What are the responsibilities and job description for the HR Generalist - Manufacturing position at AFL?
AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $3B in revenue, and employ approximately 12,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.
What We Offer
The Human Resources Generalist provides day-to-day HR support for manufacturing operations by partnering with supervisors, employees, and the site HR leader. This role helps deliver consistent HR services across staffing, onboarding, employee relations support, training coordination, and HR compliance for hourly and salaried populations.
The HR Generalist spends regular time on the production floor to understand operations and respond quickly to employee questions. The position supports standard processes (attendance, documentation, timekeeping, and policy interpretation) and escalates complex issues appropriately.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
What We Offer
- Flexible time off policy
- 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)
- Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs
- Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options
- Opportunities for career advancement with an industry leading company!
The Human Resources Generalist provides day-to-day HR support for manufacturing operations by partnering with supervisors, employees, and the site HR leader. This role helps deliver consistent HR services across staffing, onboarding, employee relations support, training coordination, and HR compliance for hourly and salaried populations.
The HR Generalist spends regular time on the production floor to understand operations and respond quickly to employee questions. The position supports standard processes (attendance, documentation, timekeeping, and policy interpretation) and escalates complex issues appropriately.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
- Provide front-line HR support to employees and supervisors, answering questions and interpreting policies and procedures.
- Coordinate and support hourly recruiting activities (posting, screening, interview scheduling, offer/contingency steps) in partnership with the site HR leader, Recruiting Team and hiring managers.
- Support employee relations activities, including intake, basic fact-finding, documentation, and routing/escalation of higher-risk investigations.
- Assist with performance management and corrective action by preparing documentation, tracking follow-ups, and reinforcing consistent application of work rules and attendance practices.
- Support leave and accommodation processes by collecting paperwork, maintaining records, and partnering with corporate/shared services or vendors as required.
- Partner with Payroll/Timekeeping to help resolve timecard issues, support schedule setup, and promote accurate time capture.
- Coordinate training logistics (sessions, rosters, completion tracking) for compliance and site initiatives; maintain training records as required.
- Partner with EHS and Operations to promote a safety-first culture by helping communicate requirements, coordinating training, and supporting documentation processes.
- Maintain personnel files and HRIS data integrity; ensure confidentiality and proper record retention.
- Support HR reporting by tracking basic site metrics (turnover, absenteeism, time-to-fill) and preparing updates for site leadership.
- Strong customer service mindset with the ability to build trust with hourly employees and supervisors.
- Clear communication skills (written and verbal) and comfort working with shop-floor audiences.
- Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential information.
- Ability to follow standard processes, maintain accurate documentation, and meet deadlines.
- Detail-oriented with strong organization and follow-through in a fast-paced environment.
- Working knowledge (or ability to learn quickly) of timekeeping, wage and hour basics, and HR compliance requirements.
- Proficiency with HR systems and Microsoft Office; intermediate Excel skills a plus.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 2–5 years of HR experience in a generalist, coordinator, or specialist role; manufacturing/industrial experience preferred.
- Exposure to employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, and HR documentation processes.
- Basic knowledge of wage and hour practices, timekeeping, and recordkeeping; ability to learn site policies quickly.
- Experience coordinating training or HR programs and maintaining accurate tracking records.
- HR certification (SHRM-CP or PHR) preferred but not required.
- Split time between office/administrative work and production floor presence; required to wear appropriate PPE while in manufacturing areas.
- May provide support across shifts as needed (e.g., occasional early mornings, evenings, or weekends) based on operational requirements.
- Occasional travel may be required for training or multi-site collaboration.