HR Generalist

Location: Brookings, Oregon
Department: Human Resources
Reports To: Human Resources Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time
Compensation: Will be determined based on prior experience, qualifications and fit.
FLSA Status: Exempt or Non-Exempt (based on qualifications and duties)

Schedule: Typically, Monday-Friday. 8am to 5pm, Schedule will flex based on business need.
Work Location: On-Site

 

Position Summary

The HR Generalist serves as a trusted resource for employees and supervisors, supports the consistent application of company policies, and helps ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations across our Plywood, Lumber, and Transportation divisions. This broad, career-building role provides hands-on exposure to all major areas of Human Resources, including Talent Acquisition (TA) and recruiting, Employee Relations (ER), onboarding and offboarding, Training and Development / Learning & Development (T&D / L&D), payroll and Compensation & Benefits (C&B) support, Benefits Administration (BA), HR Data and Analytics (HRIS), Safety, Compliance and Risk Management (EHS), Leaves of Absence and accommodations (LOA / ADA), and Public Relations (PR).

Key Responsibilities will include:

Recruiting, Onboarding & Workforce Development

• Lead and support recruiting for hourly positions across manufacturing, maintenance, administrative, and transportation operations.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing needs and develop effective recruiting strategies.
• Create and maintain job postings; screen applications; coordinate and participate in interviews.
• Coordinate candidate selection, offers, and pre-employment requirements, including background checks, drug screening, I-9 verification, and DOT-related screenings through third-party providers.
• Facilitate new-hire onboarding and orientation, ensuring completion of required documentation and a smooth transition into the organization.
• Maintain relationships with local schools, trade programs, workforce agencies, and community organizations.
• Represent the company at career fairs, hiring events, and community outreach activities.

 

Training & Development

• Coordinate and deliver new-hire orientation for manufacturing and transportation employees.
• Schedule, track, and document required training, including safety, compliance, and job-specific training.
• Assist with development of training materials and guides for managers and employees.
• Maintain accurate training records and reports in current and future HR systems.

Payroll, Compensation & Benefits Support

• Provide backup support for payroll, including timecard review, data entry, and basic troubleshooting.
• Assist with benefits administration, enrollments, changes, employee questions, and coordination with benefit vendors.
• Support annual open enrollment activities and employee communications.

 

Employee Relations & HR Operations

• Serve as a point of contact for employee questions related to HR policies, procedures, benefits, and programs.
• Assist with employee relations matters, including documentation and coordination with HR leadership.
• Support onboarding, offboarding, internal job bidding, and employee status changes.
• Maintain personnel files and HRIS data with accuracy, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Support retention initiatives by gathering employee feedback and identifying improvement opportunities.

 

Compliance, Safety & Risk Management

• Support compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including FLSA, OSHA, ADA, FMLA, I-9, workers’ compensation, and DOT requirements.
• Assist with safety-related initiatives, documentation, and employee communication.
• Participate in audits, reporting, and compliance tracking as needed.

 

Required / Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent education or experience may be considered.
• No prior HR experience required; prior experience in Human Resources, manufacturing, forest products, or multi-shift environments is preferred.
• Spanish fluency (spoken and written) preferred.
• Working knowledge of, or strong interest in, HR best practices, employment law, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience with or familiarity using UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills across all levels of the organization.

 

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Work is primarily performed in an office environment with approximately 8 hours per week of exposure to industrial manufacturing areas.
• Occasional work in loud, noisy environments including production floors, stairs, catwalks, and industrial yards.
• Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) when in designated areas.
• Physical requirements are consistent with an office-based role, including sitting, standing, walking, and computer use.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Remote workers will not be considered for this role.