Personnel Manager

About Optimal

We understand what's at stake during your turnarounds and projects. That's why we lead with integrity, trust, and expertise in everything we do. We retain proven, experienced craftsmen and, with multiple locations nationwide, execute hundreds of customized solutions so our clients can stay ahead of schedule and under budget. At Optimal, you come first—plain and simple.

Position Summary

The Personnel Manager is responsible for workforce administration, employee relations, staffing coordination, onboarding, compliance, and personnel support across field and office operations. This position manages and develops the personnel team, ensuring efficient workforce support while maintaining compliance with company policies and operational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Workforce Coordination & Staffing
• Coordinate manpower requirements with operations and project leadership
• Support workforce planning for projects, maintenance, and turnarounds
• Maintain staffing rosters and employee availability
• Aid with recruiting and placement of field and office personnel
• Cook up mobilization and demobilization of employees
• Employee Onboarding & Orientation
• Manage new hire onboarding process
• Ensure completion of: Employment documentation, Safety orientation, Drug testing, Background checks, MVR reviews, Certifications and credentials verification
• Cook up site-specific onboarding requirements
• Personnel Records & Compliance
• Maintain employee files and workforce records
• Track certifications, licenses, and training requirements
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and company employment requirements
• Support audits and workforce reporting
• Retention & Workforce Stability
• Monitor turnover trends and workforce shortages
• Conduct exit interviews and workforce feedback reviews
• Support retention and employee development initiatives
• Safety & Workforce Readiness
• Partner with safety team to ensure workforce compliance
• Verify training requirements (OSHA, NCCER, TWIC, site-specific training)
• Support return-to-work and workforce fitness requirements

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma required. Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business, HR, construction management, or related field preferred.
• Experience: 5+ years in personnel management, HR, recruiting, workforce coordination, or construction administration. Construction, industrial, or petrochemical experience. Turnaround, shutdown, or outage workforce management experience preferred.
• Key Competencies: Workforce planning and employee coordination, Knowledge of employment practices and workforce compliance, Strong communication and conflict resolution skills, Personnel file management and documentation accuracy, Timekeeping/payroll coordination, Strong organizational and multitasking ability

Why Join Optimal

You'll play a critical role in enabling the workforce that powers some of the most important industrial projects in the country. You'll lead a team at the center of execution—where speed, precision, and leadership directly impact business success.