Human Resources Generalist

Project Renewal is a leading non-profit organization with the mission of building supportive communities where people achieve dignity and independence, renewing their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Our comprehensive and integrated 24/7 programs are designed to offer the holistic care our clients need. With a staff of 950+ and an annual budget of $140 million, Project Renewal is one of the larger social service nonprofits in New York City.

Title: Human Resources Generalist
Program: Human Resources Department
Salary: $70,000 - $80,000

Schedule: Hybrid (2-3 days in the field)

Overall Responsibilities:

The HR Generalist is responsible for delivering broad HR support across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, leave administration, performance management, training and development, policy interpretation, and employee engagement. In addition to core HR Generalist responsibilities, this role is expected to serve as a visible HR partner to assigned sites and programs by building strong relationships with managers and staff, supporting leadership in addressing workforce challenges, and helping identify trends, concerns, and opportunities for improvement.

This position requires a high level of field-based HR support, including regular onsite presence 2–3 times per week across assigned sites, to strengthen manager partnership, employee engagement, consistency in practice, and proactive employee relations support.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties of the HR Generalist include, but are not limited to, the following activities:

HR Business Partnership & Workforce Alignment:

• Serves as an HR partner to a portfolio of sites and programs, aligning people practices with organizational growth and PRI priorities
• Works closely with the HR supervisor and leadership to implement HR strategies that support agency goals and workforce needs
• Maintains regular on-site presence (2–3 times per week) to support leaders and staff and strengthen HR visibility
• Partners with site leadership to improve people management practices and employee experience
• Analyzes workforce trends and escalates insights and recommendations to HR leadership

Employee Relations & Performance Management:

• Leads employee relations matters across assigned sites, including complaints, conflict, performance issues, and policy violations
• Conducts investigations and partners with HR leadership and supervisor on complex or high-risk matters
• Advises managers on corrective action, PIPs, terminations, documentation, and performance management
• Proactively addresses recurring issues and ensures consistent application of HR standards
• Supports and tracks performance management processes and follow-through

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding:

• Partners with hiring managers to support recruitment and staffing aligned with organizational priorities
• Provides guidance on recruitment processes and candidate selection
• Supports onboarding, background checks, and completion of new hire documentation
• Conducts new employee orientation on a rotating schedule
• Supports staffing changes, including promotions, transfers, and separations

HR Operations, Data Integrity, Leave & Compliance:

• Maintains accurate and timely HRIS data for all employee lifecycle changes; conducts routine audits to ensure data quality and integrity
• Ensures HR data supports reporting, compliance, and informed decision-making.
• Supports leave administration, including FMLA, PFL, Disability, Workers’ Compensation, and other leaves
• Ensures compliance with employment laws, internal policies, and reporting requirements
• Responds to employee HR inquiries and escalates trends, risks, or systemic issues as appropriate

Employee Engagement & HR Programs:

• Supports employee engagement, training, and development initiatives aligned with agency priorities
• Collaborates with the HR supervisor and leadership on HR initiatives, improvements, and projects
• Administers tuition reimbursement and employee referral programs
• Provides backup and cross‑team support as needed
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Physical Activities:

Job duties generally require the physical activities described below, subject to any necessary reasonable accommodation due to disability. While performing the duties of this position, the HR Generalist is required to operate in a normal business environment, which includes sitting, bending, walking, lifting, operating computers and other office equipment, and traveling to all Project Renewal sites for scheduled meetings, trainings, investigations, and employee support.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field preferred
• 3–6 years of progressive HR experience, with demonstrated responsibility in employee relations, recruitment, onboarding, HR operations, and policy application
• Experience supporting multiple sites, programs, or departments preferred
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and HR best practices
• Experience in social services, healthcare, housing, nonprofit, or other mission‑driven environments preferred; familiarity with DHS, OMH, OASAS, and FQHCs a plus
• SHRM‑CP or PHR certification preferred, not required

Skills & Competencies:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HRIS platforms (Dayforce or similar).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and relationship‑building skills at all levels
• Sound judgment and ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters appropriately
• Strong organizational, problem‑solving, documentation, and follow‑up skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast‑paced, field‑based environment

Project Renewal is an equal opportunity employer.  Its long-standing policy has been to embrace the equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, gender (see separately issued Gender Discrimination policy for more detail), physical or mental disability, age (18 and over), military status, arrest record, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, unemployment status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.