HR Generalist

HR Generalist (Strategic HR Partner) El Segundo, CA - South Bay | Full-Time, Onsite to Start $65K-$80K DOE | Direct Hire We're partnering with a leading company in the freight forwarding industry seeking an experienced and detail-oriented HR Generalist to join their small but dynamic HR team. This role will act as a strategic HR partner , supporting key people operations across payroll, recruitment, and leaves of absence. The ideal candidate will come from a structured, process-driven environment and be comfortable working in a fast-paced, global organization. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on HR professional who thrives on autonomy, precision, and building strong relationships across multiple U.S. offices. Key Responsibilities Full-Cycle Payroll: Process bi-monthly payroll for approximately 300 employees using ADP Workforce Now . Manage time and attendance tracking, ensuring accuracy and compliance. Partner with HR Coordinator to audit and reconcile payroll records. Maintain detailed reporting and compliance with multi-state wage and hour regulations. Recruitment & Talent Support: Lead full-cycle recruitment efforts across U.S. offices, collaborating with department heads to define needs and manage requisitions. Source, screen, and interview candidates across administrative and operational roles. Support workforce planning and cost analysis for new hires across multiple locations. Leaves of Absence & Workers' Compensation: Administer all LOA programs, including FMLA/CFRA, medical, parental, and personal leaves. Manage Workers' Compensation claims and maintain proactive communication with employees and managers. Ensure compliance with all state and federal leave regulations. General HR Operations: Support onboarding/offboarding processes and employee lifecycle documentation. Partner with leadership on performance reviews, policy adherence, and employee relations. Participate in HR initiatives that enhance employee experience and organizational efficiency. Qualifications Bachelor's Degree required (Human Resources, Business, or related field) 3-5 years of progressive HR experience , with a focus on payroll, recruiting, and leave management ADP Workforce Now experience is highly preferred Strong working knowledge of California and multi-state employment laws Experience supporting an international or global organization is a plus Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities Comfortable giving and receiving feedback in a collaborative team setting Why You'll Love It Here Collaborative, small but mighty HR team with a transparent and supportive culture Opportunity to make a strategic impact and grow into a broader HR business partner role Work alongside passionate, fair, and hardworking leaders who value development and internal growth Hybrid flexibility after the introductory period (3 days onsite post-90 days) Ready to make an impact? Apply now to join a stable, growing company that values structure, accountability, and people-first leadership. Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law. Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@ . Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal . By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal. Privacy Notice Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ( we, our, or Vaco by Highspring ) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies. California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here . Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here . Residents of all other states may access our policies here . Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here . Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here . Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: the individual's skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certification requirements; office location and other geographic considerations; other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.