Human Resources Business Partner

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery; New London (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401k match

Paid Time Off

Tuition reimbursement

Career growth opportunities

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery in New London, Wisconsin seeks an HR Business Partner to join the Plant Leadership Team. You will align people strategies with operational goals, coach leaders, drive recruiting, and improve HR processes while maintaining regulatory compliance.

The role emphasizes employee relations, performance management, training, and collaboration with the broader HR team. Travel to other locations is required occasionally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in manufacturing.
• HR certification and/or union experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Plant Leadership to align people strategies with goals.
• Coach leaders on employee relations, performance, attendance, and communication.
• Lead recruiting, workforce planning, sourcing, interviewing, onboarding.
• Identify workforce trends, risks, and opportunities for the plant.
• Support performance conversations and accountability.
• Address concerns, conduct investigations, and resolve issues fairly.
• Improve HR processes to better serve employees and operations.
• Lead training and development initiatives.
• Collaborate with HR team on company-wide programs.

Skills

Employee relations

Recruiting

Coaching

Communication

Labor laws (FMLA/ADA/HIPAA/OSHA)

HRIS (Paylocity)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

Paylocity

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Description

Join our Team as we work with our cooperative of local farmers to create award-winning cheese! Since 1910, we've partnered with local farmers to craft award-winning cheese and remain committed to our Team, Craft & Community. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career with a company that values teamwork, creativity, and innovation in a fun, fast-paced environment.

Reports To: Human Resources Director

Supervises: None

Type: Exempt

The HR Business Partner (HRBP) is a key member of the Plant Leadership Team and serves as a trusted partner to leaders, supervisors, and employees. This role connects people strategy to plant priorities while helping build a culture of accountability, teamwork, integrity, and excellence.

The HRBP is highly visible in the plant and brings a proactive, solutions-focused approach to recruiting, employee relations, performance management, training, engagement, and HR process improvement. The ideal candidate is confident in challenging the status quo, comfortable having difficult conversations, and able to lean in and provide thoughtful HR guidance while building strong relationships at all levels.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with Plant Leadership to align people strategies with operational goals and workforce needs.
• Coach and advise leaders and supervisors on employee relations, performance, attendance, communication, and other people-related matters.
• Lead recruiting efforts, including workforce planning, sourcing, interviewing, selection, and onboarding.
• Stay connected to the plant and proactively identify workforce trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Support performance conversations, employee development, and accountability.
• Partner with employees and leaders to address concerns, conduct investigations, and resolve issues fairly and effectively.
• Identify opportunities to improve, simplify, and build HR processes that better serve employees and the operation.
• Lead and facilitate training and development initiatives.
• Partner with the broader HR team to implement company-wide programs and ensure consistency across locations.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations concerning employment in a multi state environment.
• Partners and provides guidance, support for activities relating to benefits and communications (e.g., Open Enrollment, Employee Recognition, Wellness, etc.)
• Ability to relate well with and work effectively with all levels of the organization, a passion for innovative HR solutions and process improvement.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Strong employee relations, recruiting, coaching, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility with both leaders and frontline employees.
• Experience in providing coaching and feedback, respectfully challenging leaders when appropriate.
• Strong judgment, problem-solving skills, and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proactive mindset with a desire to improve processes and make a meaningful impact.
• Experience driving HR initiatives in employee performance management, training and development, compensation, and benefits administration.
• Demonstrated knowledge of labor laws and practices; FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, and OSHA.
• Experience with HRIS systems is required, preferably Paylocity in addition to strong computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• High level of integrity, accuracy, dependability, enthusiasm, and confidentiality.

REQUIRED/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in manufacturing or another operational environment.
• HR certification and/or union experience is a plus.
• Valid driver's license with ability to travel.
• Pass a drug & alcohol screen and general background check.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Work Environment / Environment Condition:

• Office Environment
• Some travel to other locations, events, colleges/technical schools, etc.
• Food plant environment. Must adhere to all food and plant safety policies and regulations.

Benefits

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Affordable Medical, Dental, Vision
• Benefits eligible the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.
• Medical, Health Savings Account, Dental, Vision, Accident & Critical Illness.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and additional free resources.
• 401k match, Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay
• Tuition reimbursement
• Career growth and advancement opportunities

About Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery

At Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, our team members are more than employees - you're family, and we want you to succeed. Our culture has contributed to the longevity of our team, with careers spanning 10, 20, and even 50 years.

Our New London, Wisconsin production facility specializes in processed cheese products, servicing the needs of food service, retail deli, and food manufacturers.

Committed to our Team, Craft & Community, Since 1910

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery is an Equal Opportunity Employer.