Human Resources Manager - International Spices

Woodland Foods, Ltd.; Fremont (NE); On-site; USD 85,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

International Spices in Fremont, Nebraska seeks an experienced Human Resources Manager to lead all HR functions at the site, reporting to Woodland Gourmet's VP of HR. This onsite role drives workforce planning, talent acquisition, payroll, benefits, and compliance with GMP/HACCP standards to support manufacturing operations.

The role emphasizes partnership with plant leadership, adherence to policy, and a high-performance culture, with pay in the six-figure range and annual bonus eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, business administration, or related field.
• 5–8 years of progressive HR experience, preferably in manufacturing or food production.
• Experience supporting hourly workforces in regulated environments.
• HR certification (SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR) preferred.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and safety regs.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary HR partner to plant leadership and President.
• Align site HR strategies with enterprise HR framework.
• Lead recruitment for production, maintenance, quality, and admin.
• Oversee payroll processes and benefits programs.
• Ensure OSHA compliance and GMP/SQF standards.
• Drive employee engagement and performance management.
• Implement enterprise HR policies at the site.
• Maintain accurate HR records and reporting metrics.

Skills

Manufacturing HR experience

Employee relations

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Onsite manufacturing environment

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

HR certification (SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR) preferred

Job description

Job Title:Human Resources Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Fremont, Nebraska
Company:International Spices
Reports To:Vice President, Human Resources – Woodland Gourmet
Dotted Line Reporting:President– International Spices

Position Summary

The Human Resources Manager serves as the senior HR leader onsite at International Spices, a manufacturing company within the Woodland Gourmet portfolio. This role reports directly to the Vice President, Human Resources at Woodland Gourmet andmaintainsa dotted-line relationship to thePresidentof International Spices.

The HR Manageris responsible forleading all human resources functions at the facility, aligning local workforce strategies with enterprise-wide HR initiatives while supporting business performance, operational excellence, food safety standards, and employee engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Leadership

• Act as the primary HR partner to the Presidentand plant leadership team
• Alignsite-level HR strategies with Woodland Gourmet’s enterprise HR framework
• Provide counsel on organizational design, workforce planning,and changemanagement
• Support business growth, integration, and operational initiatives

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Lead full-cycle recruitment for production, maintenance, quality, and administrative roles
• Develop staffing plans to support seasonal production and capacity requirements
• Implement workforce forecasting strategies in partnership with operations

Employee Relations & Culture

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership and employees
• Lead investigations and resolve workplace concerns
• Drive engagement initiatives to promote retention and a high-performance culture
• Ensure consistent application of policies and fair employment practices

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws
• Partner with operationsand Safety Managerto support OSHA compliance and food safety standards (GMP, HACCP, SQF)
• Manage workers’ compensation, unemployment claims, and regulatory reporting
• MaintainaccurateHR records and reporting metrics

Payroll Processing

• Oversee and manage payroll processes for the site, ensuringaccurateandtimelyprocessing, compliance with wage and hour laws, coordination with Finance, and resolution of payroll-related inquiries and discrepancies
• Administer compensation and incentive programs aligned with corporate guidelines
• Manage employee benefits programs, including enrollment, vendor coordination, employee communication, and issue resolution
• Partner with Woodland Gourmet HR on annual benefits planning and open enrollment
• Lead employee engagement initiatives, including surveys, action planning, recognition programs, and retention strategies

Training & Development

• Oversee onboarding programs for hourly and salaried employees
• Identifytraining needs across production and leadership teams
• Support leadership development and succession planning efforts

Performance Management

• Guide managers through goal setting, performance evaluations, and development planning
• Support the roll out and communication on the annual and mid-year performance review process
• Support accountability and performance improvement processes

Policy & Process Implementation

• Implement enterprise HR policies at the site level
• Ensure consistent application of procedures and documentation standards
• Drive continuous improvement in HR processes and systems

Other Duties

• Perform other duties and specialprojects asassigned to support businessobjectivesand operational needs

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 5–8 years of progressive HR experience, including manufacturing or food production environments
• Experience supporting hourly workforces in regulated environments
• Strong knowledge of employment law and workplace safety regulations
• HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) preferred
• Strong business and operational acumen
• Ability to influence executive leadership and frontline management
• Excellent judgment and conflict resolution skills
• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability
• High levelof professionalism, discretion, and integrity
• Onsite leadership role within a manufacturing facility
• Regular presence on the production floor

Physical Demands

The physical requirements described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to help individuals with disabilities perform these vital functions. The job typically requires office,manufacturingand warehouse settings. Exposure to industrial environments (noises, odors, food processingequipmentand varying temperatures). Ability to wear required PPE, including hairnets,glovesand protective footwear, etc.

This role is critical in ensuring that International Spicesmaintainsa compliant, engaged, and high-performing workforce while aligning local HR execution with Woodland Gourmet’s broader human capital strategy.

Woodland Gourmet hires exceptional people to perform a wide variety ofimportant functionsthat contribute to the success of our organization. We offer a competitive compensation package with benefits. The estimated salary for this role willbe $85,000 to $117,000. This position is eligible for an annual bonus (based on theincentiveprogram terms and conditions). Based on your qualifications,previousexperience, and transferable skills, the company willdetermine, at its discretion, the salary offered and will reflect the market conditions and cost of living for your geographic location.

Our benefits program is designed to support our team in leading healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. We deeply value the contributions of our team members and are committed to offering a competitive total compensation package.

Woodland Gourmet is a participant in the federal E-Verify program. As part of the hiring process, we will verify the information provided on your Form I-9 to confirm your eligibility to work in the United States.E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from your Form I-9 to government records to confirm employment eligibility. For more information on E-Verify and your rights, please visit theE-Verify website.

Woodland Gourmet assures equal employmentopportunityin all its hiring and employment policies and practices. This includes all aspects of employment, such as recruiting, hiring, promotions, transfers, demotions, layoffs or terminations, compensation, benefits, training, company-sponsored education, social and recreational programs or events, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. These policies and practices are administered without regard to “legally protected categories”such as:race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation or sexual orientation, pregnancy status or medical conditions related to childbirth, and/or any other factor protected by law