Human Resources Manager - Food Manufacturing

iLocatum; Columbus (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

iLocatum in Columbus, GA is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager for a large, unionized manufacturing operation. You will partner with site leadership to drive labor relations, workforce strategy, and organizational effectiveness, while overseeing hiring, staffing, and development of frontline leaders.

The role requires 5+ years of HR experience, 3+ years with a unionized workforce, and strong labor relations skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience.
• 3+ years of experience supporting a unionized workforce.
• Manufacturing HR experience.
• Strong experience administering and interpreting collective bargaining agreements and managing grievances and complex labor and employee relations matters.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive union-management relationships.
• Experience with workforce planning, succession planning, leadership development, and organizational capability building.

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic HR business partner to the Plant Manager and site leadership team, leading site HR activities including labor and employee relations, talent acquisition, talent management, organizational development, and performance management.
• Develop and maintain constructive relationships with union leadership, administer and interpret collective bargaining agreements, and provide leadership on grievances, investigations, contract interpretation, arbitration preparation, and labor risk matters.
• Lead hourly hiring, staffing, headcount management, workforce planning, succession planning, and critical role readiness; coach leaders on engagement, performance management, conflict resolution, and communication.
• Oversee workplace investigations to ensure fair, timely, compliant resolution of employee concerns; use workforce data to inform decisions and lead HR change initiatives.

Job description

Human Resources Manager - Manufacturing

Columbus, GA | $120,000 to $150,000 per year

We are seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager to serve as the senior HR leader for a large, unionized manufacturing operation in Columbus, Georgia. This role partners directly with the Plant Manager and site leadership team to drive labor relations, workforce strategy, employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. The ideal candidate brings strong union and labor relations experience, sound business judgment, and the ability to build productive relationships with employees, union representatives, and plant leadership.

Schedule: Full-time, 100% onsite. Hours may need to flex to support a multi-shift manufacturing operation.

Compensation: $120,000 to $150,000 per year

What You'll Do

The HR Manager serves as strategic HR business partner to the Plant Manager and site leadership team, leading site HR activities including labor and employee relations, talent acquisition, talent management, organizational development, and performance management. This includes developing and maintaining constructive relationships with union leadership, administering and interpreting collective bargaining agreements, and providing leadership on grievances, investigations, contract interpretation, arbitration preparation, and labor risk matters. The role partners with union and plant leadership to proactively address workplace concerns and supports labor negotiations and longer-term labor relations strategy.

This position also provides oversight of hourly hiring, bid administration, staffing, and headcount management, and leads workforce planning, succession planning, talent reviews, and critical role readiness. The HR Manager develops frontline supervisors and other leaders through training, coaching, mentoring, and individual development planning, and coaches leaders on employee engagement, performance management, conflict resolution, and communication.

Additional responsibilities include leading workplace investigations to ensure fair, timely, and compliant resolution of employee concerns, using workforce data and employee relations trends to inform business decisions, and leading HR and organizational change initiatives that support operational and continuous improvement. The role also oversees employee recognition and engagement programs and ensures consistent application of HR policies and compliance with applicable employment and labor laws.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field
• 5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience
• 3+ years of experience supporting a unionized workforce
• Manufacturing HR experience
• Strong experience administering and interpreting collective bargaining agreements and managing grievances and complex labor and employee relations matters
• Demonstrated ability to build productive union-management relationships
• Experience with workforce planning, succession planning, leadership development, and organizational capability building

Preferred Qualifications

• HR Generalist leadership experience
• Food, consumer products, or other high-volume manufacturing experience
• Experience supporting collective bargaining and labor negotiations
• Experience implementing leadership development and succession planning programs
• HRIS experience, including Workday
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement environment experience
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification

Compensation And Benefits

• $120,000 to $150,000 per year
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off