HR Manager

AKG North America; Mebane (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AKG North America is seeking a seasoned HR Manager to lead payroll, benefits, and employee relations at our Mebane, NC site with support for an SD location. The role focuses on accurate payroll operations, proactive employee relations, and driving engagement and culture aligned with the AKG Way.

You will partner with Finance and leadership to ensure compliant HR processes across multi-site operations. Responsibilities include payroll leadership across NC & SD, investigations, coaching leaders,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years progressive HR experience including payroll and employee relations responsibilities.
• Previous leadership or management experience within Human Resources.
• Experience in multi-site or manufacturing environment preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll operations across NC & SD.
• Oversee employee relations investigations and outcomes.
• Coach leaders on performance management and communication.
• Drive employee engagement and culture programs.
• Develop SOPs, Work Instructions, and audit processes.
• Collaborate with Finance, HR, and leadership across locations.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Employee relations

Leadership coaching

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

Paylocity

HRIS

Job description

Description

Job Title: HR Manager

Location: Mebane, NC (with support for SD location)

Position Summary

The HR Manager – Payroll, Benefits & Employee Relations is responsible for leading payroll, while serving as a key driver of employee relations, engagement, and workplace culture. This role ensures accurate, compliant payroll operations through oversight and process ownership, while fostering a positive employee experience through strong leadership presence, communication, and proactive employee relations support.

This position plays a critical role in building trust, supporting leaders, and strengthening the employee experience—aligned with The AKG Way: Safety, Respect for Others, Accountability, and Being Part of the Solution.

Key Responsibilities

1. Payroll Leadership & Oversight – 30%

• Provide leadership and oversight of payroll operations across multi-site locations (NC & SD)
• Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance through established processes and team execution
• Review and approve payroll outputs, audits, and reconciliations
• Partner with Finance on payroll-related items (accruals, reporting inputs)
• Identify risks, gaps, and opportunities for process improvement
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure alignment with Finance, HR, and leadership
• Develop SOP, Work Instructions and Audit processes

3. Employee Relations & Leader Support – 30%

• Serve as primary HR partner to managers for employee relations matters
• Lead and/or oversee investigations and ensure fair, consistent outcomes
• Coach leaders on performance management, accountability, and communication
• Support corrective action processes and documentation
• Identify trends and proactively address workplace concerns
• Reinforce a culture of trust, fairness, and accountability
• Collaborate with leadership teams to ensure consistency across locations

4. Employee Engagement & Communication – 40%

• Lead employee engagement strategy and execution (surveys, recognition programs, events)
• Own and enhance programs such as Catch ‘Em Right and Employee of the Month
• Oversee employee communications (including Paylocity Community postings)
• Partner with leadership to improve communication effectiveness across teams
• Drive action planning based on employee feedback and survey results
• Develop initiatives that strengthen culture, trust, and employee experience
• Ensure consistent engagement practices across locations and teams

5. Other

• Collaboration with HR Team Members for continuous improvement projects
• Consistent application of policies and procedures across the organization
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support business and operational needs.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive Human Resources experience, including payroll and employee relations responsibilities.
• Previous leadership or management experience within Human Resources required, including experience supporting, coaching, or guiding team members.
• At least 2 years of management or supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience in a multi-site and/or manufacturing environment preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of payroll processes (oversight level)
• Experience handling employee relations issues and investigations
• Proven ability to lead and develop team members
• Strong coaching and influencing skills with leaders
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• High attention to detail and ability to manage sensitive information
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred

Leadership & Cultural Expectations (The AKG Way)

• Safety: Supports practices that protect employee well-being
• Respect for Others: Builds trust through fair and consistent interactions
• Accountability: Owns outcomes and ensures follow-through
• Being Part of the Solution: Proactively identifies issues and drives improvements

Working Conditions

• Regular on-site presence, including interaction with production employees.
• Visibility across shifts as needed to support employee relations, communication, and engagement.
• Once per month, the employee is expected to report for early-morning shift support, currently anticipated around 3:30 a.m., to connect with and support third-shift employees.
• The schedule may be adjusted that day, including an earlier departure time, to account for the complexity of the schedule.
• Availability for occasional off-shift support may also be required for employee engagement events, meetings, or business needs.

Why AKG?

At AKG, we are committed to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and part of the solution. Safety is our top priority, and we believe strong teams are built through communication, accountability, and respect for others.

As part of The AKG Way, we strive to create an environment where employees can grow professionally while contributing to the success of the organization.

AKG is an Equal Opportunity Employer.