Human Resources Director

Nelson Connects; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision benefits

4 weeks PTO to start

Job summary

Nelson Connects in San Rafael, CA is seeking an experienced HR Director to lead day-to-day HR operations for a 130-employee manufacturing organization, onsite 5 days a week. The role reports to the Head of People and requires bilingual Spanish/English communication to support a diverse workforce.

Salary ranges from $120,000 to $132,000 annually based on experience. You will partner with leadership on ER, performance, compensation, payroll, benefits, and compliance while building strong

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR leadership experience
• 3+ years of hands-on employee relations experience
• Experience working with hourly/non-exempt employees
• Manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, food/beverage, or similar environment strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of California and federal employment laws
• Experience with HRIS systems and HR reporting
• Payroll and benefits experience preferred
• Strong coaching, conflict resolution, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to handle sensitive and difficult employee situations with professionalism and good judgment
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred
• SHRM certification is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day HR operations for approximately 130 employees.
• Partner with leadership on employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, payroll, recruiting, and compliance.
• Handle employee concerns, investigations, disciplinary matters, conflicts, and workplace issues.
• Coach managers on employee performance, communication, documentation, and HR best practices.
• Ensure compliance with California and federal employment laws and regulations.
• Oversee HRIS processes, employee records, reporting, and process improvements.
• Manage benefits, leave of absence processes, payroll updates, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Support safety programs, incident reporting, investigations, training, and safety committee activities.
• Develop and improve HR policies, procedures, training programs, and employee communications.
• Support employee engagement, development, and company culture.
• Serve as a visible and approachable HR leader for both office and production/warehouse employees.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

Coaching

Communication

Problem solving

Bilingual Spanish/English

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

SHRM certification

Tools

HRIS systems

Payroll software

HR reporting

Job description

San Rafael, CA | Full-Time | Onsite 5 Days/Week

Salary: $120,000–$132,000 annually, depending on experience

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced HR Director to lead day-to-day Human Resources operations for a growing manufacturing company with approximately 130 employees across office, warehouse, and production environments.

This is a highly visible, hands‑on leadership role reporting to the Head of People. The HR Director will partner with leadership and managers while building strong relationships with employees throughout the organization.

HR Team is as follows: Head of People, HR Director (This role) , HR Manager, Hr Generalist.

*** Bilingual Spanish/English is required***

What You’ll Do

• Lead day-to-day HR operations for approximately 130 employees.
• Partner with leadership on employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, payroll, recruiting, and compliance.
• Handle employee concerns, investigations, disciplinary matters, conflicts, and workplace issues.
• Coach managers on employee performance, communication, documentation, and HR best practices.
• Ensure compliance with California and federal employment laws and regulations.
• Oversee HRIS processes, employee records, reporting, and process improvements.
• Manage benefits, leave of absence processes, payroll updates, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Support safety programs, incident reporting, investigations, training, and safety committee activities.
• Develop and improve HR policies, procedures, training programs, and employee communications.
• Support employee engagement, development, and company culture.
• Serve as a visible and approachable HR leader for both office and production/warehouse employees.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of progressive HR leadership experience
• 3+ years of hands‑on employee relations experience
• Experience working with hourly/non-exempt employees
• Manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, food/beverage, or similar environment strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of California and federal employment laws
• Experience with HRIS systems and HR reporting
• Payroll and benefits experience preferred
• Strong coaching, conflict resolution, communication, and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to handle sensitive and difficult employee situations with professionalism and good judgment
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred
• SHRM certification is a plus

The Ideal Candidate

You are a hands‑on HR leader, not someone who wants to sit behind a desk all day. You enjoy working directly with employees and managers, walking the production floor, solving problems, and building trust.

You're confident handling difficult conversations, comfortable working with a bilingual workforce, and able to balance the needs of employees with the needs of the business.

What We Offer

• Medical, dental and vision benefits, 401(k)
• Bi-annual bonus based on company success — paid every year for more than 20 years
• 4 weeks of PTO to start
• Paid holidays
• Professional growth and advancement opportunitie

If you're a bilingual HR leader who enjoys being close to the business, solving problems, and making a real impact on company culture and employee experience, we'd like to hear from you.