Human Resources Manager, Operations

Middle River Power; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

HSA/FSA options

Paid time off

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Middle River Power is seeking an experienced, hands-on Human Resources Manager to serve as a strategic HR business partner to plant leadership. You’ll guide employee relations, compliance, talent management, workforce planning, and core HR programs across our operations portfolio.

The ideal candidate brings strong HR generalist experience supporting hourly/workforces, with knowledge of CA/NY employment laws.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business or related field
• 5–7+ years HR experience supporting hourly/operational workforce
• Experience applying CA/NY employment laws
• Strong employee relations incl. investigations and discipline
• Experience with comp, talent acquisition, perf mgmt, engagement and benefits
• End-to-end HR processes with compliance focus
• Willingness to travel 30–50% and hybrid Chicago work environment
• SHRM or similar certs preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as HR business partner to plant leadership on employee relations and workforce planning
• Lead core HR processes: compensation reviews, talent acquisition, performance mgmt
• Manage employee relations, investigations, discipline, and performance improvement
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws (CA/NY)
• Design and improve end-to-end HR processes for efficiency and consistency
• Partner with leadership on workforce planning and retention strategies
• Oversee leave, accommodations, and return-to-work processes
• Collaborate with payroll, benefits, and external HR providers
• Support labor relations activities where applicable
• Maintain HR records and monitor key HR metrics
• Build relationships with plant leadership across multiple facilities
• Provide hands-on HR support across dispersed sites

Skills

Employee relations

Talent management

Workforce planning

Labor law (CA/NY)

HRIS systems

Compensation basics

Benefits administration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

HRIS systems

MS Excel

Job description

Middle River Power (MRP) is a private equity-sponsored energy platform specializing in the investment and asset management of U.S. power generation facilities. With over 8 GW of natural gas, coal, battery storage, and solar assets across multiple states, MRP is committed to safe, reliable, and efficient operations.

Backed by experienced leadership and a data-driven approach, MRP fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. We value talented individuals who bring curiosity, accountability, and a commitment to excellence.

Position Summary

Middle River Power is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Human Resources Manager to support our operations portfolio. This position will serve as a strategic HR business partner to plant leadership, providing guidance across employee relations, compliance, talent management, workforce planning, and core HR programs.

The ideal candidate brings a strong HR generalist background supporting hourly and operational workforces, with demonstrated experience navigating California and/or New York employment laws. This individual will partner closely with the Director of Human Resources to strengthen HR processes, drive consistency, and support organizational growth in a fast‑paced, private equity‑backed environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary HR business partner to plant leadership, providing guidance on employee relations, workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, and day‑to‑day HR matters.
• Partner with leadership on core people processes, including annual compensation reviews, talent acquisition, performance management, employee engagement, benefits administration, and employee development.
• Manage employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, particularly California and/or New York regulations, including wage and hour, leave, and accommodation requirements.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve end‑to‑end HR processes, policies, and procedures to strengthen compliance, operational efficiency, and consistency across facilities.
• Partner with leadership on workforce planning, organizational changes, employee engagement, and retention strategies.
• Oversee leave administration, accommodations, and return‑to‑work processes in collaboration with internal HR teams and external providers.
• Collaborate with payroll, benefits, and external HR partners to ensure accurate and consistent administration of HR programs.
• Support labor relations activities, including collective bargaining agreement administration, where applicable.
• Maintain employee records, monitor HR metrics, and identify opportunities to improve compliance, processes, and the employee experience.
• Build strong relationships with plant leadership and employees across geographically dispersed facilities, providing hands‑on HR support as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 5-7+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably supporting hourly or operational workforces.
• Demonstrated experience applying California and/or New York employment laws and regulations.
• Strong employee relations background, including investigations, conflict resolution, corrective actions, and performance management.
• Experience partnering with business leaders on core HR processes, including compensation, talent acquisition, performance management, employee engagement, and benefits.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, and improve end‑to‑end HR processes, with a strong emphasis on compliance and operational efficiency.
• Working knowledge of wage and hour compliance, leave administration, accommodations, and HR policies affecting hourly employees.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, industrial operations, utilities, energy, or similar environments.
• Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, private equity‑backed, scaling organization with evolving priorities and business needs.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, organizational, and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to independently advise operational leadership.
• Proficiency with HR information systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to collaborate across multiple time zones and accommodate varying schedules.
• Ability to work from our Chicago office on a hybrid schedule and travel approximately 30-50% to operational facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting unionized workforces, including collective bargaining agreements and labor relations.
• Experience supporting geographically dispersed, multistate operations.
• Experience working with professional employer organizations (PEOs) or outsourced HR providers.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
• Background in power generation, utilities, or energy infrastructure.

This is a full‑time position based in MRP's Chicago office on a hybrid schedule. The HR Manager will primarily support our operations portfolio, partnering closely with the Director of Human Resources, plant leadership, and internal HR teams.

Travel

Approximately 30-50% travel is required to support operational facilities across multiple locations.

Benefits and Perks

MRP offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision: 90% employer‑funded coverage for employees and families
• HSA/FSA options: Including employer HSA contributions
• Paid time off: PTO, company holidays, and paid parental leave
• Retirement: 401(k) with company match up to 4%