Area Human Resources Manager - East

Guardian Fire Services; Lester (PA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Bonus 20%

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Career growth

PTO & paid holidays

Job summary

Guardian Fire Services is seeking an experienced Area Human Resources Manager – East to support operations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, including Lester, PA, Kingston, MA, and Williamsport, MD. This field-facing HR leadership role partners with branch managers and operations to balance employee advocacy with business results.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in HR generalist/HRBP roles, experience in industrial or field service contexts, and the ability to travel ~50% across

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive HR generalist, HRBP, or HR management experience.
• Experience supporting industrial field services, construction, or related operations strongly preferred.
• Strong partnership with branch managers and field operations leadership.
• Working knowledge of federal and multi-state employment laws and HR practices.

Responsibilities

• Recruiting & workforce planning with branch leadership to staff skilled field technicians and operational roles.
• Employee relations: guidance on concerns, investigations, and corrective actions.
• Leadership coaching & development for branch managers and supervisors.
• Retention & engagement strategies to reduce turnover and improve workforce stability.
• Performance management: evaluations, accountability, and development plans.

Skills

Recruiting

Employee relations

Leadership development

Performance management

Talent development

Safety & compliance

HR policies

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

SHRM/HRCI certification (plus)

Job description

AREA HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER – EAST

Location: Northeast / Mid-Atlantic Region (Lester, PA; Kingston, MA; Williamsport, MD)

Travel: Approximately 50%

Position Type: Full-Time

About Guardian Fire Services

Guardian Fire Services is a rapidly growing, multi-location provider of fire protection and life safety services. Through continued organic growth and strategic acquisitions, we are building a strong national organization while maintaining the local relationships, operational expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit that make our businesses successful.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced, hands‑on Area Human Resources Manager – East to support our growing operations throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, initially covering locations in Lester, PA; Kingston, MA; and Williamsport, MD.

This is a highly visible, field‑facing HR leadership role for someone who enjoys working directly with branch managers, operational leaders, and employees in an industrial services environment.

The successful candidate will be a practical, business‑minded HR professional who understands the challenges of managing a skilled field workforce and can balance employee advocacy with operational accountability and business performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruiting & Workforce Planning: Partner with branch leadership to identify staffing needs, recruit skilled field technicians and operational talent, and develop sustainable talent pipelines.
• Employee Relations: Provide hands‑on guidance regarding employee concerns, workplace issues, conflict resolution, investigations, corrective action, and employment practices.
• Leadership Coaching & Development: Coach, counsel, mentor, and train branch managers and supervisors to strengthen their people‑management capabilities.
• Retention & Engagement: Identify turnover trends, address underlying retention challenges, and implement practical strategies to improve employee engagement and workforce stability.
• Performance Management: Support performance evaluations, accountability, employee development plans, and effective management of performance issues.

Succession Planning & Talent Development: Identify high‑potential employees, support internal advancement, and develop future branch and operational leaders.

• Safety & Risk Management: Partner with operational and safety leadership to reinforce a strong safety culture, promote accountability, and support incident investigations and corrective actions.
• HR Compliance & Best Practices: Ensure consistent application of HR policies, employment laws, and sound people‑management practices across assigned locations.
• Organizational Growth: Support onboarding, change management, and HR integration activities as Guardian continues to grow through acquisitions.

What We’re Looking For

• - 7+ years of progressive HR generalist, HR business partner, or HR management experience.

• - Experience supporting industrial field services, construction, skilled trades, mechanical services, facilities services, or similar operational environments is strongly preferred.
• - Demonstrated success partnering directly with branch managers and field operations leadership.
• - Strong experience in recruiting, employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, retention, and leadership development.
• - Working knowledge of federal and multi‑state employment laws and HR practices.
• - Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage competing priorities across multiple locations.
• - Strong interpersonal, communication, coaching, and problem‑solving skills.
• - Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% throughout the assigned region.
• - Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related discipline preferred; SHRM or HRCI certification a plus.

The Right Fit

We're looking for someone who is equally comfortable sitting with a branch manager to work through a difficult employee issue, visiting a jobsite to understand workforce challenges, or developing a plan to strengthen recruiting, retention, and leadership effectiveness.

This is not a behind‑the‑desk HR position. We want a proactive, approachable HR leader who builds relationships, takes ownership, solves problems, and makes our operating businesses better.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At Guardian Fire Services, we value innovation and collaboration. Here’s what we offer:

• Competitive Pay: $$$ based on experience. Bonus 20%

• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, and life insurance options.

• Future Savings: A 401(k) plan with employer match.

• Professional Growth: Opportunities for leadership and career advancement.

• Work‑Life Balance: Generous PTO and paid holidays.

We Value All Experiences

We understand that no candidate is perfectly qualified for any job. Experience comes in different forms; many skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. Even more important than your resume is a clear demonstration of dedication, impact, and the ability to thrive in a fluid and collaborative environment. We want you to learn new things in this role and encourage you to apply if your experience is close to what we’re looking for.

We also know that diversity of background and thought makes for better problem‑solving and more creative thinking, so we’re dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Guardian Fire Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Guardian Fire Services is committed to an inclusive experience for all applicants and will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations in the interview process, to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.