Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Manager

People Architects is proud to recruit for a Human Resources Manager! Our client is a growing lower-middle-market contract manufacturer that supplies high-quality custom-machined components to advanced industrial technology companies. The organization values integrity, teamwork, accountability, and excellence and is seeking a hands-on HR professional who can help strengthen the employee experience while supporting continued growth and organizational change. We are seeking a hands-on, proactive Human Resources Manager to lead the day-to-day human resources function for a growing manufacturing organization. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR Generalist, Senior HR Generalist, Assistant HR Manager, or similar professional who is ready to step into an entry-level HR management role with broad ownership and visibility.

The successful candidate will have prior HR experience in a small or lower-middle-market industrial or manufacturing company and will be comfortable operating as both a strategic partner and a hands-on practitioner. This individual will work closely with company leadership, frontline supervisors, and employees to strengthen HR practices, maintain compliance, support workforce needs, and foster a high-performance workplace culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary human resources resource for employees, supervisors, and company leadership. Manage day-to-day HR operations and ensure consistent application of company policies, employment practices, and procedures.
• Advise managers and supervisors on employee relations matters, including attendance, performance, conduct, coaching, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
• Lead employee relations activities, investigate workplace concerns, recommend appropriate actions, and help resolve employee issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Manage the recruiting and hiring process for hourly manufacturing, skilled-trade, technical, administrative, and professional positions.
• Partner with hiring managers to identify staffing needs, screen candidates, coordinate interviews, prepare offers, and maintain candidate communications.
• Own the new-hire onboarding process and ensure employees are effectively integrated into the organization.
• Manage employee benefits administration, including enrollment, employee communication, changes, open enrollment, and coordination with benefit providers and brokers.
• Coordinate with Accounting on weekly payroll activities, including new hires, employee changes, promotions, terminations, wage adjustments, deductions, and related payroll information.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS information while ensuring confidentiality, data integrity, and compliance with recordkeeping requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations. Maintain and periodically update employee policies, handbook provisions, job descriptions, forms, and HR procedures.
• Support managers in the performance management process, including goal setting, performance reviews, coaching, corrective action, and employee development.
• Identify training needs and coordinate employee, supervisor, compliance, and professional-development programs.
• Partner with operational leadership on workforce planning, retention, employee engagement, absenteeism, turnover, and other workforce challenges common to manufacturing environments.
• Support workers' compensation, leave administration, return-to-work programs, unemployment claims, and related employee matters.
• Partner with operations and safety leadership on HR-related aspects of workplace safety, employee training, investigations, and regulatory compliance.
• Prepare and analyze HR reports and workforce metrics, including headcount, turnover, absenteeism, recruiting activity, compensation changes, and other management information.
• Assist leadership with organizational changes, workforce communications, culture initiatives, and continuous improvement of HR practices.
• Maintain a visible and approachable presence within manufacturing operations and build effective relationships with employees at all levels of the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 35+ years of progressive, hands-on human resources experience.
• Prior HR experience with a small or lower-middle-market company is required.
• Prior HR experience in manufacturing, industrial, machining, fabrication, distribution, or a closely related operational environment is required.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with hourly production employees and frontline supervisors.
• Practical experience handling employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, benefits administration, performance issues, and employment-law compliance.
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR compliance requirements.
• Ability to operate effectively as a hands-on HR generalist with limited administrative support.
• Strong judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive employee matters.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to establish credibility with both production employees and management.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with HRIS/payroll systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation to and from work on a daily basis, and willingness and ability to travel as needed to current or future subsidiary locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as an HR Generalist, Senior HR Generalist, HR Business Partner, Assistant HR Manager, or similar broad-based HR role.
• Experience supporting a manufacturing workforce that includes skilled trades, machinists, technicians, production employees, and salaried professionals.
• Experience in a privately held or entrepreneurially managed business experiencing growth or organizational change.
• Experience with payroll administration, workers' compensation, leave administration, unemployment claims, and employee benefits.
• Familiarity with Paylocity HRIS and payroll platform is a plus.
• HR certification such as SHRM-CP or PHR.