Human Resources Manager – Bilingual English/Spanish

Location: Richmond, CA

Workplace: On-site

Employment Type: Full-time

About the role

Universal Building Services & Supply Co. (UBS) is seeking a hands‑on, bilingual Human Resources Manager to lead the full employee lifecycle, labor and employee relations, compliance, and HR administration for approximately 400 Team Members. Many Team Members prefer to communicate in Spanish, and a significant portion of the workforce is represented by a union. This role partners closely with operations leaders, the VP of Finance, outside employment counsel, and union representatives. It also processes payroll for office and administrative staff and requires regular travel among UBS offices and client sites.

Responsibilities

• Model UBS’s STRIVE values: safety, teamwork, respect, integrity, versatility, and excellence.
• Maintain professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality in all HR interactions.
• Coach supervisors and managers on progressive discipline, employee relations, and policy.
• Support a culture of consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as the primary HR contact with union representatives and build a constructive working relationship.
• Interpret and apply the collective bargaining agreement consistently across offices.
• Manage grievances from intake through resolution, including step meetings, documentation, and deadlines.
• Support bargaining preparation, contract negotiations, and union information requests.
• Conduct prompt, impartial investigations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and conduct complaints in English and Spanish.
• Escalate sensitive, high‑risk, or legally complex matters to the VP of Finance and outside employment counsel.
• Prepare findings, warnings, performance‑improvement plans, and termination decision memoranda.
• Ensure every separation follows UBS approval processes and is supported by complete documentation.
• Coordinate final pay, required notices, separation agreements, and return of company property.
• Ensure compliance with California and federal employment law, including wage‑and‑hour requirements, leaves of absence, FEHA, PAGA, Cal/OSHA, and SB 553 workplace‑violence‑prevention requirements.
• Serve as the day‑to‑day liaison with outside employment counsel on claims, demand letters, agency charges, and litigation holds.
• Respond to EDD, CRD, DIR/DLSE, Cal/OSHA, and other agency requests and audits.
• Support Finance and Operations with public‑works compliance, including DIR registration, prevailing wage, certified payroll records, and required postings and notices.
• Administer CFRA, FMLA, and PDL leaves, as well as the interactive process for accommodations.
• Support safety‑training administration, injury reporting, and workers’ compensation claims.
• Draft, update, and roll out HR policies and the employee handbook in English and Spanish.
• Lead full‑cycle recruiting for frontline, supervisory, and office roles, including high‑volume hiring.
• Ensure job postings, interviews, and background checks comply with California pay‑transparency and Fair Chance Act requirements.
• Process onboarding, Form I‑9 compliance, terminations, and status changes.
• Maintain accurate personnel files and records in Paycor.
• Process payroll for office and administrative staff accurately and on schedule; submit each payroll to the VP of Finance for review and approval before release.
• Serve as primary liaison for UBS’s mobile time‑punch program and support supervisors with timekeeping and PTO questions.
• Administer benefits coordination, required training, recognition logistics, and HR reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Eight or more years of progressive HR experience, including hands‑on generalist work and at least five years supporting a unionized workforce.
• Experience supporting a blue‑collar, hourly workforce, such as janitorial, facilities, hospitality, logistics, or manufacturing.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Spanish.
• Demonstrated experience managing grievances, investigations, discipline, and terminations from start to finish.
• Strong working knowledge of California employment law, including wage‑and‑hour, leave, and FEHA requirements.
• Hands‑on payroll‑processing experience; Paycor experience