Human Resources Generalist

HR Generalist: Culture, Compliance & HR Operations

Carlton Industrial Solutions

Reports to: Vice President of HR (no direct reports)

Status: Salaried

Location: Greensboro NC or Fort Mill, SC (primarily in office, with travel)

ABOUT THE ROLE

The HR Generalist is dedicated to the well-being and success of our associates. You will champion employee advocacy, help keep us compliant, and build a positive work environment where people can thrive and contribute.

You will be the main HR point of contact for half of our branches, while a fellow HR Generalist who leads recruiting covers the other half. Same core mission, different strengths, one team. You will lead on culture, employee relations, compliance, and day-to-day HR operations.

Expect challenging situations and real people moments. You will know when to step in and when to escalate, and you will bring a bias for action to both.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Your branches, your people

- Serve as the main HR point of contact for your assigned half of our branches, supporting employees and managers across the full range of HR needs.

- Step in to support the rest of the HR team, including coverage of the other HR Generalist's branches when needed.

- Partner with the VP of HR on HR matters, including organizational changes such as restructuring, role changes, and integrations.

- Partner with branch and business leaders to understand workforce needs and recommend HR solutions.

- Own onboarding and offboarding (hire to retire) for your branches, including 30/60/90 day check-ins with new employees, administrative responsibilities for both, and exit and stay interviews when needed.

- Champion employee engagement across our branches through regular presence, feedback, and follow-up that produce positive outcomes and align with our C10 values.

- Support associate communications and engagement campaigns such as Speak Up.

- Serve as a contact for employee benefits, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Supplemental Life, STD & LTD, Flex, Dependent Care, 401k, Wellness, and others, and help associates understand the value of their benefits.

- Become an HRIS power user and maintain accurate employee records and HRIS data.

- Analyze HR metrics (turnover, engagement, hiring) and recommend actions.

- Assist in reviewing and updating job descriptions and performance goals, and in developing meaningful career ladders with clarity on position requirements and success factors.

Where you lead: culture, compliance, and HR operations

- Advise managers on employee relations issues, including coaching, corrective action, and investigations.

- Guide performance management, including reviews, goal setting, and improvement plans.

- Develop, maintain, and steward corporate policies and procedures to minimize risk, and apply the Employee Handbook consistently.

- Support compliance with federal and state employment laws across multi-state operations.

- Stay abreast of regulation changes related to HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and discrimination, and train and communicate with hiring managers and associates on impact, risks, and requirements.

- Lead day-to-day benefits administration, including open enrollment, vendor and carrier coordination, and eligibility and life event processing, while supporting ACA, ERISA, and COBRA compliance.

- Serve as the HR lead and subject matter expert for our HRIS (currently Paycom), including configuration, data integrity, reporting, and training for the HR team and managers.

- Support compensation processes, including job leveling, pay equity reviews, and merit cycles.

- Participate in weekly safety briefs and safety initiatives, and ensure timekeeping processes are completed to support payroll and benefits administration.

- Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

WHAT YOU BRING

Required

- Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

- 5+ years of progressive HR generalist or HR business partner experience.

- Working knowledge of FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, and multi-state employment requirements.

- Strong employee relations, investigation, and manager coaching skills.

- Solid understanding of payroll, COBRA, HIPAA, EEOC, unemployment, 401k, and flex benefits regulations, and a commitment to ongoing learning.

- Excellent written and verbal communication, with sound judgment and discretion with confidential information.

- Experience managing an HRIS (Paycom preferred), plus payroll systems and Microsoft 365.

- Experience with HR performance metrics and organizational structure design.

Preferred

- PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.

- Experience in manufacturing, industrial, or field-service environments, or in a distributorship or service business.

- Experience supporting hourly, non-exempt, and technician workforces.

- Experience with acquisitions, integrations, or organizational change.

- Benefit plan design and administration experience.

- Workers' comp and OSHA compliance experience.

- Hands-on experience using AI tools to improve HR work, such as drafting communications, analyzing data, or answering employee questions.

WHO YOU ARE

- Driven, self-motivated, and committed to follow-through, with a bias for action.

- Comfortable with regular personal and professional conflict, and able to manage yourself while promoting the needs of our associates and CIS.

- A problem solver and analytical thinker with sound decision making.

- Highly organized and attentive to detail.

- Adaptable in a fast-paced, growing, multi-entity environment with changing priorities.

- Solutions-focused, creative, and collaborative.

- Able to build trust and engage with people at any level, and credible with leaders.

- Curious about AI and emerging HR technology, willing to test new tools and apply them responsibly, with attention to confidentiality and bias.

- Strong leadership, team building, and communication skills.

WORKING CONDITIONS

- Primarily an in-office role.

- Travel of about 25% across the Mid-Atlantic and Carlton's growing footprint, including overnight travel to branches, training, and meetings. Travel may be higher or lower based on business need.

- Able to sit or drive for extended periods, up to 8 hours a day.

- May need to lift objects of 15 lbs at a time, and occasionally up to 25 lbs.

Carlton Industrial Solutions is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on protected characteristics and participate in E-Verify to ensure compliance with federal employment laws. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. The duties listed are examples of the work you may be expected to perform, and responsibilities may change as business needs evolve. This posting does not constitute an employment contract. Employment with CIS is at-will, meaning either you or the company can terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without cause, except as required by law.

The duties listed above are examples of the types of work you may be expected to perform in this role. As business needs evolve, additional responsibilities may be assigned. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

This job description does not constitute an employment contract and is subject to change at the company's discretion. CIS is an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on protected characteristics and participate in E-Verify to ensure compliance with federal employment laws. Employment with CIS is at-will, meaning either you or the company can terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without cause, except as required by law.