Senior Human Resources Manager

About the role

Serve as the primary Human Resources partner for plant leadership and employees.
Partner with operational leaders to align workforce strategies with business objectives and operational goals.
Provide coaching and guidance on employee relations, leadership effectiveness, performance management, conflict resolution, and organizational development.
Drive accountability and leadership capability throughout the organization.
Led initiatives that enhance employee engagement, retention, and workplace culture.
Analyze workforce metrics and trends to identify opportunities and recommend solutions that improve organizational performance.
Lead employee relations activities, including investigations, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and policy interpretation.
Ensure consistent application of company policies, practices, and procedures.
Partner with leaders to manage attendance, performance concerns, corrective actions, and employee development plans.
Maintain a visible presence throughout the facility and across shifts to strengthen employee relationships and engagement.
Support organizational change initiatives and workforce transitions.
Manage the full-cycle recruitment process, including sourcing, interviewing, selection, offers, onboarding, and workforce integration.
Develop talent pipelines through partnerships with technical schools, colleges, workforce agencies, and community organizations.
Partner with leaders to identify current and future staffing needs.
Support succession planning and workforce development strategies.
Lead onboarding programs that reinforce safety expectations, company values, and performance standards.
Identify training and development opportunities that strengthen leadership capabilities and workforce effectiveness.
Facilitate leadership development initiatives focused on communication, accountability, coaching, and employee engagement.
Promote a culture where safety is a core value and shared responsibility.
Partner with Environmental Health and Safety personnel and plant leadership to support regulatory compliance and safety initiatives.
Participate in incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
Oversee employee lifecycle processes, including hiring, transfers, promotions, leaves of absence, and terminations.
Maintain accurate employee information within Workday and other company systems.
Partner with payroll to review timekeeping records, resolve discrepancies, and support payroll accuracy.
Monitor attendance, turnover, engagement, and workforce metrics.
Cook up employee communications, recognition programs, meetings, and plant events.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Support community outreach, workforce development, and employment branding initiatives.
Lead or participate in special projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
Lead and promote healthy and safe work practices as required by regulatory agencies and Company policy.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Human Resources partner for plant leadership and employees.
• Partner with operational leaders to align workforce strategies with business objectives and operational goals.
• Provide coaching and guidance on employee relations, leadership effectiveness, performance management, conflict resolution, and organizational development.
• Drive accountability and leadership capability throughout the organization.
• Lead initiatives that enhance employee engagement, retention, and workplace culture.
• Analyze workforce metrics and trends to identify opportunities and recommend solutions that improve organizational performance.
• Lead employee relations activities, including investigations, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and policy interpretation.
• Ensure consistent application of company policies, practices, and procedures.
• Partner with leaders to manage attendance, performance concerns, corrective actions, and employee development plans.
• Maintain a visible presence throughout the facility and across shifts to strengthen employee relationships and engagement.
• Support organizational change initiatives and workforce transitions.
• Manage the full-cycle recruitment process, including sourcing, interviewing, selection, offers, onboarding, and workforce integration.
• Develop talent pipelines through partnerships with technical schools, colleges, workforce agencies, and community organizations.
• Partner with leaders to identify current and future staffing needs.
• Support succession planning and workforce development strategies.
• Lead onboarding programs that reinforce safety expectations, company values, and performance standards.
• Identify training and development opportunities that strengthen leadership capabilities and workforce effectiveness.
• Facilitate leadership development initiatives focused on communication, accountability, coaching, and employee engagement.
• Promote a culture where safety is a core value and shared responsibility.
• Partner with Environmental Health and Safety personnel and plant leadership to support regulatory compliance and safety initiatives.
• Participate in incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Oversee employee lifecycle processes, including hiring, transfers, promotions, leaves of absence, and terminations.
• Maintain accurate employee information within Workday and other company systems.
• Partner with payroll to review timekeeping records, resolve discrepancies, and support payroll accuracy.
• Monitor attendance, turnover, engagement, and workforce metrics.
• Cook up employee communications, recognition programs, meetings, and plant events.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support community outreach, workforce development, and employment branding initiatives.
• Lead or participate in special projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead and promote healthy and safe work practices as required by regulatory agencies and Company policy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field preferred.
• Experience supporting employee relations, recruiting, performance management, compliance, and leadership development initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with operational leaders in a manufacturing environment.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws, HR compliance requirements, and employee relations practices.
• Strong coaching, conflict resolution, investigation, and problem-solving skills.
• Able to influence and build credibility with leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Human Resources Information Systems, preferably Workday.
• Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Able to maintain regular, full-time, predictable onsite attendance.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of employment laws, HR compliance requirements, and employee relations practices.
• Strong coaching, conflict resolution, investigation, and problem-solving skills.
• Able to influence and build credibility with leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Human Resources Information Systems, preferably Workday.
• Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Able to maintain regular, full-time, predictable onsite attendance.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of employment laws, HR compliance requirements, and employee relations practices.
• Strong coaching, conflict resolution, investigation, and problem-solving skills.
• Able to influence and build credibility with leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Human Resources Information Systems, preferably Workday.
• Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Able to maintain regular, full-time, predictable onsite attendance.

Benefits

Zekelman Industries offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits, including low-cost, high-quality medical and dental benefits. In addition, we have an amazing tuition assistance program, a bonus plan, a 401(k) plan with a generous company match, loyalty awards, and much more: Competitive Compensation
Bonus Plan & Profit-Sharing Opportunities
401(k) with Company Match
Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
Tuition Assistance Program
Paid Vacation & Holidays
Employee Loyalty Awards

Pay

Base Salary Range $113,000—$158,000 USD
Additional Compensation May Include
✔ Performance-based yearly merit increase
✔ Profit-sharing bonus opportunities

Schedule

Full-time, Onsite Position in Rochelle, IL