HR Manager

Socket.dev; Denver (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Cardinal is seeking a regional HR leader to deliver hands-on, in-person HR support across multiple offices and project sites, covering the full HR lifecycle from onboarding to employee relations.

The role requires 5+ years of HR experience in field-based environments, strong knowledge of wage-and-hour laws, and the ability to travel between regional offices. Bachelor's degree in HR or related field is required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience supporting hourly and salaried staff.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Strong communication and confidentiality, with ability to resolve conflicts fairly.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional HR lifecycle including workforce planning, onboarding, and performance management.
• Ensure wage-and-hour compliance and prevailing wage requirements.
• Support recruitment pipelines for field and office roles across multiple sites.

Skills

HR experience

Employee relations

Wage-and-hour compliance

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

Paycom

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: CCC Charlotte - Denver, NC, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Deliver hands-on, in-person HR support across multiple Cardinal offices and project sites, serving as the primary HR point of contact for both hourly field personnel and salaried office staff within the assigned region. Lead regional execution of the full HR lifecycle, including workforce planning, talent acquisition, pre-employment, onboarding, performance management, employee development, employee relations, discipline, communication, and engagement, for hourly and salaried populations alike. Support recruitment pipelines for high-demand field and office roles, including Project Managers, Estimators, Superintendents, and skilled trades. Serve as the front-line point of escalation for employee relations matters across all offices and job sites in the region, ensuring fair, consistent, and timely resolution of conflicts and concerns for both hourly and salaried employees. Ensure accurate and consistent application of hourly vs. salaried classification, timekeeping, and wage-and-hour practices across offices and job sites, escalating classification or compensation questions to HR leadership rather than allowing field-level decisions. Foster a positive, engaged workplace culture through fair pay practices, clear grievance and escalation processes, and consistent, transparent communication with the field workforce. Coordinate with project executives and site leadership to mobilize, onboard, and deploy field crews efficiently as new projects launch and as Cardinal's footprint expands through organic growth and acquisition. Support administration of benefits, compensation programs, and prevailing wage structures for hourly and salaried employees in the region, in coordination with Cardinal's Total Rewards function. Maintain and enforce HR documentation, including process and policy documentation, organizational charts, talent acquisition records, safety-related HR records, and employee policies, as published via the intranet and other company communications. Support learning and development activities for hourly and salaried employees, often in partnership with Safety, Operations, and other functional leaders. Maintain current knowledge of industry trends and applicable state and federal employment legislation, including wage-and-hour compliance and Davis-Bacon / prevailing wage requirements, to ensure compliance across all offices and job sites in the region. Partner with the Director of Human Resources to plan regional workforce needs across multiple offices and sites based on the active and upcoming project pipeline. Travel regularly and with limited notice between regional offices and active project sites to provide direct, on-the-ground HR support.

Qualifications:

REQUIRED SKILLS, COMPETENCIES, EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Demonstrated strong work ethic, integrity, and honesty. 5+ years of progressive human resources experience, including experience supporting both hourly and salaried employee populations, ideally within construction, engineering, or another heavy/capital-intensive, field-based industry. Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization, from field crews to executive leadership. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain confidentiality, build rapport, and resolve conflict fairly and consistently. Deep working knowledge of federal and state employment law, wage-and-hour compliance, and prevailing wage acts (e.g., Davis-Bacon). Detail-oriented with superior organizational skills and a data-informed approach to decision-making. Autonomous, self-driven approach to responsibilities, with sound judgment operating in a fast-paced, growing organization. Valid driver's license and willingness to travel frequently, and sometimes with limited notice, between multiple regional offices and active project sites. Comfortable working directly with field crews and job-site environments, not solely an office-based HR role.

PREFERRED SKILLS, COMPETENCIES, EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Bilingual in Spanish preferred, to support effective communication with field crews. Master's degree, or SPHR / SHRM-SCP certification. Experience with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and drug and alcohol testing program oversight. Experience with modern HRIS platforms (Cardinal currently utilizes Paycom). Experience supporting HR integration for mergers and acquisitions.