Senior Human Resources Generalist (6-month contract)

Your Role

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Chicago, 8th Light is a global technology solutions provider that partners with organizations to solve meaningful challenges and drive sustainable growth. 

As our Senior HR Generalist, you serve as a strategic partner at 8th Light, and are integral to fostering an exceptional employee experience and driving successful business outcomes. You leverage your deep HR expertise and champion the adoption of modern HR technologies, including AI-powered solutions, to inform organizational strategy, optimize operational efficiency, and cultivate a thriving, inclusive, and high-performing culture. By translating US and global policies and processes into streamlined, data-driven workflows, you take pride in ensuring our HR operations run seamlessly, compliantly, and consistently for all stakeholders. This role is based in Chicago and is hybrid, with the expectation to work in the office 2–3 days per week and remotely for the remainder of the week.

Our People Team

We believe our people are 8th Light’s greatest asset and their growth, well-being, and success shape the future of the company. As strategic business partners, our People Team takes a proactive, client-oriented approach to our work. We drive and enable 8th Light’s business strategies, build trust and rapport with our stakeholders, amplify what's working and improve what isn’t, and stay ahead of industry trends and practices.

Your Responsibilities

HR Operations

• Act as the primary point of contact within the HR Team for our global workforce, delivering exceptional customer-focused service, and escalating complex or high-risk queries to the appropriate stakeholders.
• Act as an internal consultant, serving as a subject matter expert who provides accurate guidance and drives the execution of US employment processes and policies in keeping with US employment law at federal, state, and local levels (e.g., FMLA, ADA, FLSA).
• Employ a proactive approach to stakeholder communication, providing holistic and timely updates.
• Lead and manage cross-functional HR projects from planning through execution, inclusive of clear timelines, stakeholder alignment, change management and communication plans, and successful delivery of outcomes that support business objectives.
• Manage and execute the seamless administration of the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding.
• Lead and administer key lifecycle activities – including relocations, life events, promotions, talent reviews, and compensation changes – supporting workflows with accurate and timely service.
• Manage and oversee all types of leave with a hands-on approach, providing a supportive, proactive, compliant, and efficient experience for 8th Lights and the business.
• Manage compliance training programs, ensuring 8th Lights complete required courses on time and with ample time.
• Own benefits administration, including open enrollment, supporting queries, monthly audits, and overall program health.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and maintain strong relationships with external partners and vendors for benefits, HRIS, and compliance.
• Partner with the Finance Team to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing by providing all necessary updates.
• Enhance and streamline documentation, policies, and processes.
• Maintain and update internal HR resources (e.g., HR Wiki, intranet pages), keeping both employee-facing and internal documentation accurate and easy to access.
• Support HR initiatives - including employee engagement and talent management - by collaborating with stakeholders to deliver desired outcomes on time and within budget.
• Support equipment provisioning and returns, ensuring employees receive the necessary tools and that items are tracked and returned efficiently.

Systems, Data and Compliance

• Serve as 8th Light’s HRIS expert.
• Proactively evaluate and integrate AI-enabled HR tools to improve decision-making, enhance employee engagement insights, and optimize people operations across the organization.
• Maintain impeccable system hygiene across all HR tools, including accurate permissioning, access management, and reporting.
• Champion data integrity by conducting routine audits of our HR systems and improving our processes to ensure all employee information is accurate and up-to-date. 
• Generate regular HR reports and data analysis as needed.
• Actively monitor and proactively advise on ongoing compliance with employment laws across multiple states and geographies.
• Prepare and submit HR reports, including but not limited to local, state, and federal filings, delivering complete, compliant, and timely submissions.
• Safeguard sensitive employee information by upholding HR data security and confidentiality through sound practices and controls.
• Proactively evaluate and integrate AI-enabled HR tools to improve decision-making, enhance employee engagement insights, and optimize people operations across the organization.

Chicago Office & Culture

• Serve as a beacon of and key contributor to 8th Light’s culture and community within Chicago.
• Take ownership of and pride in our Chicago workplace environment, ensuring the office is consistently well-maintained, organized, and welcoming for colleagues and guests as our primary point of contact.
• Manage all office logistics – including supplies, mail, and vendor relationships related to the office – to ensure our space is well-stocked and runs smoothly.
• Support key on-site company events and meetings.

Lead and support any other relevant People Operations duties and projects as requested.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Located in Chicago with the ability to work in our downtown office 2-3 days a week
• 5+ years of experience in a Human Resources Generalist role
• An active HR certification, e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR
• Experience in US multi-state employment law, including Illinois, California, Oregon, Washington or New York
• Experience working both remotely as well as in an office setting
• Experience evaluating and integrating AI-enabled HR tools to improve decision-making, enhance employee engagement insights, and optimize people operations
• Project management experience
• Hands-on experience in US medical benefits administration
• A pragmatic problem-solver with a strong sense of ownership and
  an outcomes-focused mindset
• Works autonomously, asynchronously and takes initiative
• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities successfully and wear ‘different hats’ 
• Experience in HRIS selection and implementation
• Previous experience in the technology, software consultancy, or professional services industries
• Experience evaluating and integrating AI-enabled HR tools to improve decision-making, enhance employee engagement insights, and optimize people operations.

Interview Process

• Phone Interview: 20-minute call with a member of the Talent Acquisition Team
• Hiring Manager Interview: 45-minute interview with the Senior Global HR Manager
• Panel Interview: 45-minute interview with two cross-functional 8th Lights
• Final On-Site Interview at our HQ office in Chicago: 1-hour meeting with the VP of People & Senior Global HR Manager. Estimated date: October 23.
• Offer!
• Ideal start date: Week of October 27

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