ROLE OVERVIEW: Part of a 4-person HR team, the HR Generalist provides HR administrative support across all HR functional areas, with a primary focus on benefits, payroll, timekeeping, leaves of absence, unemployment and workers comp claims, reporting and records, and HR compliance.

FSLA STATUS: Full Time (40 hours/week), Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Human Resources Director

COMPENSATION: $31.25 - $36.06 / hour

WORK SCHEDULE: This role is scheduled to work standard business hours Monday – Friday.

BENEFITS: Full Time SAM Staff are eligible to enroll in medical (through Kaiser), dental (through Delta Dental of WA), vision (through Vision Service Pan), and basic life insurance/LTD/AD&D (through LifeMap), as well as a Flexible Spending Account (through Navia Benefit Solutions). FT Staff also have the option to elect Short Term Disability or Supplemental Dental Insurance (through Aflac). FT Staff can participate in SAM’s 403b retirement plan and begin receiving a guaranteed 3% employer contribution following 1 year & 1,000 hours worked. Additionally, as of July 1, 2025 the employer match program will resume. FT Staff have access to paid time off for vacation, sick leave, bereavement leave, and jury duty per accrual and pro-rated schedules. SAM observes 11 holidays each year and offers FT Staff 1 paid floating holiday of their choice. FT Staff can opt into a 50% subsidized unlimited Orca card. FT Staff also receive a Patron level membership to SAM, and a Tier III membership to the American Alliance of Museums, as well as access to an onsite fitness facility, SAM museum library, a no-cost Employee Assistance Program resource, a 20% discount at the SAM Museum Shop, a 10% discount at SAM’s MARKET cafe, and 8 Home Free Guarantee cab rides home per year.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Benefits Administration

• Process and track benefits enrollments, eligibility changes, and termination of benefits for: medical, dental, Life/ADD, LTD, transit program, retirement, and other benefit programs.
• Enter payroll deductions and employee contributions into ADP.
• Enter data for third party benefit carrier sites.
• Lead annual open enrollment cycle.
• Monitor, process, and track new enrollments and terminations in retirement plans.
• Administer the Museum’s COBRA program by generating notices upon separation; tracking time requirements, communicating with participants, ensuring payments are received and processed on time.

Payroll

• Enter, process, and monitor employee data in payroll and timekeeping system ADP; including new hires, status changes, terminations, and transfers.

HR Administration

• Manage and track leaves of absence, initiating communication regarding employee leave and employee leave donation programs; including requesting necessary documentation for FMLA, Washington Family and Medical Leave, workers compensation, jury duty, etc.
• Review and respond to unemployment claims.
• Oversee worker’s compensation and Stay at Work programs.
• Serve as a member of the SAM Safety Committee. Research OSHA and WISHA compliance and provides direction on employee safety.
• Gather data and generate reports for monthly DOL jobs reports, annual EEO-1, benefits census, transportation, wage and compensation surveys, or other reports as requested.
• Maintain HR files & record keeping systems, including employee personnel files, I-9s, and medical files.
• Respond to frequent employee requests and questions via email, telephone and in-person.
• Communicate with vendors, applicants, insurance carriers, and other service providers, with accurate and timely information.
• Audit and review HR department payments for accuracy, particularly benefit vendor invoices.

Other

• Update and maintain Benefits pages on the HR Intranet site through SharePoint.
• Assist with employee recognition activities, including coordinating the employee anniversary program.
• Manage the SAM Wellness program, including interfacing with vendors, scheduling events, creating initiatives, and regularly updating the HR Intranet with Wellness information.
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned, including special projects, HR team meeting coordination, HR project/initiatives tracking and coordination, recruitment efforts, new employee onboarding and offboarding, etc.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• B.A or B.S. in relevant field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum 3 years’ work experience in Human Resources function (Benefits, Payroll, or HR Administration preferred)
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred
• Experience with an HRIS required, ADP preferred
• Experience in employee benefits enrollment with multiple insurance carriers
• High level of proficiency and accuracy using MS Office products, including Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, SharePoint, and other software programs.
• Must be highly organized and able to prioritize multiple competing tasks, manage changing priorities and competing demands.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills. Experience presenting employment information to individuals and groups.
• Ability to work accurately with close attention to detail and to maintain high standards of confidentiality.
• Demonstrated use of sound judgment on sensitive issues, along with excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to take initiative, adapt to changes in the work environment and deal with frequent change or unexpected events; excellent time-management and follow up skills.
• Ability to work professionally and tactfully, to adhere to Museum policies and to support management decisions in a positive, professional manner.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Exposure: Work areas are primarily inside, in a climate-controlled environment with moderate background noise.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES REQUIRED FOR ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Stationary Work: Approximately 80% of time is spent stationary while working at a desk. Balance of time (approximately 20%) is spent moving around the work area. Occasional extended periods of standing may be required.

Communication: Clear and effective verbal and written communication in English with trustees, the public, and co-workers is necessary.

Vision: Ability to effectively use a computer screen and interpret printed materials, memos and other appropriate paperwork.

Office Work: Ability to effectively and regularly operate a computer, keyboard, telephone, and other office productivity machinery, such as copy machines and printers, and ability to inspect, prepare and use paperwork, files, equipment, and supplies is necessary.

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Celebrating difference. At Seattle Art Museum, our members, visitors, and local community come from all walks of life, and so do our employees, volunteers, and interns. The plurality of our identities and experiences strengthens our mission: connecting art to life. Our mission and vision call us to be responsive to a multitude of cultural contexts and lived experiences, and as such, our Strategic Plan directly addresses the role art plays in empowering and elevating social justice movements, and promoting structural change to further equity in our society. SAM is particularly dedicated to racial equity in the workplace, because we know that people of color are the most impacted when it comes to both historical and present inequities. We know that equity is not a single fixed destination, it’s ongoing reckoning. As SAM continually strives to be a more inclusive and equitable workplace, we are particularly interested in engaging with those who have been historically underrepresented in the museum field. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace, and a sense of belonging for each and every employee, because we know our organization is at its best when we celebrate difference.

 

SAM is an equal opportunity employer. We are an equal opportunity employer, and consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, sensory, physical, or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship or immigration status, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. SAM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures, and will consider candidates for employment who may need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the job. Please contact the Human Resources Department at HR@seattleartmuseum.org for additional information, or to request reasonable accommodations for the application or interview process.

 

We encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace, and a sense of belonging for each and every employee, because we know our organization is at its best when we include, celebrate and embrace difference. We encourage you to submit an application, even if your experience doesn’t feel like a 100% match with the position. We know applying for a job can be intimidating, and research tells us that womxn and folks of color are less likely to apply if they don't see themselves meeting or exceeding every single qualification listed. We encourage you to apply, even if you feel unsure about whether you meet every requirement in this job post. You could very well be a great fit for this role or others.

 

Criminal background check. Employment at SAM is contingent upon successful clearing of both a federal and state criminal background check.

 

Want to learn more? If you haven't already, check out our Careers page for more on working at SAM.

 

Though we'd love to be able to reply to every question that crosses our desk, due to the high volume of applications we receive, our HR team is unfortunately unable to offer a response to inquiries requesting search status updates, inquiries about hiring timeline, or requests to be put in touch with directly with the Hiring Team. If your experiences and capabilities are well suited to an open role, our Recruiter or the Hiring Manager will reach out directly to schedule an interview. Thanks for your understanding!