Human Resources Manager

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced and highly visible Plant Human Resources Manager to serve as the lead HR partner for a manufacturing facility of approximately 150 employees. This role is responsible for providing strategic and hands-on HR leadership while partnering closely with plant leadership to support business objectives, employee engagement, workforce planning, and labor relations.

This is an excellent opportunity for an HR professional who enjoys being embedded within operations, influencing plant culture, and serving as a trusted advisor to leadership. The successful candidate will bring a proactive, solutions-oriented approach and possess the confidence to challenge thinking, advocate for employees, and drive positive organizational change.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Partnership

• Serve as the primary HR leader for the facility and a trusted advisor to the Plant Manager and site leadership team.
• Partner with operations leadership to align people strategies with business goals and plant performance objectives.
• Drive employee engagement, retention, workforce planning, and culture-building initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, policies, and employee programs while fostering a positive work environment.

Employee Relations & Labor Relations

• Manage complex employee relations matters, investigations, corrective actions, and performance management processes.
• Serve as a resource for supervisors and managers on employee issues and policy interpretation.
• Support labor relations activities within a unionized environment, including grievance administration and interpretation of the collective bargaining agreement.
• Partner with labor relations leadership and corporate HR on escalated employee and union-related matters.
• Maintain productive relationships with union representatives while ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development

• Lead recruiting efforts for hourly and salaried positions within the facility.
• Partner with hiring managers to develop effective staffing strategies and improve hiring outcomes.
• Support onboarding, training, employee development, and succession planning initiatives.
• Promote programs that strengthen employee engagement, retention, and overall workforce capability.

Compliance, Benefits & Leave Administration

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and company policies.
• Administer and manage employee leaves, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers’ compensation, and related programs.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HR documentation.
• Support audits, reporting requirements, and compliance initiatives.

HR Systems & Process Improvement

• Support continued optimization and adoption of Workday across the facility.
• Maintain HR data integrity and oversee employee transactions within HR systems.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues across multiple locations to share best practices and implement process improvements.
• Travel periodically to other company facilities to learn and implement successful HR initiatives and operational best practices.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous experience serving as the lead HR professional or HR Manager within a manufacturing, distribution, or industrial environment.
• Experience supporting employee populations of 100 employees.
• Strong employee relations experience, including investigations, performance management, corrective action, and conflict resolution.
• Knowledge of FMLA, ADA, workers' compensation, unemployment, and employment law compliance.
• Strong communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently while influencing leaders at all levels of the organization.

Preferred

• Experience supporting a unionized workforce.
• Working knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and grievance administration.
• Experience with Workday or similar HRIS platforms.
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will:

• Serve as a strong business partner to plant leadership.
• Build credibility and trust with employees across all levels of the facility.
• Help strengthen and sustain a positive plant culture.
• Balance employee advocacy with sound business judgment.
• Bring forward new ideas and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Operate confidently and professionally within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.