HR Generalist, Central Division (North Dakota)

Location: North Dakota (Various Onsite Locations between Dickinson and Minot)

Reports To: Divisional HR Manager – Central

This is a full-time, salaried (exempt) position. Preferred working hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Additional hours may be required as needed to support employees, leadership, and business operations.

Position Overview

Kelso Industries is the Nation’s Preferred MEP+ Solutions Partner. Through their partner companies, Kelso is one of the leading mechanical, plumbing, and electrical contractors in the North Dakota region specializing in commercial and industrial piping, HVAC, and refrigeration.  Kelso is seeking a proactive and people‑focused HR Generalist to support our expanding team.

In this role, you will help shape the employee experience from onboarding through offboarding, strengthen team engagement, support day‑to‑day HR operations, reinforce compliance, and contribute to a culture where employees feel valued and supported. Working closely with OpCo leadership and the Divisional HR Manager, you will play a meaningful part in ensuring our HR function is responsive, thoughtful, and aligned with the needs of the business. This role will support multiple different business units between Minot and Dickinson, ND. 

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Support

• Serve as a trusted resource for employees at all levels, providing guidance on workplace concerns, HR policies, and procedures.
• Support supervisors with performance conversations, documentation, coaching, and conflict resolution.
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality and professionalism.

Benefits, Leave & HR Administration

• Assist employees with benefits questions, enrollment changes, and 401(k) inquiries.
• Support FMLA, ADA, short‑term disability, workers’ compensation, and return‑to‑work processes.
• Maintain accurate HRIS data and confidential personnel files.

Onboarding & Employee Experience

• Facilitate a welcoming and structured onboarding process.
• Coordinate pre‑employment requirements, new hire documentation, and orientation.
• Support appreciation events and employee engagement initiatives.

Offboarding & Transition Support

• Coordinate exit steps, documentation, equipment collection, and system access removal.
• Conduct exit interviews and share insights for retention and manager coaching.
• Ensure offboarding is completed with professionalism, empathy, and accuracy.

Training & Leadership Support

• Create and present HR‑related training for managers.
• Coordinate additional development opportunities and track completions.
• Partner with leadership to identify workforce needs and mitigate HR-related risks.
• Track and report on key HR metrics (turnover, onboarding completion, compliance deadlines, engagement, etc.) to support decision-making.

Compliance & Policy Management

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Support handbook updates and HR procedure improvements.
• Assist with audits, reporting, and data analysis.
• Partner with operations and safety leadership to support OSHA compliance, safety training tracking, incident documentation, and workers’ compensation processes as needed.
• Be a champion for safety standards and protocols by holding self, leaders and field employees to the highest standards. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of progressive HR experience; construction or field-service industry experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws (FMLA, ADA, FLSA, etc.).
• Experience with employee relations, recruiting, and HR administration.
• Demonstrated ability to build and implement scalable HR processes in a fast-paced, field-based environment, balancing structure with flexibility and effective change management.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred (not required).

Work Environment & Physical Expectations

• Primarily office‑based between multiple locations with occasional jobsite visits.
• Ability to sit/stand for extended periods; occasional lifting of 20–25 lbs.