Human Resources Generalist

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum offers the chance to support employees and managers with day-to-day HR programs that keep operations running smoothly. In this onsite Human Resources Generalist role in Honolulu, you will help administer core HR functions, partner closely with the HRO and leadership, and ensure timely, accurate HR and compliance processes. The salary range is $65,000–$75,000 annually, based on qualifications and experience, with a benefits package that supports long-term wellbeing, including 401(k) and matching, health and vision coverage, paid time off, and life and disability-related supports.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers on HR policies, procedures, and programs, interpreting policy and determining when issues require escalation.
• Administer employee lifecycle transactions in the HRIS, including new hires, status and compensation changes, leaves, and separations, while maintaining accurate, confidential personnel records in line with Museum policy and record-retention requirements.
• Maintain HR calendars, workflows, and documented procedures, ensuring clear handoffs and backup coverage with the Museum Administrator & Payroll Specialist.
• Review each payroll prepared by the Museum Administrator & Payroll Specialist for completeness and accuracy before payroll release approval.
• Verify that approved HR changes and timekeeping records are accurately reflected, and resolve HR-related discrepancies before processing deadlines.
• Be the first contact for employee questions related to HR changes affecting payroll and benefits, routing technical payroll, tax, or plan questions to the appropriate internal partners or plan providers and following them through resolution.
• Administer benefits enrollments and changes for new hires, qualifying life events, status changes, and separations, coordinating required notices including COBRA with the HRO and auditing benefit records for accuracy.
• Lead annual open enrollment from launch through completion, including communications, employee education, election tracking, and verification of benefit setup with the HRO.
• Coordinate administrative follow-through for employee 401(k) deferrals and Safe Harbor matching, ensuring accurate and timely uploads to participant accounts.
• Own operational coordination with the HRO for payroll, benefits, HRIS, leave administration, and employee records, managing requests through resolution and monitoring service delivery.
• Support recruitment by posting approved positions with required disclosures, evaluating applicants against job-related qualifications, scheduling interviews, and managing candidate communications.
• Coordinate reference checks, offers, and post-offer background checks in compliance with Hawaiʻi law (including HRS §378-2.5) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
• Conduct new hire orientation, including Form I-9 completion, new hire documentation, and benefits overview, coordinating onboarding and offboarding with managers, the HRO, and other departments.
• Advise managers on routine employee relations matters using Museum policy, and support workplace investigations as directed by Executive Operations while maintaining confidentiality and escalating sensitive or high-risk concerns.
• Administer the performance management cycle, including scheduling, manager resources and reminders, goal-setting support, documentation, and completion tracking, escalating significant performance concerns as required.
• Coordinate and track training and development sessions and maintain training records.
• Manage workplace injury reporting and workers’ compensation claims, maintain required OSHA injury and illness records, submit required reports on time, and escalate significant incidents or potential compliance issues.
• Coordinate HR compliance tracking for applicable federal and Hawaiʻi requirements, maintain a compliance calendar, investigate routine gaps, follow corrective actions through resolution, and promptly escalate potential violations or material risks.
• Administer Form I-9 and employment eligibility processes, including reverification tracking; coordinate leave and accommodation processes with the HRO and leadership and support the interactive process.
• Prepare HR reports and metrics in coordination with Finance and the HRO, and interpret and apply HR policies to individual situations, escalating significant, sensitive, or high-risk matters to Executive Operations.

Requirements

• Human resources experience in one or more areas: HR administration, recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, payroll and/or performance management.
• Working knowledge of HR practices and federal and state employment requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, with the ability to work effectively with employees, managers, Finance, leadership, and external providers.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, manage multiple priorities independently, and meet recurring deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HR-related technology (HRIS).
• Ability to obtain and maintain access credentials to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (Ford Island) as required for onsite work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Two or more years of progressive human resources experience.
• Experience with payroll and benefits administration, and with an HRO, HRIS, payroll provider, or benefits administrator.
• SHRM-CP, PHR, or progress toward certification.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Environment

• Prolonged periods of sitting and computer work at a desk or workstation; periodic standing while presenting or facilitating training and orientation.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Primarily an office-based environment.