Human Resources Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle HR operations within a manufacturing plant, including skilled trades recruiting, onboarding, workforce planning, and performance management.
• Serve as a strategic partner to plant leadership on labor planning, productivity improvement, and organizational effectiveness.
• Ensure HR practices align with manufacturing demands, production schedules, and operational goals.
• Drive employee engagement initiatives that support retention and a high-performance culture on the shop floor.
• Interpret and apply HR policies consistently in a fast-paced, production-driven environment.

Employee Relations & Workforce Support

• Actively support a large hourly workforce, addressing employee concerns, conducting investigations, and resolving workplace issues with fairness and consistency.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive, and team-oriented manufacturing culture.
• Partner with supervisors and frontline leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness and accountability.
• Ensure consistent application of attendance, conduct, and performance standards across shifts.

Safety, Health & Environmental (EHS) Leadership

• Partners with operations and safety teams to reinforce a proactive, behavior-based safety culture in machining, assembly, and heavy manufacturing environments.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA standards and internal safety protocols specific to industrial equipment, machining processes, and production operations.
• Oversee workers’ compensation claims, return-to-work programs, and injury prevention initiatives.
• Support safety training programs tailored to manufacturing hazards (e.g., lockout/tagout, machine guarding, ergonomics, and PPE).
• Monitor, track, and analyze safety metrics (TRIR, lost time, near misses) to drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with environmental consultants on compliance related to manufacturing operations, including waste handling, emissions, and permitting.

Talent Acquisition & Development

• Lead recruitment efforts for skilled manufacturing roles, including machinists, assemblers, technicians, and engineering talent.
• Support workforce development initiatives, including apprenticeship programs, technical training, and upskilling.
• Partner with leadership to build succession plans for critical plant roles.
• Coach leaders on performance management, goal setting, and employee development practices.

Compliance & HR Operations

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, as well as industry-specific regulations affecting manufacturing operations.
• Maintain accurate HR records, workforce analytics, and reporting to support decision-making.
• Support internal audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Leverage HR systems to improve efficiency, reporting accuracy, and workforce insights.

Qualifications

• Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive HR experience, preferably within a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Demonstrated experience supporting workplace safety programs and OSHA compliance in a production setting
• Preferred:
• Professional HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP)
• Experience in heavy manufacturing, machining, or industrial equipment environments
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or Kaizen practices

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership presence on the manufacturing floor
• Excellent communication and coaching skills with frontline supervisors and operations leaders
• Ability to balance employee advocacy with business and production needs
• Data-driven decision-making using HR and safety metrics
• Hands-on, proactive approach in a fast-paced industrial setting
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence

Work Environment

• Daily presence in a manufacturing facility with exposure to machining, assembly, and production operations
• Frequent interaction with hourly employees, supervisors, and plant leadership
• Occasional off-shift, weekend, or extended hours required to support production schedules, safety incidents, or operational needs