People Operations Manager

On-site | Full-time | Northeast Tool & Manufacturing, Charlotte, NC

About Us

At Northeast Tool & Manufacturing we build precision components that help launch rockets, power fighter jets, and keep commercial aircraft flying safely. Behind our cutting-edge equipment and technology is an even stronger team.

We’re a growing, advanced manufacturing company supporting the space, military defense, and commercial aviation sectors. As we expand, we’re looking for a People Operations Manager to strengthen our team, elevate our employee experience, and help us attract and retain top talent.

The Opportunity

As our People Operations Manager, you’ll be the go-to person for everything people-related, including recruiting, onboarding, culture-building, compliance, and employee engagement. You’ll balance hands-on HR work with strategic people initiatives that support a high-performance, safety-conscious, and values-driven environment. You’ll design the people strategy that fuels our next chapter, ensuring every hire, process, and program helps our team move faster, stay engaged, and reach new levels of excellence. You’ll have the freedom to shape our people structure, processes, and experience from the ground up, bringing modern practices to a high-precision, mission-driven environment. If you’re a builder who loves turning vision into systems, culture into strategy, and people into our greatest competitive advantage, this is your opportunity to lead with impact.

What You’ll Do

Own Talent & Hiring

• Partner with hiring managers to define roles and attract top Machinists, Engineers, and Support Staff Personnel.
• Manage the full-cycle recruitment process from job posting and interviewing to offer and onboarding.
• Build relationships with trade schools, technical programs, and local partners to expand talent pipeline and to upskill current workforce.
• Grow the reach and structure of existing Apprenticeship Program to attract early-career talent.

Build & Elevate People Operations

• Design and implement scalable HR processes, from recruiting and onboarding to performance and development.
• Evaluate what’s working, identify gaps, and lead initiatives to strengthen our people infrastructure to be data driven.
• Support payroll and benefits administration in coordination with our Accounting and Finance teams.

Champion A High-Performance Culture

• Champion our company culture by organizing team events, recognition programs, communication strategies, and employee feedback initiatives.
• Develop employer branding strategy to drive both cultural and operational success.
• Serve as a trusted resource for employees, helping with professional development, performance conversations, and workplace issues.
• Build leadership capability through coaching, feedback tools, and development programs.
• Collaborate with leadership to evolve our people strategy as we scale.

What You’ll Bring

• 5–8 years of progressive HR or People Operations experience, ideally in manufacturing, aerospace, or technical industries.
• A strategic mindset - you think about People Operations as a growth engine, not a support function.
• A data-informed, action-oriented mindset that is comfortable working in a fast-paced, high accountability environment.
• A skillset in both people strategy and hands-on execution; equally comfortable in the office or on the shop floor.
• A passion about culture, leadership, and unlocking performance through people.
• A solid understanding of HR fundamentals: recruiting, onboarding, compliance, and employee relations.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust across all levels of the organization.
• An ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously with focus, organization, and composure, keeping deadlines and strategic impact on track.