HR Generalist - Chesterfield, MO

Smurfit Westrock; Chesterfield, Northern (MO, KY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit WestRock in Missouri Chesterfield seeks an HR Generalist to oversee labor relations, policies and recruitment for the mill. This role acts as the business liaison for managing union relationships while assisting with HR initiatives to improve mill metrics and day-to-day HR support.

You will collaborate with front-line employees and supervisors, coordinate recruitment for hourly staff, and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or business.
• 3–5 years HR Generalist experience.
• Labor relations experience within a unionized manufacturing facility preferred.
• Drug screening after conditional job offer.

Responsibilities

• Manage recruitment and hiring for the mill, including partnerships with universities.
• Create strategic partnerships with front-line employees and supervisors to promote positive employee relations.
• Create progressive discipline plans to monitor, review and suggest actions for attendance, punctuality, conduct and performance issues.
• Implement HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with Federal and State requirements and reporting.
• Coordinate recruitment efforts, interview procedures, and interview materials for hourly employees.
• Investigate questions/complaints to resolve employee relations issues.
• Serve as first point of contact for labor relations to manage grievance procedures and union contract negotiations.
• Coach and advise employees and managers on policies, contractual labor agreements interpretation and procedures.
• Partner with Talent Acquisitions to manage workforce plan development and training initiatives.

Skills

Communication

Analytical

Customer‑Oriented

Interpersonal Skills

Problem-Solving

Decision-Making

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or Business

Tools

HRIS

Payroll systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

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The HR Generalist is responsible for overseeing labor relations, policies and procedures, recruitment and talent management for assigned client group at the paper mill facility. This position is responsible for serving as the business liaison for managing union relationships while assisting with human resource initiatives designed to drive continuous improvement of HR and mill metrics. Overall, the HR Generalist is responsible for providing day‑to‑day HR functional support for the facility.

Major Job Responsibilities:

• Manage recruitment and hiring efforts for the mill including partnering with University co‑op programs
• Create strategic business partnerships with front‑line employees and supervisors to promote positive employee relations
• Create progressive discipline plans to monitor, review and makes suggestions for corrective actions for attendance, punctuality, conduct and performance issues
• Implement human resource policies and procedures to ensure compliance with Federal and State regulatory requirements and reporting
• Coordinate recruitment efforts, establish interview and selection procedures, develop job announcements and interview materials, and conduct interviews for hourly employees
• Investigate questions and/or complaints to solve employee relations issues

People and Culture

• Serve as first point of contact for labor relations to manage grievance procedures and administration of the collective bargaining agreement and labor union contract negotiations
• Coach and advise front‑line employees and managers regarding employee relations policies, contractual labor agreements interpretation and proper operating procedures
• Partner with Talent Acquisitions to manage the workforce plan development and implementation, assisting with compensation and training initiatives

Critical Skills / Capabilities:

• Communication: Clearly exchanges thoughts, ideas, and messages through written, verbal, and non‑verbal methods that promote an understanding with the target audience; listens carefully and attentively
• Analytical: Demonstrates a general understanding of various sources of information or data that are relevant to the business; summarizes or integrates information for routine problems or issues with oversight from others as necessary
• Customer‑Oriented: Demonstrates concern for satisfying external and/or internal customers; resolves customer issues in a timely manner; communicates with customers to ensure alignment and satisfaction; ability to operate with customers' best interests in mind
• Interpersonal Skills: Can relate to and communicate effectively with others to build rapport and relationships
• Problem‑Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations; demonstrates tackling a problem by using a logical, systematic, or sequential approach
• Decision‑Making: Plans and decides on the course of action while allowing for flexibility to support ad‑hoc scenarios; demonstrates ability to balance competing priorities
• Collaboration: Works effectively with others to complete a task or achieve a common objective; ability to cooperate in both interpersonal and team relationships to foster enthusiasm and maintain mutual trust, candor, and respect for others. Works through conflict constructively

Technical Skills:

• Microsoft Office – Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word
• Working knowledge of Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) and payroll systems
• Working knowledge of labor relations, employment laws, benefits, HR principles

Experience:

• Required: 3 to 5 years of HR Generalist experience
• Preferred: Labor relations experience within a unionized manufacturing facility

Education:

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in HR or Business‑related degree

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.