HR Generalist / Payroll Admin: non-exempt employees, manufacturing, Bilingual in Spanish

THIS ROLE IS ONSITE IN SANTE FE SPRINGS, CA CANDIDATES THAT HAVE WORKED AT SMALL COMPANIES WHERE YOU WERE THE ONLY ONSITE HR / PAYROLL PERSON ARE PREFERRED. KORE1, a nationwide provider of staffing and recruiting solutions, has an immediate opening for an HR Generalist / Payroll Admin: non-exempt employees, manufacturing, Bilingual in Spanish The Human Resources Generalist is responsible for all human resource activities for the Company. This is a sole-contributor role reporting directly to the President & CEO. The HR Generalist owns the full HR function - from compliance and payroll to talent acquisition, benefits administration, employee engagement, and people analytics. This person does not manage a team; they serve as the strategic and operational HR partner to all of Morgan-Gallacher, Inc. dba Custom Chemical Formulators. The HR Generalist initiates and manages the relationship with outside counsel on employee relations and wage & hour compliance matters and operates with a high degree of autonomy within defined authority limits. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Payroll & Compliance Owns end-to-end payroll processing using Paylocity, including timekeeping accuracy, overtime, and California meal and rest period compliance Maintains audit-ready HR documentation: personnel files, I-9s, arbitration agreements, onboarding and offboarding packets, and handbook acknowledgments Monitors and remediates California wage & hour compliance obligations; engages outside counsel as needed Manage workers compensation claims and required process documentation Ensures employment law posters, wage orders, and local ordinances (Los Angeles County) are current Train team members on all compliance related items. , wage and hour workplace violence and sexual harassment prevention Benefits Administration Manages all employee benefits programs including medical (HealthNet & Kaiser), dental, vision reimbursement, life insurance, and 401(k) Safe Harbor plan Administers open enrollment independently using Navigator (new hires and terminations) Processes qualifying life event changes and ensure 401(k) eligibility tracking is current Benchmarks benefits package against market annually Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Builds and manages a professional internal recruiting process including job postings, structured interview scorecards, and offer letters Coordinates hiring for all roles; manages process independently for general labor and collaborates with CEO for all other direct hires Designs and maintains a structured onboarding and offboarding process in Paylocity Manages behavioral assessment tool (currently Predictive Index) for candidate screening Employee Engagement & Relations Develops and executes an intentional employee engagement program including recognition, milestones, pulse surveys, and feedback channels Supports role clarity initiatives and helps managers set clear expectations Serves as the primary confidential resource for employee concerns and relations issues Conducts workplace investigations in partnership with outside counsel; informs CEO as appropriate Performance Management Owns the annual performance review process end-to-end Provides coaching support to managers on documentation, corrective action, and performance improvement plans Ensures all performance actions are documented, consistent, and CA-compliant Contingent Workforce Manages onboarding, documentation, and compliance for temporary workers in partnership with staffing agencies Monitors joint employer risk exposure under California law Maintains compliant agency agreements and ensures temp workers receive appropriate wage & hour treatment Systems & Analytics Configures and maintains Paylocity as the system of record for all people data Utilizes Paylocity compensation benchmarking tool to develop market-based pay range recommendations by role Leverages behavioral assessment data to inform hiring, team development, and coaching decisions Prepares monthly HR dashboard for CEO covering payroll accuracy, compliance status, open roles, and engagement metrics Strong communication, organization, and leadership skills What You Will Bring to the Role Bachelor degree, especially one in HR is a plus Relevant certifications are a plus Manufacturing industry experience (within HR / payroll) is required Bilingual in Spanish is required 4+ years working as an HR or Sr. HR Generalist that includes full employee lifecycle management (onboarding, offboarding, payroll, benefits, performance reviews, etc). 2+ years of payroll experience (specifically non-exempt employees), including timecard auditing for meal breaks, rest breaks, and OT compliance with corrective actions / training as needed (for personnel with unapproved violations). HRIS / payroll application experience (Paylocity is a plus) An understanding of California and Federal workplace laws Strong communication, organization, and leadership skills BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES Confidentiality & Integrity - handles sensitive information with discretion at all times Compliance Mindset - treats wage & hour issues with the same seriousness as safety issues Proactive Ownership - identifies problems and solves them without waiting to be asked Clear Communication - writes and speaks with precision; knows when to escalate Organizational Discipline - nothing falls through the cracks; systems and follow-through are a strength Composure Under Pressure - makes sound decisions in ambiguous or high-stakes situations People-First Judgment - balances employee advocacy with company interests appropriately Compensation depends on experience but is typically $75-90K. ABOUT KORE1 Specializing in professional and technical recruiting, KORE1 is committed to supporting top IT, Engineering, Creative, Scientific, Accounting and Finance professionals in their career paths. We build deep relationships with leading companies, connecting them to exceptional talent every day. With extensive industry expertise and unmatched opportunities, our goal is to provide a unique experience for our contractors and consultants as they prepare for their next role. We are passionate about matching the right people with the right companies. Kore1 provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Kore1 complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Kore1 expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Kore1's employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.