Human Resources Generalist

T. Baker Smith is seeking a full-time, exempt Human Resources Generalist to serve as an HR partner for Western Operations in Stafford, TX (onsite). In this role, you will provide consistent people guidance across the associate life cycle, coordinate with firmwide HR specialists, and support leaders and associates with day-to-day HR needs. You will also help surface regional needs and workforce trends to the Human Resources Manager.

What you’ll do

• Act as the first point of HR contact in assigned offices by answering routine questions, advising on firm policies and practices, and routing specialized or approval matters to the appropriate HR team member or the Human Resources Manager.
• Build relationships through regular office visits, identify local needs, share trends with the HR team, and follow through on associate and leader requests.
• Support leaders with Associate Development Plans, retention concerns, separations, and other routine people matters; document actions and promptly escalate sensitive, complex, or high-impact cases.
• Coordinate requests and annual reviews for nonstandard flexible work arrangements within firm guidelines.
• Help resolve associate issues and conflicts with a focus on positive, efficient outcomes.
• Respond to internal and external HR-related inquiries or requests.
• Ensure confidentiality across all HR matters, using discretion, flexibility, and patience when handling sensitive information and time-sensitive needs.
• Partner with the Talent Acquisition Specialist and hiring leaders on recruiting-related activities as assigned, including interviews, candidate communication, offer materials, recruitment events, and local hiring.
• Coordinate pre-employment requirements and onboarding steps such as documentation, orientation, system entries, and supervisor handoffs so new associates experience a consistent start.
• Listen to associate concerns, ensure timely and fair follow-up, maintain appropriate records, and refer investigations or significant employment decisions to the Human Resources Manager.
• Support Gallup Q12 activities and follow-up, regional associate events, wellness initiatives, and other efforts focused on engagement and retention.
• Answer routine benefits and wellness questions, assist with enrollment and open enrollment, maintain assigned benefits records, and refer complex or vendor-specific issues to the appropriate team member or provider.
• Support Associate Development Plans, training coordination, learning records, and license tracking, administering assigned learning and development programs in coordination with the HR team.
• Maintain timely and accurate personnel records and transactions across the HRIS, applicant tracking system, and related tools, protecting personnel, employment eligibility, medical, and compensation information according to applicable requirements and firm practices.
• Validate HR data, reconcile discrepancies across systems, and partner with the right teams to improve completeness and reliability of associate records.
• Prepare recurring workforce reports that help leaders understand staffing trends and needs.
• Assist with salary research, total compensation reporting, and compensation analyses as assigned, including the ability to explain data limitations and protect confidential information.
• Recommend improvements to HR processes, documentation, systems, and reporting; analyze workforce trends and provide clear summaries to the Human Resources Manager and leaders with appropriate definitions, data limitations, and context.
• Support workforce planning, recruiting, engagement, development, and retention analyses, including appropriate use of Gallup Q12 and Associate Development Plan information when assigned.

Regional focus

• Western Operations: people systems, HR data quality, workforce reporting and analytics, and process improvements, with regular support of assigned Western Operations offices.
• Central Operations: benefits administration and records, learning management, Associate Development Plan administration, and wellness and engagement program coordination.

These emphases do not limit either position’s responsibility to provide broad regional HR support or to assist with firmwide priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field (or equivalent education, training and experience), with approximately five years of progressive HR experience.
• Experience across several HR functions, including associate relations, onboarding, records, benefits or learning support, and advising leaders on routine people matters.
• Strong ability to handle sensitive issues with judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and timely follow-through, supported by strong written, verbal, and listening skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience with HR information systems and applicant tracking tools, including the ability to maintain accurate records and clearly explain workforce data.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and offices and to travel within the assigned region as business needs require.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience supporting multiple offices.
• Experience improving HRIS workflows or preparing workforce reports.
• Professional HR credential such as SHRM-CP or PHR.

Work setup

• Full-time, exempt role requiring 40+ hours per week.
• Nights and weekend commitments to the firm, associates, and clients could be required.
• Travel is required periodically to visit TBS offices, clients, tour project sites, and other locations; nights away from home could be required.
• Work is generally a mix of typical office environment and outside environment, with exposure to noise, dust, smells, and other environmental factors typical to such settings.

Reporting

Location: Houston/Stafford, Texas. Reports to: Human Resources Manager.

Systems and tools

• HRIS
• Applicant tracking system
• Microsoft Office

Supervisory responsibilities: None.