Human Resources Manager

Clark Davis Associates; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Clark Davis Associates seeks a seasoned HR Manager to lead HR across multiple sites in New Jersey. The role blends strategic partnership with hands-on operations, including recruiting, payroll, benefits, employee relations, and compliance.

You'll design onboarding, manage HRIS, and support performance management and culture initiatives while ensuring policy and regulatory compliance across locations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience.
• Strong working knowledge of employment law and HR compliance.
• Experience supporting multiple sites or locations.
• Hands-on experience with employee relations and payroll processing.
• Manufacturing or distribution experience preferred.
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills at all levels of the organization.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle recruiting, including postings, sourcing, screening, interviewing, and offers.
• Design and continually improve onboarding across all locations.
• Work with managers to define role requirements and hiring plans.
• Act as primary resource for employee questions and conflict resolution at every site.
• Drive culture, engagement initiatives and internal communications across locations.
• Administer benefits programs and participate in annual compensation reviews.
• Manage payroll processing in partnership with Finance or payroll provider.
• Maintain HRIS data integrity and generate leadership reports.
• Advise leadership on organizational design, headcount planning, and workforce strategy.

Skills

People management

Communication

Leadership

HR policies

Employee relations

Payroll processing

Job description

We're seeking a seasoned HR Manager to lead and the Human Resources function across multiple sites. This is a hands‑on role for someone equally comfortable serving as a strategic partner to leadership and as the day‑to‑day operator who handles recruiting, employee relations, compliance, benefits, payroll, and culture initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle recruiting, including job postings, sourcing, screening, interviewing, and offer negotiation
• Design and continually improve the new-hire onboarding experience across all locations
• Work with hiring managers to define role requirements and hiring plans

Employee Relations & Culture

• Act as the primary resource for employee questions, concerns, and conflict resolution at every site
• Investigate and resolve workplace issues fairly and confidentially
• Drive company culture, engagement initiatives, and internal communications, keeping a consistent employee experience across locations
• Administer benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and PTO
• Support annual compensation reviews and market benchmarking
• Manage open enrollment and vendor relationships (brokers, carriers, payroll providers)

Compliance & Policy

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO, etc.), including any state or local variations across sites
• Maintain and update the employee handbook and HR policies
• Own record‑keeping, I‑9 compliance, and audit readiness for all locations

Performance Management

• Design and run performance review cycles and goal‑setting processes
• Coach managers on feedback, documentation, and difficult conversations
• Support promotion, PIP, and termination processes

HR Operations & Payroll

• Process payroll for all sites, ensuring accuracy and timeliness, in partnership with Finance or an outside payroll provider
• Maintain HRIS data integrity and produce reports for leadership
• Manage leave‑of‑absence administration and workers' compensation claims

Strategic HR

• Advise leadership on organizational design, headcount planning, and workforce strategy
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, tools, and the employee experience
• Build HR from the ground up or scale existing practices as the company grows

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience
• Strong working knowledge of employment law and HR compliance
• Experience supporting multiple sites or locations
• Hands‑on experience with employee relations and payroll processing
• Manufacturing or distribution experience preferred
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills at all levels of the organization
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification