People Operations Generalist

People Operations Generalist, People & Operations Department

(This role will be based out of our Syracuse, NY office) 

Position Overview: 

We are seeking a proactive People Operations Generalist to support the full employee lifecycle at Pinckney Hugo Group. This includes core areas such as employee relations, benefit and leave administration, learning and development, recruiting, onboarding and offboarding, and compliance. This role serves as a key point of contact for employees and leadership and helps ensure consistent execution of HR policies, procedures, and programs at the agency. You will be trusted to conduct your day-to-day with a sense of ownership and visibility in a collaborative team environment. 

This is an ideal role for a resourceful self-starter who has experience owning the day-to-day responsibilities of a People Operations/HR function. You will have an exciting opportunity to make an impact on our culture, operations, and employee experience. 

You will work closely with our talented Admin Team (Operations, Payroll, Finance & Accounting), as well as the Partners.   

Responsibilities: 

Employee Relations 

• Serve as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for employees and managers regarding day-to-day workplace concerns, grievances, and policy interpretation  
• Coach leaders through performance conversations, feedback loops, corrective action plans, and documentation compliance 
• Handle employee transitions, including terminations and severance 

Benefit & Leave Administration 

• Act as first point of contact for employee questions, escalating to our Broker as needed 
• Coordinate open enrollment for employee benefit programs 
• Manage leave programs (FMLA, PFL, Disability, etc.) 

Learning & Development 

• Manage learning & development opportunities to support career growth for employees 
• Oversee the performance review process, ensuring it is conducted effectively and constructively 

Talent Lifecycle 

• Manage recruiting function from end to end for all openings at the agency 
• Manage new hire onboarding process: background check, new hire paperwork, welcome emails, onboarding schedules, IT/equipment configuration, orientation 
• Manage offboarding process: equipment/account deactivation, termination paperwork, internal communications 

Compliance & People Operations 

• Maintain and update our HRIS (Rippling), handling employee changes and data integrity 
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws 
• Collaborate with software tools and vendors to optimize HR processes and systems 

Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or related field (or equivalent experience) 
• 5+ years of progressively building experience in People Operations/HR, including recruiting, compliance, performance management, benefit administration, and employee relations 
• Proven track record of managing the full employee lifecycle autonomously 
• Strong knowledge of multi-state employment laws and regulations 
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and ATS tools (we use Rippling & JazzHR) 
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook, Teams) 
• Strong organization skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities 
• Ability to manage outsourced partners and vendors 
• Experience supporting a company size of 50-100 employees, preferred 
• HR certification is preferred (PHR, SHRM-CP)  

WHY WE'RE HIRING?  
The short answer? We're looking to keep a good thing going. An independently owned full-service marketing agency, Pinckney Hugo Group has grown consistently over the past 20 or so years. 
 
We've created bigger and better work, added to our capabilities and expanded to serve a wider range of regional, national and international clients. It's all happened because we've been able to bring in incredibly talented and dedicated people to help build something special. And because we don't plan on slowing down anytime soon, we're posting career opportunities like this one. 
 
WHY PHG? 
For starters, you'll have the chance to work on some of the biggest brands and most exciting projects in the world — all from right here in Upstate New York, and in some cases, from the comfort of your home. 
 
You'll be challenged, but you'll never be on your own. What we offer takes a full team. And we're just that — a team. A group of complementary talents that, when unleashed together, can do anything we set our minds to. 
Some of our comprehensive and competitive benefits include:   

• Hybrid work – split your week between working in our office or at home 
• Generous PTO policy, including flex time 
• Paid parental leave 
• Medical, vision, dental benefits 
• Resources for savings and investments such as our 401(k) plan with company match 
• Company-sponsored events and swag 
• Dog friendly work environment 
• Opportunities to learn, develop, network, and connect 

Total compensation for this role is designed to be competitive with the market. The anticipated salary range for this Syracuse, NY-based position is $75,000 to $90,000 per year. The final offer will depend on the candidate's experience, skills, abilities, and geographic location, along with other business and organizational considerations. PHG also provides a comprehensive benefits package; for more information, please visit our website. 
OUR HIRING PHILOSOPHY 
At Pinckney Hugo Group, we believe that diversity improves our agency and helps us to better serve our clients by offering different views, perspectives and experiences. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and team, and aspire to better reflect the brands and people we serve. We strongly encourage people of color, members of the LGBTQAI+ community, people with disabilities and other underrepresented groups to apply to join our team. No matter who you are, you'll find opportunity here. We'll empower you to work on amazing brands with incredible teams, all while giving you the space you need to make this time whatever you want it to be. Apply today and explore all the ways you can grow with us. You'll be glad you did — and we will too. 
We'd like to know more about you and why you're interested in PHG. Please be sure to include a cover letter with your resume submission.