People & Culture Generalist Tacombi is a fast-growing, mission-driven hospitality company dedicated to connecting people to Mexico through food and hospitality. With taquerias across multiple U.S. cities, Tacombi brings the warmth, flavor, and community of Mexico to every neighborhood it serves. The People & Culture Generalist is a key member of the People team responsible for supporting the day-to-day execution and administration of the employee experience across all Tacombi locations. This role helps ensure that team members are effectively hired, onboarded, paid, supported, and transitioned throughout their journey with the company. This position serves as an important operational connection between People, Payroll, Operations, and our team members. The People & Culture Generalist maintains accurate employee records, supports payroll and HR systems, coordinates leave and benefits administration, facilitates onboarding and offboarding, and helps ensure People processes are completed accurately, consistently, and on time. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, service-minded, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, multi-unit hospitality environment. Key ResponsibilitiesEmployee Lifecycle & People Operations Supports the employee journey from pre-hire and onboarding through employment changes, leaves, and separation Processes and maintains employee changes, including new hires, promotions, transfers, compensation changes, position changes, and terminations Maintains accurate employee records and documentation within HR systems and personnel files Ensures employee information, job titles, locations, reporting relationships, employment status, and other key data remain accurate and up to date Supports the preparation and distribution of employment-related documents and employee communications Responds to routine team member questions and directs more complex matters to the appropriate People team member Supports ongoing People initiatives, audits, projects, and process improvements Payroll, Timekeeping & HRIS Support Supports the preparation and administration of weekly payroll in partnership with the People and Finance teams Reviews employee and payroll data for accuracy, including hours, rates of pay, job codes, employee changes, deductions, and other payroll-related information Supports payroll audits and follows up on discrepancies prior to payroll processing Assists with payroll corrections, employee pay inquiries, and documentation Maintains accurate employee information within ADP Workforce Now and other People systems Supports the administration and accuracy of timekeeping systems, including 7shifts Partners with managers to resolve missing punches, timekeeping discrepancies, employee changes, and other payroll-related items Supports regular audits of employee profiles, pay rates, wage entities, accruals, deductions, and system data Escalates payroll discrepancies, compliance concerns, and unusual transactions for review Maintains organized payroll and HRIS documentation and audit records Benefits & Leave Administration Serves as a first point of contact for routine employee questions regarding benefits, leave programs, and related People processes Coordinates employee leave administration, including maintaining documentation, tracking leave dates, communicating required next steps, and supporting return-to-work processes Partners with benefit and leave vendors to help ensure employee cases are properly administered and documented Supports administration of company benefits, including enrollment, qualifying life events, employee changes, and employee communications Assists with required benefits and leave documentation and recordkeeping Tracks employee leave status and ensures appropriate follow-up with employees and managers Escalates complex leave, accommodation, benefits, or compliance matters to the Director of People or appropriate partner Onboarding & Offboarding Coordinates the administrative onboarding process for new team members Ensures new-hire documentation, HRIS setup, employment eligibility documentation, and required acknowledgments are completed accurately and timely Supports Managing Partners and hiring managers with onboarding requirements and new-hire readiness Tracks completion of required onboarding documentation and training Coordinates employee offboarding, including system updates, documentation, benefits notifications, and other separation-related administrative requirements Maintains onboarding and offboarding checklists to ensure consistent execution across locations Talent Acquisition Support Supports recruiting activities including job postings, candidate scheduling, interview coordination, and candidate communications Assists hiring managers with recruiting administration and hiring workflows Supports offer letter preparation and pre-employment requirements Helps maintain accurate candidate and hiring records Provides a professional and welcoming candidate experience throughout the recruiting process Compliance & Recordkeeping Maintains organized and accurate employee records in accordance with company policies and applicable requirements Supports recurring People compliance audits, including employee records, wage and hour data, required certifications, work authorization documentation, and policy acknowledgments Tracks required employee certifications, licenses, and training documentation Assists with maintaining required workplace notices, forms, and People documentation across locations Supports documentation and record collection for internal reviews, audits, benefits administration, and compliance requirements Identifies missing, inconsistent, or potentially inaccurate employee information and escalates concerns for review Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion when handling employee and company information Employee Relations & Culture Support Provides responsive and hospitality-driven support to team members and managers on routine People questions Helps reinforce Tacombi policies, People processes, and employee resources Supports documentation related to coaching, performance management, and corrective action processes as directed by the People team Identifies employee concerns requiring additional review and promptly escalates them to the People & Culture Manager or Director of People Supports employee engagement, recognition, communication, and culture initiatives Reinforces Tacombi's culture as a organization by helping team members access the information, tools, and resources needed to succeed and grow Qualifications 1-3 years of experience in Human Resources, People Operations, payroll administration, HR coordination, or a related role Experience working in hospitality, restaurants, retail, or another multi-unit environment strongly preferred Experience supporting payroll, timekeeping, benefits, leave administration, or HRIS processes preferred Experience with ADP Workforce Now, 7shifts, or similar HRIS/payroll and timekeeping platforms strongly preferred Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines Ability to work independently while knowing when to escalate issues or request additional guidance Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a service-oriented approach Ability to handle confidential and sensitive employee information with discretion Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where priorities may change quickly Strong working knowledge of Google Workspace or similar business applications Passion for hospitality, culture, and creating a positive employee experience Bilingual English/Spanish preferred Physical Expectations Ability to move effectively and safely throughout taqueria environments Ability to read, write, and speak English Ability to utilize basic computer programs such as email, Google Sheets, Google Docs, Google Slides, time and attendance programs such as 7shifts, and HRIS platforms such as ADP Workforce Now Ability to be on-site across NYC taquerias as needed Ability to travel to satellite markets as needed Comfortable working in environments with heat, humidity, cold storage, and exposure to common allergens, with or without reasonable accommodation More detail about Tacombi - NYC part of Tacombi