Human Resource Generalist

Waupaca Foundry, Inc. is North America’s leading supplier of iron castings and has a history of innovation with a legacy of product quality. Waupaca Foundry employs approximately 4,400 people company-wide.

Waupaca Foundry is committed to relentless improvement, forward-thinking sustainability initiatives, and providing a reliable experience to the millions who use our castings every day. Our goal is to employ individuals who take pride in their work within a culture of continual innovation.

Waupaca Foundry is proud to be an employer of choice for those driven and skilled individuals seeking rewarding careers by producing top quality castings.

You will be right at home at Waupaca Foundry.

Cast Your Own Future.

More information is available on our website www.waupacafoundry.com

Human Resource Generalist

Summary

Job Summary

The Plant HR Generalist serves as a key member of the site leadership team, responsible for executing and advancing people strategies that enable operational performance. Reporting to the HR Manager, this role is evolving from a transactional support function into a proactive partner to frontline leaders—driving workforce outcomes across hiring, engagement, performance, and compliance.

This position plays a critical role in building a high-performing, stable, and skilled workforce aligned to the company’s business objectives and HR transformation agenda.

Responsibilities

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Workforce Execution & Talent Delivery

• Partner with supervisors and managers to execute workforce plans (headcount, hiring, shift coverage)
• Support full-cycle hourly recruiting in partnership with TA (sourcing, screening, hiring decisions)
• Monitor and improve key staffing metrics (time-to-fill, vacancy rates, new hire retention)
• Drive onboarding effectiveness and early tenure success (0–90 day retention focus)
  
  

Employee Relations & Frontline Leadership Support

• Serve as the first point of contact for employee relations issues, ensuring fair, consistent, and timely resolution
• Coach supervisors on performance management, disciplinary actions, and employee communication
• Conduct investigations and recommend actions aligned with company policy and legal standards
• Identify systemic issues and escalate trends to HR Manager
  
  

Performance & Engagement Execution

• Support rollout and adoption of performance management processes (goal setting, reviews, feedback loops)
• Reinforce a culture of accountability and pay-for-performance
• Partner with leaders to improve employee engagement, attendance, and retention
• Execute engagement action plans based on employee feedback and site-specific challenges
  
  

Skills, Development & Workforce Capability

• Support implementation of skills-based frameworks (e.g., maintenance skill tiers, operator progression)
• Track and coordinate training completion and capability development
• Partner with leaders to identify skill gaps and workforce risks
• Reinforce career pathing and internal mobility initiatives
  
  

HR Operations & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and company policies
• Maintain accurate employee records and HR systems (HRIS, timekeeping, etc.)
• Support payroll inputs, audits, and data integrity
• Execute standardized HR processes with discipline and consistency
  
  

Data, Metrics & Continuous Improvement

Track and analyze key workforce metrics:

Turnover (especially <1 year and <3 years tenure)

Absenteeism

Overtime

Vacancy rates

Use data to identify trends and recommend actions to improve plant performance

Participate in plant and HR operating rhythms (daily/weekly/monthly reviews)

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all of the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA.

Preferred Education/ Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Bilingual (English & Spanish)
• 2–5 years of HR experience, preferably in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Foundational knowledge of employee relations, labor laws, and HR processes
  
  

Core Competencies

Business & Operational Acumen

• Understands plant operations, workforce dynamics, and how HR impacts productivity and cost
  
  

Frontline Influence

• Builds credibility with supervisors and can coach through difficult people situations
  
  

Execution Excellence

• Delivers consistent, high-quality HR processes with attention to detail and follow-through
  
  

Data Orientation

• Uses metrics to identify issues and guide decisions—not just report activity
  
  

Change Agility

• Adapts to evolving HR processes and helps drive transformation at the site level
  
  

Waupaca Foundry is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.