Human Resources Manager

Optima Organizational Solutions; Lebanon (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Optima Organizational Solutions in Lebanon, Tennessee is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager to lead the HR function for a busy automotive manufacturing operation. You will serve as a strategic partner to the Plant Manager, aligning HR initiatives with production goals and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of HR leadership in manufacturing, strong knowledge of employment law, and expertise in employee relations, talent

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR/Business Administration/Organizational Development or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive HR experience, including leadership in manufacturing.
• Experience as HR Manager/Plant HR Manager or similar in manufacturing.
• Automotive manufacturing/Tier 1 supplier experience preferred.
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead all HR activities for the manufacturing facility as a key member of the plant leadership team.
• Partner with Plant Manager and leaders to align HR with operational goals.
• Provide guidance in employee relations, talent acquisition, performance management, organizational development, compensation, benefits, training, and workforce planning.
• Develop strategies to improve employee engagement, retention, attendance, and workforce stability.
• Coach and advise managers on leadership, performance, corrective action, conflict resolution, and development.
• Lead recruiting and workforce planning to ensure staffing and talent pipelines for critical roles.
• Drive succession planning and leadership development across the facility.
• Support change and continuous improvement initiatives to build a high‑performance culture.
• Oversee investigations and ensure documentation and resolution of workplace concerns.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state employment laws and company policies.
• Monitor HR metrics and take corrective actions as needed.

Skills

Employee relations

Performance management

Talent acquisition

Workforce planning

Organizational development

Leadership

Coaching

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development

Job description

Human Resources Manager

Location: Lebanon, Tennessee

Industry: Automotive Manufacturing

Position Overview

A leading automotive industry supplier is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager to lead the HR function for its manufacturing operation in Lebanon, Tennessee.

This is a key plant leadership position responsible for developing and executing human resources strategies that support operational performance, employee engagement, workforce stability, leadership development, and a strong culture of accountability and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will be a hands‑on HR leader with significant experience supporting a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, preferably within the automotive or Tier 1 supplier industry. This individual will serve as a strategic business partner to the Plant Manager and leadership team while maintaining a strong presence and connection with employees throughout the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all Human Resources activities for the manufacturing facility, serving as a key member of the plant leadership team.
• Partner closely with the Plant Manager and functional leaders to align HR initiatives with operational and business objectives.
• Provide leadership and guidance in employee relations, talent acquisition, performance management, organizational development, compensation, benefits, training, and workforce planning.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve employee engagement, retention, attendance, and overall workforce stability.
• Provide proactive employee relations support and ensure consistent, fair application of company policies and practices.
• Coach and advise managers and supervisors on leadership effectiveness, performance management, corrective action, conflict resolution, and employee development.
• Lead recruiting and workforce planning initiatives to ensure appropriate staffing levels and talent pipelines for critical positions.
• Drive succession planning and leadership development initiatives across the facility.
• Support organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives while helping develop a high‑performance culture.
• Oversee employee investigations and ensure appropriate documentation and resolution of workplace concerns.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and company policies.
• Monitor and analyze key HR metrics, including turnover, absenteeism, staffing, retention, and employee relations trends, developing corrective actions where necessary.
• Support compensation, benefits, recognition, and employee communication programs.
• Maintain effective HR systems, processes, records, and reporting.
• Lead, develop, and mentor the plant Human Resources team.
• Promote a culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, teamwork, respect, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related discipline required.
• Approximately 7+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including HR leadership responsibility within a manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience as an HR Manager, Plant HR Manager, HR Business Partner, or similar leadership role supporting manufacturing operations.
• Automotive manufacturing/Tier 1 supplier experience strongly preferred.
• Strong background in employee relations, performance management, talent acquisition, workforce planning, and organizational development.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with Plant Managers and senior operational leadership.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment regulations and HR best practices.
• Experience managing sensitive employee relations matters and conducting workplace investigations.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, metrics‑driven manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, influencing, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic HR responsibilities with hands‑on execution.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement environments is highly desirable.
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification is a plus.