HR Manager

Who We Are:

♿️ Redefining ♿︎ mobility since 1987

🚗 Leading manufacturer and retailer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles

📍 Nationwide, family-owned & operated, headquartered in Battle Creek, MI

The HR Manager is responsible for leading all HR functions at Freedom Motors USA, including talent acquisition, employee relations, benefits administration, compliance, performance management, and HR policy development. This role is both strategic and hands-on — you will serve as a trusted partner to leadership and a go-to resource for employees across the organization. You will play a central role in cultivating the people-first culture that defines Freedom Motors.

What you'll do:

• Talent Acquisition & Onboarding
• Manage full-cycle recruiting for all departments — manufacturing, engineering, sales, and administrative — to attract and retain top talent.
• Partner with department managers to develop accurate job descriptions and define hiring criteria.
• Design and oversee structured onboarding programs that set new employees up for success from day one.
• Build relationships with local colleges, trade schools, and workforce development organizations to support a strong talent pipeline.
• Employee Relations & Culture
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee concerns, workplace conflicts, and disciplinary matters, applying a fair, consistent, and legally sound approach.
• Investigate complaints and HR-related issues promptly and thoroughly, maintaining confidentiality throughout.
• Promote a positive, inclusive work environment that reflects Freedom Motors' people-first values.
• Coordinate employee recognition programs, team events, and engagement initiatives.
• Performance Management
• Oversee the annual performance review process, ensuring timely completion and consistency across departments.
• Partner with managers to set performance improvement plans (PIPs) when needed, coaching both managers and employees through the process.
• Administer merit increase and compensation adjustment processes in alignment with cost-of-living benchmarks, market surveys, and company budget.
• Develop and deliver manager training on feedback, coaching, and performance documentation best practices.
• Benefits & Compensation Administration
• Administer employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, life/AD&D, accident, identity theft protection, and FSA.
• Serve as the primary liaison with benefits brokers and insurance carriers; manage open enrollment processes annually.
• Educate employees on available benefits and assist with enrollment questions or claims issues.
• Conduct regular compensation benchmarking to ensure Freedom Motors remains competitive in the local and regional labor market.
• HR Compliance & Policy
• Ensure organizational compliance with federal, Michigan state, and local employment laws.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records in the HRIS system.
• Develop, update, and communicate HR policies and the employee handbook.
• Manage unemployment claims, workers' compensation cases, and leave of absence administration.
• HR Strategy & Reporting
• Partner with senior leadership to align HR initiatives with overall business goals and workforce needs.
• Track and report on key HR metrics including turnover, time-to-fill, absenteeism, and headcount.
• Identify workforce trends and proactively recommend solutions to support company growth and employee retention.
• Support organizational change initiatives and manage communications around HR-related changes.
  
  

What you’ll need:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2 years in a management or lead HR role.
• Working knowledge of Michigan and federal employment law and HR compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience managing employee relations, performance management, and benefits administration.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust across all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
  
  
  

This job description is meant to provide an overview of the duties and responsibilities of this position. It is not intended to be an all inclusive listing.