms, and HR systems

Ability to learn and adapt to new HR systems, tools, and processes

Preferred

HR certification (PHR or SHRM-CP)

Experience supporting multi-site or operational environments

Exposure to unionized environments and collective bargaining agreements

Experience supporting training compliance, audits, or regulatory readiness initiatives

Proficiency in ADP

Company

Whitsons Culinary Group

Founded in 1979, Whitsons Culinary Group® provides dining services to consumers in both public and private organizations throughout the United States, and our Whitsons Family of Companies continues to grow as we expand across the country.

Founded in 1979

Islandia, New York, USA

1001-5000 employees