Human Resources Generalist
3 days ago
Santa Maria
About Wish Farms: Founded in 1922 and proudly third generation owned, Wish Farms is a year-round supplier of berries with growing operations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. Nationally recognized for quality and innovation, Wish Farms has spent more than 100 years building trusted partnerships with independent growers and delivering premium berries to consumers around the world. While our mission is to provide the best-tasting berries, our brand is defined by much more than the product we deliver. It is defined by our people and the values we live by every day. To support that commitment, we have established 33 Fundamentals that serve as a shared language across our organization and guide how we work together, serve our customers, and support our growers. Why Join Wish Farms? At Wish Farms, we believe our people are our greatest asset. We offer a competitive salary, paid holidays, generous PTO, and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Benefits & Perks • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance, • Company-Paid Life Insurance, • Long-Term Disability Coverage, • Flexible Spending Account (FSA), • Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Contributions, • Supplemental Insurance Options, • 401(k) with up to a 4% Company Match, • Competitive Paid Time Off Package, Including Paid Holidays, Vacation Time, and Sick Leave Role Overview We are seeking an experienced Human Resources Generalist with a strong focus on employee relations, workplace investigations, and regulatory compliance. This role serves as a trusted resource for employees and leaders by addressing workplace concerns, conducting thorough and objective investigations, and providing guidance on HR policies and employment law compliance. The ideal candidate is passionate about fostering a positive employee experience, delivering impactful training programs, and ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant workplace practices across the organization. Success in this role is rooted in three of Wish Farms’ 33 Fundamentals: • Deliver a Legendary Experience ensuring employees feel heard, respected, and supported throughout the employee lifecycle, especially during sensitive employee relations matters., • Invest in Relationships by building trust with employees, managers, and business leaders to effectively resolve concerns, conduct investigations, and influence positive workplace outcomes., • Protect the Brand via conducting thorough investigations, mitigating risk, ensuring EEOC compliance, and upholding company policies and values. Essential Duties & Responsibilities • Act as a trusted advisor to employees and leaders, providing guidance and support on employee relations matters, workplace concerns, and policy interpretation., • Lead and support employee relations initiatives by proactively addressing workplace issues, fostering positive working relationships, and promoting a culture of respect, accountability, and inclusion., • Conduct thorough and impartial workplace investigations, including gathering facts, interviewing involved parties, documenting findings, and recommending appropriate resolutions., • Ensure consistent application of company policies, procedures, and employment practices while maintaining confidentiality and exercising sound judgment., • Partner with leaders to address performance concerns, facilitate corrective action processes, and support employee development and retention efforts., • Develop, coordinate, and facilitate training programs focused on employment law compliance, EEOC requirements, workplace conduct, harassment prevention, and organizational best practices., • Monitor changes in federal, state, and local employment laws and provide recommendations to ensure ongoing compliance and reduce organizational risk., • Support onboarding and new hire orientation activities to help employees successfully transition into the organization and understand company expectations and culture., • Assist with the administration of employee benefits, leave of absence programs, and workers' compensation processes., • Contribute to HR initiatives and projects that support organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, workforce planning, and continuous improvement., • Provide backup support for payroll processing, timekeeping administration, and other HR operational functions as needed., • Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned. Required Qualifications & Skills • Demonstrated experience in Human Resources with a strong focus on employee relations, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, and employment law compliance., • Working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, including EEOC regulations, workplace investigations, and HR best practices., • Strong interpersonal, coaching, and relationship-building skills with the ability to establish credibility and trust at all levels of the organization., • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to facilitate training, conduct interviews, and prepare clear and concise documentation., • Experience developing, coordinating, and delivering employee and leadership training programs., • Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment., • Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment., • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook., • Valid driver's license with the ability to travel locally as needed., • Availability to work occasional weekends and holidays to support business and employee needs., • Bilingual in English and Spanish is required., • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.