Manager, People & Culture (Manufacturing)

About the role

The Manager, People & Culture (Manufacturing) serves as the primary People & Culture leader for Stratus' manufacturing operations in San Antonio, TX, Lexington, SC, and Elmhurst, IL. Partnering closely with plant leadership, this role helps build a high-performing and engaged workforce while aligning People & Culture strategies with operational goals.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary People & Culture Business Partner for all manufacturing operations.
• Build trusted partnerships with EVP, Manufacturing, and other Plant leaders to align workforce strategies with business objectives.
• Participate as an active member of plant leadership teams and attend regular production, staffing, and operational meetings.
• Provide coaching and guidance to leaders on organizational effectiveness, leadership development, workforce planning, and employee engagement.
• Lead complex employee relations matters including investigations, conflict resolution, corrective action, performance management, and policy design and interpretation.
• Conduct objective and timely workplace investigations while ensuring appropriate documentation. Coach managers on employee conversations and employment decisions. Partner with leaders on employee offboarding decisions and processes.
• Maintain a positive employee relations climate while balancing business needs and compliance requirements.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor through regular Gemba walks, shift meetings, and employee interactions to strengthen relationships, identify workforce trends, and support operational excellence.
• Conduct ongoing pulse sensing with production employees to identify questions, concerns, barriers, and engagement opportunities. Develop action plans from employee feedback and partner with plant leadership on implementation.
• Plan and execute employee engagement activities, recognition programs, celebrations, communication meetings, and plant events. Partner with leadership to strengthen employee morale, retention, teamwork, and overall workplace culture.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to support hourly and salaried manufacturing hiring. Participate in interviews and selection activities for key manufacturing positions. Support onboarding activities to ensure successful employee integration.
• Support onboarding activities to ensure successful employee integration. In partnership with Learning & Development team, oversee, facilitate, and enhance manufacturing New Hire Orientation as needed.
• Assist in identifying training needs across manufacturing operations. Assist in coordinating and delivering onboarding, compliance, leadership, and operational training. Support implementation of structured On-the-Job Training (OJT) programs in partnership with Operations and Learning & Development.
• Help develop career progression and internal promotion pathways within manufacturing.
• Coach leaders on goal setting, performance feedback, coaching conversations, and performance improvement planning. Support annual performance review and mid-year check-in processes in partnership with Talent Management. Identify high-potential talent and partner on succession planning efforts. Support workforce planning initiatives and organizational design discussions.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws across multiple states. Partner with Safety and Operations on workplace accommodations, FMLA, state leave of absence, workers' compensation, and return-to-work programs. Maintain compliance with company policies and employment practices.
• Conduct periodic audits of People & Culture processes and documentation. Recommend policy improvements based on changing legislation and business needs.
• Analyze workforce metrics including: Turnover, Retention, Attendance, Overtime, Engagement, Vacancies, Performance trends, etc. Present insights and recommendations to manufacturing leadership. Develop and recommend action plans based on workforce data.
• Identify opportunities to improve People & Culture processes that enhance the employee experience and operational efficiency. Standardize P&C processes across all manufacturing facilities. Support Lean Manufacturing initiatives through effective change management and employee communication.
• Participate in cross-functional improvement initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or equivalent work experience preferred.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience required.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing HR professionals in manufacturing setting preferred.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, industrial, distribution, or production environments required.
• Multi-site HR experience preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and HR compliance requirements.
• Strong understanding of employee relations principles, workplace investigations, and conflict resolution practices.
• Working knowledge of performance management, talent development, organizational development, and change management methodologies.
• Understanding of workforce planning, succession planning, and employee engagement strategies.
• Familiarity with HR metrics, workforce analytics, and data-driven decision making.
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building, and consultative partnership skills.
• Prominent ability to coach and influence leaders at all levels of the organization.