Human Resources Manager

Woodland Foods; Fremont (NE); On-site; USD 85,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Woodland Foods in Fremont, NE is seeking an onsite Human Resources Manager to lead all HR functions for the facility, reporting to the VP of HR and coordinating with Senior leadership. The role focuses on employee engagement, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence in a manufacturing environment.

You'll drive full-cycle recruitment, workforce planning, payroll oversight, benefits, and incentive programs while ensuring fair employment practices and adherence to GMP/HACCP standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5–8 years progressive HR experience, manufacturing or food production environment.
• SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP/PHR/SPHR preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead all HR functions at the facility in alignment with enterprise initiatives.
• Partner with operations to support engagement, safety, and productivity.
• Manage payroll processing, benefits, and compensation programs.
• Oversee recruitment, workforce planning, and onboarding for hourly and salaried staff.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.

Skills

HR Leadership

Employee Relations

Regulatory Compliance

Talent Management

Recruitment

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Job description

Woodland Foods offers an onsite Human Resources leadership role based in Fremont, NE, with an estimated salary range of $85,000 to $117,000 and eligibility for an annual bonus based on the incentive program terms and conditions. In this exempt position, you will help drive an engaged, high-performing workforce while supporting operational excellence and compliance in a manufacturing environment.

How you will help the business

The Human Resources Manager serves as the senior onsite HR leader for International Spices within the Woodland Gourmet portfolio. You will report directly to the Vice President, Human Resources and maintain a dotted-line relationship with the President of International Spices. The role leads all HR functions at the facility and aligns local workforce strategy with Woodland Gourmet’s enterprise-wide HR initiatives, with a focus on employee engagement, food safety standards, and day-to-day operational success.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the primary HR partner to the President and the plant leadership team
• Align site-level HR strategies with Woodland Gourmet’s enterprise HR framework
• Advise on organizational design, workforce planning, and change management
• Support business growth, integration, and operational initiatives
• Lead full-cycle recruitment for production, maintenance, quality, and administrative roles
• Develop staffing plans for seasonal production and capacity needs
• Implement workforce forecasting strategies in partnership with operations
• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership and employees, including leading investigations and resolving workplace concerns
• Drive engagement initiatives that promote retention and a high-performance culture
• Ensure consistent policy application and fair employment practices
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws
• Partner with operations and the Safety Manager to support OSHA compliance and food safety standards (GMP, HACCP, SQF)
• Manage workers’ compensation, unemployment claims, and regulatory reporting
• Maintain accurate HR records and reporting metrics
• Oversee payroll processing for the site, ensuring accurate and timely processing, wage and hour compliance, coordination with Finance, and resolution of payroll inquiries or discrepancies
• Administer compensation and incentive programs aligned with corporate guidelines
• Manage employee benefits programs, including enrollment, vendor coordination, employee communication, and issue resolution
• Partner with Woodland Gourmet HR on annual benefits planning and open enrollment
• Lead employee engagement initiatives, including surveys, action planning, recognition programs, and retention strategies
• Oversee onboarding for hourly and salaried employees
• Identify training needs and support leadership development and succession planning
• Coach managers through goal setting, performance evaluations, and development planning; support annual and mid-year performance review processes
• Support accountability and performance improvement processes
• Implement enterprise HR policies at the site level, ensuring consistent procedures and documentation standards
• Drive continuous improvement in HR processes and systems
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned to support business objectives and operational needs

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 5 to 8 years of progressive HR experience, including manufacturing or food production environments
• Experience supporting hourly workforces in regulated environments
• Strong knowledge of employment law and workplace safety regulations
• HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) preferred
• Strong business and operational acumen
• Ability to influence executive leadership and frontline management
• Excellent judgment, conflict resolution skills, and high professionalism, discretion, and integrity

Work environment and physical demands

• Onsite leadership role within a manufacturing facility with regular presence on the production floor
• Work typically occurs in office, manufacturing, and warehouse settings
• Exposure to industrial environments, including noises, odors, food processing equipment, and varying temperatures
• Ability to wear required PPE, including hairnets, gloves, and protective footwear

FLSA Status: Exempt

E-Verify: Woodland Gourmet participates in the federal E-Verify program. As part of the hiring process, information provided on your Form I-9 will be verified to confirm eligibility to work in the United States.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Woodland Gourmet provides equal employment opportunity in all hiring and employment policies and practices.