Human Resources Generalist

Employment

The Human Resource Generalist will be responsible for identifying, sourcing, and attracting top talent to fill open positions within the organization. This role involves managing the full recruitment lifecycle, from understanding hiring needs and job requisitions to offering successful candidates. The ideal candidate will be proactive, results-driven, and have strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Payroll

The Human Resource Generalist will primarily support payroll processing and compensation activities while also aiding in benefits administration when needed. This role requires excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills to support a diverse workforce consisting of engineering, finance, and operations employees who work in treatment plants, pump stations, and administrative offices.

Benefits

The Human Resource Generalist will focus on managing and supporting employee benefits processes while providing excellent customer service to a diverse group of employees. This role also involves assisting with payroll-related tasks, retirement processes, and ensuring compliance with civil service rules and organizational policies. This position requires a high level of accuracy, critical thinking, and adaptability to support a workforce composed of engineering, finance, and operations professionals who work in treatment plants, pump stations, and administrative offices.

Employment Essential Functions: Sourcing and Recruiting:

- Actively source, screen, and recruit candidates for a variety of roles across the District. Use a combination of job boards, social media, networking, and direct outreach to attract candidates.

Job Postings:

- Create and post engaging job descriptions across multiple platforms, ensuring clarity of the role’s expectations and requirements.

Candidate Screening:

- Review resumes, conduct phone interviews, and assess candidates’ qualifications, skills, and cultural fit. Present qualified candidates to hiring managers.

Interview Coordination:

- Schedule and coordinate interviews between candidates and hiring managers, ensuring smooth communication and scheduling logistics.

Collaborate with Hiring Managers:

- Work closely with hiring managers to understand their hiring needs and align recruitment strategies with business goals.

Offer Management:

- Extend job offers to selected candidates, negotiate compensation, and ensure timely follow-ups until the candidate’s start date.

Candidate Experience:

- Provide a positive candidate experience by maintaining clear communication, providing feedback, and keeping candidates informed throughout the interview process.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Management:

- Maintain accurate records of candidates, including interview feedback and hiring status, in the applicant tracking system.

Onboarding Coordination:

- Support the HR team in ensuring a smooth onboarding experience for new hires by facilitating document signing, background checks, and initial training schedules.

Diversity and Inclusion:

- Promote and support diversity initiatives throughout the hiring process, ensuring diverse candidate pipelines for all roles.

Additional Responsibilities:

- This is a critical role that demands accuracy, confidentiality, and a strong work ethic.

The generalist may take on other responsibilities as assigned, contributing to the success of the department and organization.

Payroll

Essential Functions:

Payroll Processing and Compliance

- Review and audit employee timesheet entries for accuracy and compliance with policies.

- Process bi-weekly payroll for all employees.

- Validate and process compensation changes, including salary adjustments and overtime calculations (including weighted average overtime).

- Process payroll-related deductions, including voluntary deductions (e.g., benefits, and retirement contributions) and involuntary deductions (e.g., garnishments and income withholding orders).

- Prepare payment wires for payroll submissions to finance.

- Ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other federal and state payroll regulations.

- Assist in year-end activities, including W-2 preparation and closing tax quarters, while collaborating with the payroll vendor.

- Address employee questions about pay statements, deductions, and payroll processes promptly and accurately.

- Maintain confidentiality and ensure sensitive payroll data is securely stored and processed.

Compensation Activities

- Support the annual merit increase process by validating and processing salary changes.

- Maintain and update job aids and standard operating procedures related to payroll and compensation processes.

- Generate reports and data as needed for internal audits and external compliance reviews.

Benefits Administration Support

- Collaborate with the benefits team to process corrections, reimbursements, and additional deductions related to benefits.

- Provide general benefits-related information to employees during HR CARES initiatives and answer questions about open enrollment, retirement, and benefit updates.

Employee Support and Education

- Conduct new hire orientation presentations, focusing on timesheet entry, payroll processes, tax withholding forms and direct deposit setup.

- Participate in monthly HR CARES site visits to present on compensation and payroll topics, answer employee questions, and resolve concerns.

- Create and distribute announcements and memos related to payroll and compensation topics using Microsoft Office Suite.

Administrative Duties

- Process reimbursements for footwear, safety wear, and tuition programs.

- Manage sewer bill payroll deductions and associated reporting.

- Maintain accurate records and provide documentation for audits.

- Process invoices related to payroll and compensation activities, including the boots program.

- Ensure proper filing and retention of payroll and compensation documents.

Additional Responsibilities:

- This is a critical role that demands accuracy, confidentiality, and a strong work ethic.

The generalist may take on other responsibilities as assigned, contributing to the success of the department and organization.

Benefits

Essential Functions:

Benefits Administration

- Manage the day-to-day administration of medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, and other employee benefit programs.

- Respond to employee inquiries via email, phone, or in-person regarding benefits, policies, and procedures.

- Administer employee life event changes, open enrollment, and retirement benefits processes.

- Collaborate with vendors to resolve benefits enrollment issues and provide updates to employees.

- Process vendor invoices for payment and manage benefits-related data accurately in HR systems.

