People and Talent Generalist, (DC, Virginia, Maryland Market)

About Us

Life Alive Organic Cafe is the place for positive eating, where enjoying organic, crave-worthy food fuels a life filled with energy, optimism and simply feeling good. Through each joyful interaction and scratch-prepared dish served in our unique, quick service cafes, we work toward bringing to life our higher purpose to energize the vitality all living beings and our planet.

The Role

We are seeking a proactive and people-focused People and Talent Generalist to join our team in Washington, D.C. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on in-person connection, understands the importance of strong team member relations, and can manage the full spectrum of HR generalist duties with care, precision, and confidentiality. You will serve as a critical point of contact for team members and management, supporting our mission to foster a positive, engaged, and compliant workplace culture.The People and Talent Generalist plays a key role in supporting day-to-day human resources functions, ensuring compliance with policies and employment laws, and fostering a positive workplace culture. This position is responsible for a broad range of HR tasks, including team member relations, recruitment, onboarding, benefits administration, and HR compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a point of contact for team member inquiries on HR policies, procedures, and programs.
• Serve as a trusted advisor for team member concerns and conflicts, conducting thorough investigations and resolving issues with fairness and integrity.
• Coach managers on performance management, conflict resolution, and HR best practices.
• Administer team member lifecycle processes including recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, and performance reviews.
• Manage all aspects of LOAs including FMLA, ADA, personal, and medical leaves.
• Track, document, and communicate leave status while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies.
• Maintain team member records and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Support payroll and benefits administration by coordinating with external providers and internal teams.
• Assist in developing and implementing HR policies, procedures, and team member handbooks.
• Support team member engagement initiatives and organizational development programs.
• Address team member relations issues, providing guidance and escalating as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws and HR best practices.
• Participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Maintain HR systems and generate reports as needed.
• Assist in training and development activities across departments.

Our People & Talent Generalist  is someone who is:

• A strong communicator, with exceptional interpersonal and cross-collaboration skills.
• Able to solve problems both independently and as part of a team.
• Curious and positively resilient.
• Strong understanding of HR principles, policies, and procedures.
• Proven experience in HR coordination, preferably in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Knowledgeable of labor laws and regulations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 3+ years of HR, Hospitality, and/or Legal experience 
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and HR best practices.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with integrity and confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Spanish preferred 
• Proficient in HRIS (Human Resources Information System) and MS Office Suite.
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification is a plus.

Perks & Benefits:

• Plentiful Food Discounts & Yoga Perks
• Flexible work schedule with the ability to split time working from home and in our cafés
• 401k and IRA, Life Alive matches 401k contributions at 100%, up to 3%
• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• Life Insurance, MetLaw, TeleDoc, Short Term & Long Term Disability, Mental Health Support via My Strength
• Parking and Transportation Reimbursement
• $150 stipend for home office setup
• Paid time off:
  • 10 days paid vacation
  • 40 hours paid sick leave
  • 8 hours of community service pay
  • 8 paid holidays

Please note that Life Alive is an E-Verify employer.