Human Resources Manager

People-Architects; Strongsville (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

People Architects is seeking a hands-on Human Resources Manager to lead the day-to-day HR function for a growing manufacturing organization. The role blends strategic partnership with practical, hands-on HR operations to strengthen the employee experience and support growth.

You’ll work closely with leadership, frontline supervisors, and employees to bolster HR practices, maintain compliance, and foster a high-performance workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Management, or related field.
• 3–5+ years of progressive, hands-on human resources experience.
• Prior HR experience with a small or lower-middle-market company is required.
• Prior HR experience in manufacturing, industrial, machining, fabrication, distribution, or a closely related operational environment is required.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with hourly production employees and frontline supervisors.
• Practical experience handling employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, benefits administration, performance issues, and employment-law compliance.
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR compliance requirements.
• Ability to operate effectively as a hands-on HR generalist with limited administrative support.
• Strong judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive employee matters.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to establish credibility with both production employees and management.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with HRIS/payroll systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation to and from work on a daily basis, and willingness and ability to travel as needed to current or future subsidiary locations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary human resources resource for employees, supervisors, and company leadership.
• Manage day-to-day HR operations and ensure consistent application of company policies, employment practices, and procedures.
• Advise managers and supervisors on employee relations matters, including attendance, performance, conduct, coaching, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
• Lead employee relations activities, investigate workplace concerns, recommend appropriate actions, and help resolve employee issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Manage the recruiting and hiring process for hourly manufacturing, skilled-trade, technical, administrative, and professional positions.
• Partner with hiring managers to identify staffing needs, screen candidates, coordinate interviews, prepare offers, and maintain candidate communications.
• Own the new-hire onboarding process and ensure employees are effectively integrated into the organization.
• Manage employee benefits administration, including enrollment, employee communication, changes, open enrollment, and coordination with benefit providers and brokers.
• Coordinate with Accounting on weekly payroll activities, including new hires, employee changes, promotions, terminations, wage adjustments, deductions, and related payroll information.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS information while ensuring confidentiality, data integrity, and compliance with recordkeeping requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Maintain and periodically update employee policies, handbook provisions, job descriptions, forms, and HR procedures.
• Support managers in the performance management process, including goal setting, performance reviews, coaching, corrective action, and employee development.
• Identify training needs and coordinate employee, supervisor, compliance, and professional-development programs.
• Partner with operational leadership on workforce planning, retention, employee engagement, absenteeism, turnover, and other workforce challenges common to manufacturing environments.
• Support workers’ compensation, leave administration, return-to-work programs, unemployment claims, and related employee matters.
• Partner with operations and safety leadership on HR-related aspects of workplace safety, employee training, investigations, and regulatory compliance.
• Prepare and analyze HR reports and workforce metrics, including headcount, turnover, absenteeism, recruiting activity, compensation changes, and other management information.
• Assist leadership with organizational changes, workforce communications, culture initiatives, and continuous improvement of HR practices.
• Maintain a visible and approachable presence within manufacturing operations and build effective relationships with employees at all levels of the organization.

Skills

HR management

employee relations

recruiting

onboarding

benefits administration

HRIS/payroll

payroll

compliance

communication

team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR / related field

Tools

Paylocity HRIS

Microsoft Office Suite

HRIS/payroll systems

Job description

People Architects is proud to recruit for a Human Resources Manager!

Our client is a growing lower-middle-market contract manufacturer that supplies high-quality custom-machined
components to advanced industrial technology companies. The organization values integrity, teamwork,
accountability, and excellence and is seeking a hands-on HR professional who can help strengthen the
employee experience while supporting continued growth and organizational change.

We are seeking a hands-on, proactive Human Resources Manager to lead the day-to-day human resources
function for a growing manufacturing organization. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR
Generalist, Senior HR Generalist, Assistant HR Manager, or similar professional who is ready to step into an
entry-level HR management role with broad ownership and visibility.

The successful candidate will have prior HR experience in a small or lower-middle-market industrial or
manufacturing company and will be comfortable operating as both a strategic partner and a hands-on
practitioner. This individual will work closely with company leadership, frontline supervisors, and employees to
strengthen HR practices, maintain compliance, support workforce needs, and foster a high-performance
workplace culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary human resources resource for employees, supervisors, and company leadership.
  Manage day-to-day HR operations and ensure consistent application of company policies, employment practices,
  and procedures.
  
• Advise managers and supervisors on employee relations matters, including attendance, performance, conduct,
  coaching, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
  
• Lead employee relations activities, investigate workplace concerns, recommend appropriate actions, and help
  resolve employee issues in a timely and professional manner.
  
• Manage the recruiting and hiring process for hourly manufacturing, skilled-trade, technical, administrative, and
  professional positions.
  
• Partner with hiring managers to identify staffing needs, screen candidates, coordinate interviews, prepare offers,
  and maintain candidate communications.
  
• Own the new-hire onboarding process and ensure employees are effectively integrated into the organization.
  
• Manage employee benefits administration, including enrollment, employee communication, changes, open
  enrollment, and coordination with benefit providers and brokers.
  
• Coordinate with Accounting on weekly payroll activities, including new hires, employee changes, promotions,
  terminations, wage adjustments, deductions, and related payroll information.
  
• Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS information while ensuring confidentiality, data integrity, and
  compliance with recordkeeping requirements.
  
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
  Maintain and periodically update employee policies, handbook provisions, job descriptions, forms, and HR
  procedures.
  
• Support managers in the performance management process, including goal setting, performance reviews,
  coaching, corrective action, and employee development.
  
• Identify training needs and coordinate employee, supervisor, compliance, and professional-development
  programs.
  
• Partner with operational leadership on workforce planning, retention, employee engagement, absenteeism,
  turnover, and other workforce challenges common to manufacturing environments.
  
• Support workers’ compensation, leave administration, return-to-work programs, unemployment claims, and
  related employee matters.
  
• Partner with operations and safety leadership on HR-related aspects of workplace safety, employee training,
  investigations, and regulatory compliance.
  
• Prepare and analyze HR reports and workforce metrics, including headcount, turnover, absenteeism, recruiting
  activity, compensation changes, and other management information.
  
• Assist leadership with organizational changes, workforce communications, culture initiatives, and continuous improvement of HR practices.
  
• Maintain a visible and approachable presence within manufacturing operations and build effective relationships with employees at all levels of the organization.
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related field; equivalent
  relevant experience may be considered.
  
• 3–5+ years of progressive, hands-on human resources experience.
  
• Prior HR experience with a small or lower-middle-market company is required.
  
• Prior HR experience in manufacturing, industrial, machining, fabrication, distribution, or a closely related
  operational environment is required.
  
• Demonstrated experience working directly with hourly production employees and frontline supervisors.
  
• Practical experience handling employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, benefits administration, performance
  issues, and employment-law compliance.
  
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR compliance requirements.
  
• Ability to operate effectively as a hands-on HR generalist with limited administrative support.
  
• Strong judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive employee matters.
  
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to establish credibility with both production
  employees and management.
  
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
  
• Proficiency with HRIS/payroll systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
  
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation to and from work on a daily basis, and willingness and ability to travel as needed to current or future subsidiary locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as an HR Generalist, Senior HR Generalist, HR Business Partner, Assistant HR Manager, or similar broad-based HR role.
• Experience supporting a manufacturing workforce that includes skilled trades, machinists, technicians, production employees, and salaried professionals.
• Experience in a privately held or entrepreneurially managed business experiencing growth or organizational change.
• Experience with payroll administration, workers’ compensation, leave administration, unemployment claims, and employee benefits.
• Familiarity with Paylocity HRIS and payroll platform is a plus.
• HR certification such as SHRM-CP or PHR.