Human Resources Generalist

Waukegan Steel is a structural steel fabricator serving the Midwest construction markets. Our team has worked on various projects throughout the Midwest including, Soldier Field, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Navy Pier, Willis Tower, Northwestern Welsh-Ryan Arena, Washington/Wabash CTA Platform, Ravinia Festival, and Lincoln Park Zoo.

Position Summary

The Human Resources Generalist serves as a trusted business partner to plant leadership and employees, providing hands-on support across a broad range of human resources functions including talent acquisition, onboarding, employee relations, payroll and benefits support, policy administration, HR compliance, safety initiatives, training, and organizational development.

This position supports multiple manufacturing locations and works closely with operations leadership to strengthen employee engagement, improve the employee experience, implement consistent HR practices, and standardize processes across the organization. The successful candidate will be highly visible in the operation and will demonstrate strong judgment, confidentiality, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Essential Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Manage full-cycle recruiting for hourly, skilled trades, technical, administrative, and salaried positions.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing needs, position requirements, and workforce priorities.
• Develop recruiting strategies using job boards, referrals, social media, LinkedIn outreach, community resources, technical schools, staffing partners, and local networking opportunities.
• Screen applicants, coordinate interviews, participate in selection discussions, and support timely hiring decisions.
• Maintain applicant tracking records, recruiting documentation, and staffing metrics.
• Support workforce planning efforts to help ensure appropriate staffing levels across supported locations.

Onboarding & Employee Integration

• Coordinate pre-employment activities including offer letters, background checks, drug screens, new hire paperwork, and start-date communications.
• Conduct or coordinate new employee orientation and ensure employees receive required policy, safety, benefits, payroll, and facility information.
• Partner with supervisors and managers to support successful employee integration during the initial employment period.
• Monitor onboarding effectiveness and recommend improvements to enhance the new hire experience and retention.

Employee Relations & Employee Support

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employees and supervisors regarding HR-related questions and concerns.
• Provide guidance on employee relations matters, attendance issues, policy interpretation, performance coaching, corrective action, and workplace concerns.
• Support managers in resolving employee issues while promoting consistent, respectful, and legally compliant employment practices.
• Assist with employee communications, recognition efforts, engagement activities, and company events.
• Help build positive employee relations by maintaining a strong presence on the plant floor and developing effective working relationships with employees and leaders.

Payroll & Benefits Support

• Respond to employee questions regarding payroll, timekeeping, benefits, leave programs, and HR policies.
• Assist employees with benefit enrollment, open enrollment, life event changes, and general benefits administration questions.
• Coordinate with payroll, benefits, and HR teams at National Material L.P. to ensure accurate employee information and timely issue resolution.
• Support leave administration processes, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers' compensation coordination, and other applicable leave programs.

Policy Administration, HR Compliance & Safety Support

• Interpret and consistently apply company policies, procedures, employee handbook provisions, and HR practices.
• Assist with the implementation, communication, and administration of HR policies and initiatives across supported locations.
• Support HR compliance activities involving FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO, harassment prevention, leave administration, recordkeeping, employee documentation, and other federal, state, and local employment requirements.
• Assist with employee relations investigations, policy violations, workplace concerns, and compliance-related matters.
• Maintain employee records and HR documentation in accordance with company standards and legal requirements.
• Support the organization's safety culture by partnering with plant leadership to promote safe work practices, employee accountability, and active employee participation.
• Assist with safety training administration, safety communications, incident documentation, workers' compensation coordination, return-to-work activities, and safety committee initiatives as needed.
• Participate in facility audits, safety meetings, and compliance initiatives when requested.

Multi-Site HR Support & Process Standardization

• Provide HR support to multiple manufacturing facilities and partner with local leadership teams to ensure consistent application of HR practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve, simplify, and standardize HR processes, forms, communications, onboarding practices, and employee-facing procedures.
• Promote HR best practices across locations while recognizing site-specific operational needs.
• Support HR projects and continuous-improvement initiatives focused on organizational effectiveness, compliance, communication, and employee experience.

Training & Organizational Development

• Coordinate employee training programs, compliance training, and development initiatives.
• Support performance management processes, employee development planning, and succession planning activities.
• Assist with identifying training needs and implementing programs that improve employee capabilities, supervisor effectiveness, and organizational performance.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, psychology, or a related field preferred.
• Three to five years of Human Resources experience preferred.
• Human resources experience in a manufacturing, distribution, industrial, or multi-shift environment is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, payroll, benefits, HR compliance, leave administration, and employee communications.
• Experience working in a multi-site environment preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Understanding of HR best practices and federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Excellent interpersonal, written communication, verbal communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to build credibility and effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, managers, and executive team.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Sound judgment, high integrity, and demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Experience with HRIS, payroll and applicant tracking systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with the Waukegan Steel management team broader NMLP HR team.

Preferred Qualifications

• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification a plus.
• Experience with Dayforce, UKG, ADP, Workday, or similar HRIS/payroll systems.
• Experience supporting manufacturing or distribution operations.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills a plus.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in both office and manufacturing plant environments.
• Ability to walk through production areas, interact with employees on the plant floor, and attend meetings across supported locations.
• Primary location will be Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin with travel to other company facilities.
• Must be able to maintain professionalism and confidentiality in a high-volume, employee-facing role.

Waukegan Steel is an Equal Opportunity Employer EEO-M/F/D/V and encourages Diverse Candidates to Apply