**This is a hybrid contract role in Chicago, IL. Please only apply if you are local and comfortable with a contract position. ***

About Our Clien

tJoin an award-winning legal tech company that’s transforming how law firms work by boosting their organization, productivity, and profitability with software they actually love. Smokeball is a global, community-driven company united by a love for the law and a mission to help small and midsize firms thrive. We’re passionate about what we do and our clients know it! If you’re looking for a company that truly cares about its clients and its people, you’re in the right place

.
The Ro

le
The People & Culture Specialist serves as a key partner across all aspects of the employee lifecycle. This role is ideal for a collaborative, detail-oriented HR professional who thrives in a dynamic, people-first environment. You will be the go-to resource for employees and managers alike, and play a critical role in shaping a positive, compliant, and engaging workpla

ce.
This is a hybrid role with our office being in Chicago, IL. All Chicagoland employees are in the office on Wednesdays and Thursd

ays.
Key Responsibil

itiesPayroll Administr

ation• Process accurate semi-monthly payroll for approximately 110 salaried exempt employees using the HRIS/payroll system (Ripp

ling)• Audit payroll inputs including salary changes, new hires, terminations, and deductions prior to each pa

y run• Reconcile payroll records and resolve discrepancies in a timely m

anner• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regula

tions
Benefits Administ

ration• Administer employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, FSA/HSA, and

401(k)• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits inquiries and issue reso

lution• Manage annual open enrollment including communications, system configuration, and employee edu

cation• Ensure compliance with ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, and related federal/state requir

ements• Process qualifying life events and maintain accurate benefits enrollment r

ecords
New Hire Onb

oarding• Coordinate and facilitate a seamless onboarding experience for all new employees from offer acceptance through the first

90 days• Prepare and process new hire paperwork including offer letters, I-9 verification, background checks, and syste

m setup• Conduct new hire orientation sessions covering company culture, policies, tools, and b

enefits• Partner with IT, Facilities, and hiring managers to ensure Day 1 re

adiness• Continuously improve the onboarding program based on new hire feedback and best pr

actices
Employee R

elations• Serve as a trusted resource for employees and managers on HR policies, workplace concerns, and conflict re

solution• Conduct thorough, impartial investigations into employee complaints, policy violations, and workplac

e issues• Provide guidance on performance management, corrective action, and termination p

rocesses• Partner with managers on employee coaching and development conve

rsations• Foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture through proactive employee engagement ini

tiatives
HR Compliance &am

p; Policy• Maintain and update the employee handbook and HR policies to reflect current legal requirements and company

practices• Ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws including FMLA, ADA, EEO, FLSA, and state-specific l

eave laws• Manage leave of absence programs (FMLA, state leave, personal leave, disability) including documentation and return-to-work coo

rdination• Support preparation of required compliance filings such as EEO-1 reports and state-mandated

reporting
HRIS & People

Analytics• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records in the H

RIS system• Generate regular and ad hoc HR reports including headcount, turnover, and compensation

analytics• Identify opportunities to automate and streamline HR workflows and

processes
Talent Acquisit

ion Support• Partner with hiring managers on job descriptions, interview processes, and offe

r approvals• Coordinate and manage the full-cycle recruiting process for assigned requisition

s as needed• Maintain relationships with external recruiters and job postin

g platforms
Performanc

e Management• Administer the company’s performance review cycle including scheduling, communications, and system administration throu

gh Rippling.• Support managers in writing performance improvement plans (PIPs) and navigating difficult performance c

onversations• Track and report on performance review completion rates

and outcomes
Learning &amp

; Development• Coordinate company-wide training programs including required compliance training (harassment prevention, OSHA,

data privacy)• Partner with managers to identify learning and development needs and connect employees to growth

opportunities
Required

Qualifications• 2-4+ years of progressive HR generalist experience, ideally in a tech or fast-pac

ed environment• Hands-on experience processing payroll (experience with platforms such as ADP, Rippling, Gusto, or Payloc

ity preferred)• Strong working knowledge of federal and state employment law and HR complianc

e requirements• Experience administering employee benefits programs including o

pen enrollment• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to handle sensitive matters with discreti

on and empathy• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities

simultaneously• Proficiency with HRIS systems and the Microsoft Office / Google W

orkspace suite

L

ife at our client
· Great Culture: We’ve been named a 'Best Place to Work' five years in a row. For us, caring is not optional and we have an ongoing commitment to building a workplace where our people feel valued and collabo

ration flourishes.·

Work-Life Balance]· Career Growth: Our client believes in investing in our own people and prom

oting from within.· Benefits: Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage. 401(k) match, monthly wellness stipend, genero

us parental leave.· The Office: The kitchen is stocked with breakfast items, snacks, and beverages, and we have plenty of games to help you relax (ping-pong, billiards, pinball). We also offer weekly catered lunch and free monthly massages provided by a licensed

massage therapist!

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Human Resources Generalist

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