HR Generalist

Our Story So Far

Founded in 1862, F.A.O Schwarz is one of the oldest and most iconic toy retailers in the world. Frederick August Otto Schwarz dreamed of a marvelous, bountiful emporium full of extraordinary, one-of-a-kind toys from all over the world. His dream became a reality, and as one of America's oldest brands, we have provided this wonder to families for more than 160 years.

The Job

The Human Resources Generalist plays a critical role in both the strategic and operational aspects of Human Resources, including payroll, benefits administration, leave management, employee relations, and compliance. Reporting directly to the Director of Human Resources, this role supports the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of HR policies, procedures, and systems to ensure operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.

This individual will be a key contributor to the formulation and execution of short- and long-term HR objectives that align with the organization's overall strategic goals. The HR Generalist will collaborate across departments to foster a positive workplace culture, enhance employee engagement, and lead HR initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness.

What You’ll Do

·       Ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll updates, including new hires, terminations, and employee status changes.

·       Manage the full weekly payroll cycle, including the processing of salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and other deductions.

·       Coordinate onboarding and offboarding processes, ensuring all required actions and system updates are completed.

·       Monitor and ensure compliance with mandatory and voluntary training requirements, including safety programs, anti-harassment initiatives, continuing education, licensure, and certification tracking.

·       Administer core HR functions across compensation, benefits, leave management, workplace safety, and employee development, ensuring consistency and legal compliance.

·       Respond to employment-related inquiries from employees, and supervisors, escalating complex or sensitive matters as appropriate.

·       Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and employment laws and regulations, and regularly review company policies to ensure continued adherence to best practices.

·     Manage the full lifecycle of employee leave requests, including FMLA, short-term disability, workers’ compensation, military leave, and personal leave, in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.

·       Serve as the primary liaison with the ADP representative for payroll and related services.

·       Support employee benefits administration, including enrollment, changes due to qualifying life events, and ongoing employee communications.

·       Oversee ACA compliance by uploading and managing employee work hours for eligibility tracking.

·       Review and reconcile monthly benefits billing statements to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies.

·       Drive continuous improvement across HR processes; perform other HR duties and projects as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

·       Proven expertise in ADP Workforce Now for scheduling, payroll processing and system navigation.

·       Solid knowledge of federal and state Wage and Hour laws, including compliance and reporting.

·       Hands-on experience managing multi-state payroll operations in a high-volume environment.

·       Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Outlook, and Word.

·       Ability to independently manage payroll responsibilities and take full ownership of processes and results.

·       Exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize tasks, multitask effectively, and meet tight deadlines.

·       Strong organizational and time management skills in fast-paced environments.

·       Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to resolve complex payroll issues efficiently.

·       Demonstrated commitment to integrity, professionalism, and maintaining confidentiality in handling sensitive employee and payroll data.

Experience

·       Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required.

·       3–5 years of hands-on experience processing multi-state payroll using ADP Workforce Now (WFN).

·       Proven ability to manage payroll for 100+ employees across multiple states.

·       Solid understanding of HR administrative practices, including new hires, terminations, benefits administration, and HRIS systems.

·       Experience functioning as a sole Payroll or HR/Payroll administrator is strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements

·       Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

·       Must be able to occasionally lift up to 15 pounds (e.g., office supplies or files).

·       Must be able to read from and input information into a computer screen for extended periods.

·       Effective written and verbal communication skills.

·       Work is performed in a standard office environment with moderate noise levels and access to typical office equipment and resources.

FAO Schwarz is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws.

FAO Schwarz strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, interns, or any other covered persons, on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin including ancestry, ethnicity, sex including pregnancy, gender identity, and transgender status, gender, physical or mental disability, including gender dysphoria and similar gender-related conditions, alienage or citizenship status, military status, including past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, actual or perceived sexual orientation, unemployment status, caregiver status, credit history, salary history, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state and local laws, with respect to hiring, promotion, discipline, firing, compensation, benefits, or other terms, conditions or privileges of employment.

If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, or during the course of your employment, please contact the Director of Human Resources at teamsupport@fao.com.

Apply online at faoschwarz.com/pages/careers; Indeed.com; or GetHired.com

FAO Schwarz is an EEO employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled