Human Resources Manager

Distinction LLC; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Distinction, LLC is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager to lead the onsite HR function at the St. Louis Job Corps Center, partnering with Center leadership and Corporate HR.

The role covers employee relations, recruitment and onboarding, performance management, benefits administration, leave and accommodation processes, workers' compensation, records, compliance, HR reporting, and employee development. Strong judgment and independent action are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business administration, organizational leadership, or a related field is required.
• At least seven years of progressive HR experience with responsibilities in employee relations, compliance, performance management, investigations, and HR operations.
• Five or more years in HR leadership or equivalent, managing an HR function or major processes.
• Experience supervising or developing HR staff is preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with ability to present clear HR recommendations to employees, managers, and senior leadership.
• Experience in a federal/government contractor, workforce development, education, or similarly regulated environment is preferred.
• Professional HR certification such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day HR function at the St. Louis Job Corps Center, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant operations.
• Advise Center Director and leadership on employee relations, performance management, policy interpretation, and workplace concerns.
• Guide managers through performance management and corrective action with clear documentation and defensible decisions.
• Oversee recruitment, screening, offers, onboarding, transfers, promotions, and separations.
• Ensure compliance with policy, Job Corps/DOL contractual requirements, and approval processes.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion with sensitive information and personnel records.
• Participate in HR audits and implement timely corrective actions and controls.
• Perform additional duties to support Center and organizational objectives.

Skills

Employee relations

Compliance

Performance management

HR operations

Recruitment

Onboarding

Policy interpretation

Investigations

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Admin, Organizational Leadership or related field

Job description

Distinction, LLC is a small business providing workforce development and educational services through the operation of Job Corps Centers. At the St. Louis Job Corps Center, our employees support young people as they develop the education, skills, and experience necessary to build successful careers and independent futures.

We are seeking a knowledgeable, accountable, and solutions-oriented Human Resources Manager to lead the onsite Human Resources function in partnership with Center leadership and Corporate Human Resources.

About the role

The Human Resources Manager serves as the senior onsite HR leader for the St. Louis Job Corps Center and is responsible for the effective day-to-day operation of the Center's Human Resources function.

Reporting to the Center Director and working in close partnership with Corporate Human Resources, the HR Manager provides leadership and oversight across employee relations, recruitment and onboarding, performance management, benefits administration, leave and accommodation processes, workers' compensation, personnel records, compliance, HR reporting, and employee development.

This position requires more than administrative knowledge of HR processes. The successful candidate must demonstrate sound judgment, critical thinking, attention to detail, Director-Level ownership, and the ability to independently assess HR matters and recommend appropriate courses of action.

The HR Manager is expected to identify issues proactively, evaluate relevant facts and risks, apply company policy and regulatory requirements appropriately, and provide Center and Corporate leadership with clear, concise, and well-supported recommendations

What you'll do

• Lead the day-to-day Human Resources function for the St. Louis Job Corps Center, ensuring HR operations are timely, accurate, compliant, and aligned with Distinction policies and Corporate HR standards.
• Serve as a trusted HR advisor to the Center Director and Center leadership regarding employee relations, performance management, corrective action, policy interpretation, workplace concerns, and other personnel matters.
• Guide managers through performance management and corrective action, ensuring expectations are clear, documentation is accurate, prior history is appropriately considered, and recommendations are fair, consistent, and defensible.
• Maintain oversight of recruitment, screening, selection, offers, pre-employment requirements, onboarding, orientation, transfers, promotions, and separations.
• Ensure hiring and personnel actions comply with company policy, Job Corps/DOL contractual requirements, applicable position qualifications, and required approval processes.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and exercise appropriate discretion when handling employee, medical, investigation, compensation, student, and other sensitive information.
• Participate in HR audits and compliance reviews and ensure identified deficiencies are corrected timely and appropriate controls are maintained to prevent recurrence.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Center and organizational objectives.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means the Center's HR function operates accurately, consistently, proactively, and with appropriate independence.

The HR Manager:

• Identifies and addresses HR and compliance concerns before they become larger organizational risks.
• Produces accurate, complete, and timely HR documentation and personnel records.
• Exercises sound judgment and distinguishes routine matters from issues requiring escalation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field required.
• Minimum of seven years of progressive Human Resources experience, including meaningful responsibility for employee relations, compliance, performance management, investigations, and HR operations.
• At least five years of HR leadership, management, or comparable responsibility for independently managing an HR function or significant HR processes preferred.
• Experience supervising, coaching, or developing HR staff preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise, well-organized HR recommendations and communicate effectively with employees, managers, senior leadership, and Corporate HR.
• Experience in a federal contractor, government contractor, workforce development, education, or similarly regulated environment preferred.
• Professional HR certification such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP preferred

Why Join Distinction, LLC?

At Distinction, our work is about people and possibilities. You'll have an opportunity to lead a critical HR function, support the employees who make our mission possible, and help create a workplace built on respect, accountability, and meaningful impact.

If you're an experienced HR professional who values integrity, takes ownership, and believes effective HR leadership can make a difference, we'd like to hear from you.

The pay range for this role is:

70,000 - 85,000 USD per year (St. Louis JCC Main)