HR Manager at The Training Center – Wrightstown, New Jersey

We are hiring an HR Manager - Generalist to serve as the hands-on people operations lead across The Training Center Organization in the education and services division. This is a full-scope HR role with opportunity to grow with the organization. You will own the day-to-day work that keeps our team running: recruiting and onboarding operators and staff, processing payroll, administering benefits, maintaining compliance, supporting managers through employee relations, and keeping our policies and handbook current.
This role is ideal for an experienced HR professional who wants the breadth of generalist work in a fast-moving service business, with the autonomy to improve processes and the visibility of being the primary HR point of contact for the entire organization.

Recruiting and Onboarding

Run full-cycle recruiting for operators, instructors, and office staff: job postings, candidate screening, interview scheduling, reference checks, offer letters.

Manage I-9, E-Verify, background checks, drug screens, and licensure verification for boiler and refrigeration operators.

Deliver a consistent new-hire onboarding experience, including orientation, policy review, benefits enrollment, and first-week check-ins.

Maintain the applicant tracking system (ATS) and candidate pipeline.

Payroll and Benefits Administration

Process biweekly payroll accurately and on time for both entities, coordinating with the accounting team on funding and reconciliation.

Administer benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and leave policies. Lead annual open enrollment.

Handle benefit-related life events, COBRA, FMLA, short-term disability, and workers' compensation claims.

Serve as the primary liaison with payroll vendors, benefit brokers, and insurance carriers.

Employee Relations and Culture

Act as the first point of contact for employee questions, concerns, and grievances. Document conversations and escalate when appropriate.

Partner with managers on corrective action, performance improvement plans, and terminations, ensuring consistent application of policy.

Promote a positive, values-aligned work environment across office staff, instructors, and field operators.

Compliance and Reporting

Maintain compliance with federal, NJ state, and local labor laws, including wage and hour, leave, EEO, and OSHA record-keeping.

Track and renew required licenses and certifications for field operators.

Prepare and file required reports, including EEO-1, workers' comp audits, and NJ state filings.

Maintain accurate employee records in the HRIS and personnel files.

Policies, Handbook, and Performance Management

Maintain and update the employee handbook and internal HR policies; communicate changes clearly to staff and operators.

Coordinate the annual performance review cycle: templates, timelines, manager training, and completion tracking.

Provide employee data to leadership to support compensation, bonus, and promotion decisions.

Training and Development Coordination

Coordinate required training for operators and staff: safety, harassment prevention, OSHA, and client-specific training. Track completion, maintain records, and schedule refreshers.

Identify broader training needs and recommend programs; coordination and scheduling.

Client Support

Coordinate client requests for fit-for-duty testing, drug screens, and credential verification.

Document and memorialize performance or conduct incidents that occur at client sites.
Support the Resource and Staffing team with coverage issues that have an HR or compliance dimension.

Required Qualifications

3 or more years of HR experience in a generalist capacity (recruiting, payroll, benefits, and employee relations).
Hands-on experience processing payroll using platforms such as ADP, Paychex, Gusto, Rippling, or similar.
Working knowledge of NJ and federal labor law, including wage and hour, FMLA, ADA, EEO, and OSHA basics.
Experience administering group health benefits and leading an open enrollment cycle.
Comfort with HRIS or HCM platforms and applicant tracking systems.
Strong written and verbal communication skills. Able to handle sensitive conversations with discretion.
High attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.

Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field (equivalent professional experience considered).
PHR, SHRM-CP, or similar HR certification.
Experience in a service industry, staffing agency, trade business, or dispatch-based operation.
Multi-site or multi-client HR support experience.
Working fluency with AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Microsoft Copilot for drafting, policy review, and reporting.
Experience with licensed or credentialed workforces (boiler, refrigeration, trades, healthcare, transportation).

Full benefits package, paid time off, and a clear path to grow within a 40-year-established and expanding organization. As the company grows, this role has a defined path to HR Manager and eventually HR Director for the right performer.

This role is based onsite at our Branchburg, NJ headquarters or Wrightstown NJ office, 5 days per week. Occasional travel to client sites for fit-for-duty or incident support may be required. This is not a remote position.

Qualified candidates should submit a resume and complete our online screening questionnaire. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Learn more at www.thetrainingcenter.com and www.thetrainingcentergroup.com