HR Generalist

Bennett Day School Inc•Chicago, IL

12h•Onsite

About The Position

Bennett Day School is seeking a high-caliber HR Generalist in a new role to provide comprehensive HR infrastructure support as our organization continues to scale. This role is designed for someone who prioritizes hiring and retaining highly-qualified and talented individuals, culture-building, and possesses the deep expertise required to manage payroll, benefits, and HR operations with absolute precision. The HR Generalist is responsible for identifying and retaining top-tier talent by focusing on candidate excellence, professional integrity, and interpersonal skills. Supporting our Head of School, you will help steward workplace culture, including ensuring that all personnel decisions and conflict resolutions are handled with the highest degree of professionalism and compliance.

Requirements

Proficiency with Paylocity or a similar HRIS is required.
5+ years of experience coordinating and/or managing HR functions in a professional setting, with a track record of success handling sensitive employee relations and claims.
Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or a related field.
A steadfast commitment to merit-based hiring practices to attract and retain accomplished and talented people, and the ability to maintain objectivity in all personnel matters.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end recruitment efforts (posting, job fairs, etc.), focusing on identifying high-performing candidates who embody our commitment to academic and operational excellence.
Ensure all new hires meet rigorous standards for certification and expertise before joining the Bennett team.
Conduct professional due diligence and comprehensive background checks, including the verification of public-facing professional profiles to ensure alignment with school values, code of conduct expectations, and regulatory compliance standards.
Serve as the school’s leading expert in the Paylocity suite, including the Recruiting, Onboarding, and Time & Labor modules.
Manage bi-weekly salary and hourly payroll processing with zero errors, including the accurate management of stipends, cell phone reimbursements, and 401(k) integrations.
Ensure data integrity across platforms, including the automated integration of payroll data with GL accounts. Partner with the finance and accounting team to ensure flawless mapping of labor metrics into the QuickBooks reporting suite.
Provide excellent, error-free written communications to employees for HR matters.
Organize social and community-building events for employees. Support teacher and staff appreciation efforts with the school’s family association.
Act as the primary point of contact for handling complex workplace issues, employee claims, and interpersonal conflicts with discretion and fairness.
Maintain deep knowledge of and compliance with federal, state (Illinois), and local labor laws (including EEOC, FMLA, and ADA) to ensure compliance and minimize institutional risk.
Oversee and update the Faculty Handbook and all internal HR policies to ensure they remain current and aligned with school objectives.
Process recommendations for discipline and/or termination of employees, assembling supporting documentation, and arranging improvement/action plans as needed.
Manage end-to-end personnel records in print and digital, as required, as well as benefits administration, including open enrollment, broker relations, and any provider transitions. Communicate/present effectively in large groups and be readily available for 1-on-1 conversations.
Work closely with the Director of Finance to reconcile labor files, manage benefit placeholders, and ensure all staffing costs align with budget.