Lucas James Talent Partners is hiring: HR Generalist in Edison

We are seeking an experienced Human Resources Generalist to lead HR operations, payroll administration, and compliance across a growing, multi‑site food distribution organization in Edison, NJ. The company has about 75 employees and is backed by private equity and experiencing rapid growth.

This hands‑on role will serve as the company’s first dedicated onsite HR presence, responsible for building scalable systems, ensuring compliance, and supporting a safe, high‑performance culture.

Success in this role requires a balance of strategic vision and day‑to‑day execution. You’ll oversee payroll and benefits, guide managers through employee relations and performance issues, ensure compliance with DOT, OSHA, and labor laws, and help shape a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous improvement. This position is onsite with operations and offers a unique opportunity to build HR infrastructure and systems from the ground up as the company scales.

Focus Areas & Keys to Success

• HR Operations & Payroll Administration – Manages all day‑to‑day HR operations, including onboarding, employee records management, and data integrity across multiple sites. Oversees payroll processing through ADP, ensuring accuracy and compliance for multi‑state operations with varied pay cycles. Leads payroll system transitions and integrations as the business scales and partners with finance and operations to resolve discrepancies and maintain audit readiness.
• Compliance & Risk Management – Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local labor laws, maintaining full adherence across multi‑jurisdictional operations. Maintains DOT compliance for drivers, manages OSHA and warehouse safety programs, and serves as the internal point of contact for audits and employment law inquiries.
• Benefits Administration & Total Rewards – Administers employee benefits programs, ensures ACA, COBRA, and related regulations compliance, and collaborates with leadership to refine benefit offerings as the organization grows.
• Talent Acquisition & Onboarding – Manages the full recruiting and onboarding lifecycle, supports hiring managers with structured, compliant hiring practices, and coordinates with staffing agencies for consistent onboarding.
• HR Systems & Data Management – Maintains and audits employee data in ADP, supports platform migrations to Business Central or SAP, and modernizes HR procedures and documentation.
• Culture, Communication & Employee Relations – Builds trust as the first onsite HR presence, provides day‑to‑day guidance, promotes a culture of safety, respect, and accountability, and implements engagement initiatives.

Requirements

• Approximately 7+ years of HR experience, preferably in industrial, logistics, or multi‑site environments.
• Proven experience with ADP Workforce Now or similar payroll/HRIS platforms.
• Strong understanding of HR and labor law compliance, including multi‑state and DOT regulations.
• Hands‑on experience rolling out or administering benefits programs and new HR systems.
• Experience with Microsoft Business Central, SAP, or similar ERP systems is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or related field preferred; HR certification (PHR, SHRM‑CP, or equivalent) desirable.
• Must be onsite; this is not a remote or hybrid position.
• Bilingual fluency in Spanish, Urdu, or Hindi is a strong plus.

Job Metadata

Seniority Level: Associate

Employment Type: Full‑time

Job Function: Human Resources

Industry: Food and Beverage Services