Bilingual (English / Spanish) 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. We employ approximately 4,400 people company-wide and are 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.
About the role
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
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- Bilingual (English & Spanish) preferred.
- 2–5+ years of HR experience, preferably in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
- Foundational knowledge of employee relations, labor laws, and HR processes.
Skills
- 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.