Plant Human Resources Manager

ESC has an exciting opportunity for a Plant Human Resources Manager to support a manufacturing facility in Evansville, IN. This full-time opportunity is ideal for an experienced HR professional with a strong manufacturing background and hands-on union labor relations experience. The Plant Human Resources Manager will serve as a key partner to plant leadership, employees, and union representatives while overseeing day-to-day HR operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This individual will help foster positive working relationships across the facility while providing knowledgeable and confident HR guidance. The ideal candidate is approachable, employee-focused, and comfortable working closely with both union and management teams. They should be able to communicate effectively and handle challenging situations with professionalism and empathy. This position supports a large, active manufacturing operation with multiple shifts and a continuous production environment.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary HR partner for plant leadership, employees, and union representatives

• Manage day-to-day HR operations within a fast-paced manufacturing and plant environment

• Lead employee relations and labor relations activities, including grievance resolution and contract administration

• Maintain a strong working relationship between plant management and union representatives while appropriately representing company policies and expectations

• Handle challenging employee and labor relations situations with confidence, professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment

• Support union communications and labor-related matters, including arbitration when necessary

• Provide guidance to plant leadership on employee relations, policy interpretation, performance concerns, and workforce issues

• Ensure employees feel heard and supported while maintaining appropriate boundaries and consistently applying company policies

• Oversee and support compliance with applicable company policies and state and federal employment laws

• Administer and support FMLA, workers’ compensation, return-to-work, and other employee leave programs

• Manage recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding activities for hourly plant positions

• Partner with plant leadership on workforce planning, staffing needs, and recruiting priorities

• Support benefits administration and serve as a resource for employee questions and concerns

• Coordinate and support plant safety programs, training activities, OSHA logs, hearing testing, and corporate safety reporting

• Partner with plant management on HR strategy, workforce needs, employee engagement, and process improvement initiatives

• Provide leadership, direction, and day-to-day guidance to the HR Assistant

• Mentor and support the development of the HR Assistant as they grow toward broader HR Generalist responsibilities

• Help ensure the HR function provides consistent, responsive, and effective support to employees across multiple shifts

• Manage multiple competing priorities while remaining visible and engaged with day-to-day plant operations

Must Have Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field

• 3 years of HR experience within a manufacturing, plant, or industrial environment

• Previous hands-on experience supporting a unionized workforce and managing labor relations is required

• Experience with employee relations, grievance resolution, and contract administration

• Recent or current experience working closely with day-to-day manufacturing or plant operations

• Strong understanding of employment practices, HR compliance, and workplace policies

• Experience supporting FMLA, workers’ compensation, and return-to-work programs

• Experience recruiting and hiring hourly employees

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with employees, union representatives, and plant leadership

• Ability to handle difficult conversations, stand firm when necessary, and communicate decisions with professionalism and empathy

• Confidence working independently and making sound decisions in a complex employee and labor relations environment

• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HR-related systems

Nice to Have Qualifications:

• Experience with Workday or other HRIS platforms

• Experience using HRIS or recruiting systems to support hiring and employee data management

• Previous experience managing or mentoring HR staff

• Experience supporting a large manufacturing workforce across multiple shifts

• Experience working in a 24/7 or continuous manufacturing environment

• Experience supporting plant safety programs and OSHA-related reporting

• Experience partnering directly with plant leadership on workforce planning and HR strategy