- Conduct monthly HR site visits to present benefits-related topics and address employee questions.

Benefits Compliance

- Ensure all benefits processes comply with applicable laws, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other federal and state regulations.

- Maintain accurate employee benefits records in HRIS and other databases, ensuring data is current and compliant with legal requirements.

- Assist in the review of benefit plans and under the guidance of the benefits and compensation manager, propose plan changes or improvements based on employee feedback, market trends, and budget constraints.

Retirement Administration

- Prepare and distribute retirement packets and conduct one-on-one retirement meetings with employees.

- Enter retirement payment details for processing and assist retirees with inquiries regarding pensions, benefits, and other related topics.

- Coordinate and prepare framed retirement resolutions for retirees.

Open Enrollment Education and Support

- Assist in preparing open enrollment materials and conducting presentations.

- Support post-open enrollment activities, including updates to records and follow-ups with employees.

Administrative Duties

- Maintain and organize personnel files in compliance with record retention policies.

- Provide reports and documentation for internal and external audits as needed.

- Assist in planning and executing HR events such as retiree luncheons and service anniversary awards.

- Create announcements, memos, and presentations using Microsoft Office Suite tools, ensuring high standards of grammar and professionalism.

- Develop and distribute clear, concise benefits communications to employees including benefits guides, and updates on program changes.

- Support onboarding by facilitating benefits orientation for new hires and addressing their enrollment queries.

Employee Support and Training

- Guide employees through FMLA, short-term disability, and long-term disability processes while working with external vendors for resolution.

- Address employee conflicts and concerns with empathy, tact, and professionalism.

- Participate in HR CARES initiatives to engage with employees and provide benefits education.

- Complete administrative activities for annual employee service awards recognition.

Additional Responsibilities:

- This is a critical role that demands accuracy, confidentiality, and a strong work ethic.

The generalist may take on other responsibilities as assigned, contributing to the success of the department and organization.

Physical Demands

- Stationary Position: Occasionally

- Move/Traverse: Occasionally

- Stationary Position/Seated: Constantly

- Transport/Lifting: Rarely

- Transport/Carrying: Rarely

- Exerting Force/Pushing: Rarely

- Exerting Force/Pulling: Rarely

- Ascend/Descend: Rarely

- Balancing: Rarely

- Position Self/Stooping: Rarely

- Position Self/Kneeling: Rarely

- Position Self/Crouching: Rarely

- Position Self/Crawling: Rarely

- Reaching: Rarely

- Handling: Occasionally

- Grasping: Occasionally

- Feeling: Rarely

- Communicate/Talking: Constantly

- Communicate/Hearing: Constantly

- Repetitive Motions: Frequently

- Coordination: Frequently

Work Environment

- Extreme cold: Rarely

- Extreme heat: Rarely

- Humidity: Rarely

- Wet: Rarely

- Noise: Occasionally

- Hazards: Rarely

- Temperature Change: Rarely

- Atmospheric Conditions: Rarely

- Vibration: Rarely

QUALIFICATIONS: Employment

Training and Experience:

- Associate’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.

- Four (4) years of experience in recruitment or talent acquisition.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage with candidates at all levels.

- Experience using applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruitment tools.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple roles and deadlines simultaneously.

- Ability to assess candidates' qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

- Proactive and self-motivated with a strong sense of initiative.

- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

- Highly adaptable and comfortable in a fast-paced, changing environment.

Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Payroll

Training and Experience:

- Associate's degree or 60 college credit hours in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

- Four (4) years of experience in payroll processing or a related role.

- Strong understanding of payroll processes, tax regulations, and wage laws.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Proficiency in payroll software

- Relevant payroll certifications (e.g., CPP – Certified Payroll Professional) are a plus.

- Strong knowledge of payroll taxes and deductions.

- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

- Ability to analyze payroll data and generate reports.

- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to handle complex payroll issues.

- A proactive approach to process improvement and identifying efficiencies.

Excellent time-management skills and the ability to work under pressure during payroll cycles.

Benefits

Training and Experience:

- Associate degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field.

- Four (4) years of experience in benefits administration or a related role.

- Strong knowledge of federal and state benefits regulations and compliance requirements.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

- Certification in benefits administration (e.g., CEBS, PHR) is a plus.

- Experience with HRIS systems and benefits management software.

- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

- Strong problem-solving abilities.

- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

A customer-focused mindset with a proactive approach to employee service.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

Must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state in which the employee resides.

Pursuant to MSD's "Substance Abuse Policy and Procedures," this position has been designated as non-safety

sensitive and candidate must pass a Non-D.O.T. Drug Test for this position. Employees occupying this

position are not subject to Federal (D.O.T.) Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations.

All current employees must have a 'Meets Expectations' or 'Proficient' rating on their most recent performance evaluation to be eligible.

ABOUT US: The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District provides comprehensive wastewater and storm water management services to residents and businesses in both St. Louis City and County. As one of the most recognized employers in the region and a fixture in the downtown area, MSD employs over 900 individuals in a wide-range of roles including skilled crafts and laborers, engineering, information technology, finance, human resources and administration support. We invite you to be part of the team!